Two to Tangle (A Tangle Valley Romance #2) - Melissa Brayden Page 0,54

keyed up, and downright confused about so many things around Tangle Valley.

Chapter Eleven

As the credits rolled on the makeshift screen they’d erected in the large barn, Gabriella wiped her eyes and looked over at her friends, who each came with a different brand of reaction across her face. Splendor in the Grass had been their movie that night, and yes, this one had been her choice, a favorite of her mother’s, who loved a good heart twisting.

“I don’t get it. Natalie Wood deserves better,” Joey said with a frown. “This is not okay.”

Madison stood up and pointed at the screen as the familiar theme music they’d heard through much of the film played achingly. “That’s it? They just go their separate ways? He loves her. This is crap. It makes no sense. I demand an immediate refund.”

Gabriella’s heart hurt, too. But she’d been prepared for it. Her friends were new to the film. She tried to explain. “But Warren Beatty is now settled into his new life. Too much time has passed. He has to farm his land and keep that child in diapers, and there’s spaghetti for dinner, so he can’t chase the past.”

“I think I get what Maddie is getting at, though,” Becca said, but with a lot more composure. “It’s tragic that they didn’t fight hard enough for each other, and now look at them. Regretsville town mayors, both of them. Though it’s all his fault. I have to say.”

Gabriella contemplated the meaning, liking the part of movie night when they talked it out. “Maybe this is a sharp reminder that some things you think are meant for you just aren’t.”

“In some cases, but I think these two were different,” Becca said, gesturing to the screen. “This was their great love, and they blew it. Now they have to live a subpar existence, settling for less because they didn’t go after what their hearts truly reached for, messy as it would have been.”

The words swirled and settled squarely on Gabriella’s shoulders, burdensome and troubling. Because surely that wasn’t what she was doing in her own life, was it? Not being open-minded enough to see what might be right in front of her just tied in a messy bow?

“Stop with the wisdom,” Joey said. “It’s annoying when you’re always right.”

“Can you put that on video?” Becca held up her phone, and Joey distracted her with a kiss, grabbing the phone and lowering it. Madison still stared hard at the screen as if attempting to work a puzzle she carried a lot of resentment for.

“You okay?” Gabriella asked, touching her shoulder.

Maddie seemed to shake it off. “Yeah, just depressing, you know? The one that got away is a bitter pill to swallow. Makes you think.” She attempted a laugh but the mirth didn’t quite achieve authenticity. “Where’s a good shoot-’em-up movie when you need it?”

Gabriella sighed. “For once, I might actually agree with you.”

Madison held up her phone, mimicking Becca. “Can I get that on video?” And for a moment, Gabriella recalled a time in life when the two of them were that same type of couple like Joey and Becca, happy and playful and looking forward to more. While the relationship hadn’t blossomed the way she’d hoped, she still had a handful of fond memories from those days.

“Not a chance.”

Madison exhaled loudly. “Next movie night, something a little lighter.”

“Wizard of Oz,” Gabriella said, her spirits lifting.

Madison didn’t hesitate. “No.”

“Frozen.”

“Definitely not.”

“You seem stressed, Maddie.”

“Don’t do it,” she warned.

“Let it go.”

Madison closed her eyes in defeat just as Gabriella launched, full voice, into the song, chasing Madison out of the barn and into the night with her serenade as their friends laughed.

She hadn’t told any of them that she’d invited Ryan over the next night. Part of her felt embarrassed about her inconsistent, waffling outlook. Another part of her wanted to figure this out on her own without the rest of the world weighing in. The movie and Becca’s assessment weren’t far from her thoughts as she settled into bed that night.

She didn’t want to be that person, the one who let something potentially wonderful slip through her fingers because, like Warren Beatty, she was too stupid to know what she had.

“Don’t be Warren,” she murmured to herself as sleep slowly descended.

* * *

Darkness draped the vineyard when Ryan pulled onto the property and drove down the hill then around the perimeter to Gabriella’s cottage. She wore her soft jeans and an off-the-shoulder blue slouchy sweatshirt that was perfect for