Free Love Me Back by Michelle Lynn

himself comfortable at the kitchen table.  Not even paying attention to the remodeled house.  I figure either he doesn’t care or has already been over since it was done.
    Ian looks down at himself dressed in his pajama pants and shirt shaking his head.  “No, since I agreed to take this as my vacation to help out my girl in crisis, I am taking at least one day to lie around.” 
    “Sounds nice.”  I sneer at him.  “I get to go try on some hideous bridesmaid dress hearing people tell me I can wear it again sometime.”
    “Don’t sound so bitter.  It’s your brother’s wedding.  Now go put on your happy face and be that cheerful bridesmaid I know you can be.”  Ian smacks me on my ass walking out of the room.
    “Whatever Sleeping Beauty.  Please enjoy your day of leisure.”  I sneer back at him.
    “Don’t hate Madeline Jennings.  It isn’t becoming of you.”  Ian remarks walking back upstairs.
    “Let’s just go get it over with.”  Gabe says hopping off the stool putting his hand on the small of my back leading me to the door.
    I turn my head over my shoulder but he never removes his hand until I am safely in the passenger seat of the blue machine.  Once in the car my heart starts beating faster and my breathing is erratic.  Does Gabe have this effect on me?  I don’t know what has happened in the last twenty four hours but he has weaseled into my thoughts and I can’t shake them.
    “So, I want to talk to you about the dance.”  He glances over to me.  I probably look like I am coming down with something.  My face pale when he brings up last night.
    “Oh Gabe, its fine.  Just a dance with your little sister right.”  I want to play this off.  One Basso brother had torn my heart to shreds on numerous occasions.  I wasn’t going to let another one get to me again.
    “What?  Little Sister?”  He questions looking confused.
    “I know you and Doug have always thought of me as Little Jennings.”  I confirm.
    “Well…yeah…when we were younger.”  He confirms.  “But now…”  His phone interrupts him. 
    “Hello?”  He answers, giving me an apologetic smile.
    A pause while he listens.
    “I will be back next Monday.  Can’t this wait until then?”
    “Absolutely not.”  He seems angry at whoever is on the other end.
    “Listen.  I am here for a good friend’s wedding.  There are events planned all week long and I don’t have time for this right now.  We can discuss this on Monday night when I get back.”
    Monday night?  I assume it isn’t business must be personal.  Girlfriend?
    “I don’t know how much clearer I can make this for you.”  He is curt.
    We turn down the downtown area towards the dress shop.  He parks along the diagonal parking spots that line the street on either side.
    “I have somewhere I have to be right now.  It is Monday night or never, you decide.”  He gives them an ultimatum.
    “That’s what I thought.”  He hangs up the phone with no goodbye. 
    I have never seen Gabe act like this to someone so I can’t imagine what or who it is that would make him have such a personality change.
    “Sorry about that.”  He smiles over to me.  He gives me no explanation, not that he has to give me one. 
    “It’s ok.”  I smile back.  “Let’s get this thing over with.”  I can’t get out of the car fast enough and away from Gabe.  I leap out of the car walking into the dress shop.
    “Hey hold up.”  Gabe grabs my elbow bringing me back to him before I can open the door.  “Is something the matter?”  His face etched with concern for me.
    “No, I just want to get this dress thing over with.”  I lie.
    He looks at me hard and long eventually accepting defeat letting my elbow go.
    The dress shop is small and quaint with the tuxedo shop through a little walkway to the right.  I notice all the guys already in the tuxedos since we are late.
    “What the hell Basso?”  Jack is screaming to Gabe.  “Maddy,