Say It

Chapter 20 (Trent's POV)

It's been three days since I left Kacey's place but it feels longer. I have hardly slept; I don't have an appetite. I keep running our conversation through my head and I just get more pissed every time. I tried to call her, but she sent me to voice mail.

​I was beating a dent out of a side finder, with a slug hammer. Lost in my thoughts swinging out my pent up rage, when dad's voice booms from across the garage.
​"If you don't stop you are going to have to start beating it from the other side. Put that hammer down then come talk to your mom and me."

​He doesn't even wait to see if I listen to him, because he knows I will. He knows something is up because mom hasn't said much to me. Plus, my fuse is shorter than usual.

​They are both sitting behind mom's desk when I walk in. Her in her office chair and him propped on the filing cabinet behind her."What do you want to talk about?" I flip my hat backwards then cross my arms defensively. 

​My dad sighs knowing it's going to be hard to get me to talk. Always has been, well until Kacey come along. Now that she isn't talking to me it's back to old habits. Mom on the other hand looks like she is ready for a fight. Her eyes have the fire reserved for when someone wrongs one of us.

​"Did you text Brittany, even though you are with Kacey?" Mom asks in a no nonsense tone. Like I said she is looking for a fight.

​"Do you really think I would cheat on Kacey with anyone? Let alone Brittany; who I will remind you cheated on me?" My tone was harsh, disrespectful even.
​Dad was on his feet pointing his fingers at me with a snap. "Watch your tone with my wife. You may be our son, but I'm not going to let you speak to her like that."
​I slump forward rubbing my hands down my face. "You're right. I'm sorry mom, you didn't deserve that." I know better than to act like that I just feel like I'm going to exploded.

I miss Kacey.

​"It's okay. I didn't think you did. I just had to ask. Why don't you tell us what's going on?" She gives me a sad smile, then pats dads back to have him sit back down.
​"I messed up. I went to Kacey's Sunday like I always do. She didn't talk to me a lot the night before so I thought something was up. When I got there, she had been crying. I tried to get her to tell me what was wrong. She wouldn't really answer me, then just asked me if I was happy." ​I lean on the counter now, waiting for them to ask their first question.

​"What did you say?"

​"I asked her what she meant because I was happy." Mom looks at me looking for any signs of a lie. Neither one of them said anything so I kept going.
​"Then she asked why I texted Brittany about a dance. I had no clue what she was talking about. I haven't talk to her since we broke up. When she went on to say that Brittany's mom was surprised to hear I had a girlfriend, wanted to know how long we have been together. Kayla answered then Brittany said "he must not be too happy if he was texting me a couple weeks ago asking me to save him a dance." Then she started crying harder."

​My mom scoffs at that then stands with a slam of her hands on the desk top shaking the monitor. "She also said "I wouldn't get too comfortable, because he always comes back to me." I swear I was already fired up at the girl but that made me speechless."

​My face pales, that's what she meant when she said I still wanted Brittany. I didn't understand what she meant, Brittany made it sound like I was still hung up on her.
​"I've never seen Brittany act like that before. She was acting like she was the queen and Kacey was her servant. Making her pick up her trash, move things out of the way, she even popped balloons to make Kacey pick up. Poor Kacey just did it with a smile. She let every hurtful thing said to her roll off her shoulders. She wanted your sister to enjoy the party."

​My anger flares again, she picked up trash that Brittany left for her with a smile. "Why did she let Brittany treat her like that. Doesn't she realize she is better then that?" I asked not understanding.

​"Bub, she does realize that. That's why she acted like a lady with class. She could have caused a scene, like Brittany did. But what would have that done? Brittany made herself look foolish and her mom was quick to tell her that when Kacey left."
​I look at mom honestly shocked. Brittany and her mom are thick as thieves. "What did she say?"

​Mom and dad started chucking. She must have already told him what happen. "She told her that she sounded like a bitter ex and she owed you both an apology."
​Now we are all laughing, Brittany never apologizes unless she gets something out of it. The first time she cheated she said sorry and I gave her a second chance. The second time, when she knew I wasn't going to take her back she said it was my fault for not giving her enough attention. So I'm not going to hold my breath for that apology.

​"Where did you mess up at?" Leave it to dad to know that there is more to my story. I know what they are going to say, so I might as well get this done and over with.
​"I pretty much told her that she didn't have a back bone or self-respect for letting Brittany talk to her like that or about us. I would never let someone do that. So why would she?" I realize now that Kacey handled it well, but I can't help but feel like she cares so little about our relationship, that she didn't defend it.

​Mom just slumps back into her seat, now it's dads turn to be pissed. "What makes you think that is what she needs to hear when she was embarrassed the day before? Sounds to me like she had enough self-respect to not put up with the bull crap said to her. Sounds like the person who is supposed to make her fill safe and loved. Made her feel about this tall." He holds his pointer and thumb about an inch apart. I know he isn't done so I don't say anything.

​"You want to know why she didn't defend you or your relationship? Because she knows people can say what they want, but at the end of the day your relationship is between you too. I'm sure if Brittany said something specificity about you, Kacey would have defended you."

​What the heck is he talking about? Brittany did say something about me and Kacey said nothing. Mom can tell I'm confused so she chimes in.​"She mentioned your name but what she was implying was that Kacey doesn't make you happy and that she could do better. She just used your name to dig at Kacey. If she said that you didn't know how to be happy that would be a dig at you."

​Well crap, they were right. Everything Brittany said was to belittle Kacey, make her feel less then. Then I went and did the same thing. I was so focused on what I thought Kacey should have done I didn't really pay attention to what was said. Now I feel as small as the inch between dads' finger and thumb.

​"What happened after that?"

​"She said she wasn't going to let me talk down to her like that. That she felt like she did the right thing by leaving, that she didn't want to mess up Kayla's day. Then told me to leave."I drop my head into my hands with my forearms resting on the counter. How did I mess up this bad? I should have listened to her, tell her how wrong Brittany was.

I should have told her I love her.

​Dad fills the silence with the voice he used when he was disappointed in us. "Do you love her son?"I loved her more than anything. I was miserable before her. Just going through the motions, not actually living.

​"More than anything"

​"Then you better fix it, you are too smart to act this stupid." Dad said with a nod then kisses moms' cheek and heads back to work.  I need to fix this I don't need to just wait by the phone for her. I need to talk to her face to face, tell her sorry I am.
​"It almost the end of the day. Why don't you head on out and talk to Kacey? Me and your dad can handle the rest." I'm so lucky to have parents like them. They can be rough on us but they mean well. They just want to see us happy.

​I round the desk and grab mom to pull her into a hug. "Thank you for standing up for my girl. I love you mom." She kisses my cheek "Anytime honey. Now go on."