Meant to Marry Me: Nashville Country Dreams Part 1 novel Chapter 28

“God, Bree--do you have any idea what time it is?”

Christy’s voice sounded in her ear, and even though she was annoyed, Bree was just happy she’d answered. At a time like this, when she needed to talk to someone who knew the background and was capable of saying the things she needed to hear, Christy was her go-to girl and had been ever since high school.

“Sorry, hon. Did I wake you up?” Bree asked, thinking Christy didn’t sound groggy--just irritated.

“Hell, no. But I’m in the process of switching clubs. What’s up, bitch?”

That had Bree giggling. While everyone else their age who wasn’t at an event like Bree happened to be, was home, sleeping, preparing for work the next day, Christy was on her way to a different party. “I just hoped I could talk to you for a few minutes, but if you’re busy, it’s okay. I can call you some other time.”

“No way. You’re at that swanky wedding in Gulf Shores, right? I mean, of course I’ve got time to listen to that. Besides, I’m in an Uber. What’s going on?”

Bree took a deep breath. “Well, first of all, do you have any idea who the groom is?”

“Uh… yeah. So I guess you do, too, huh?”

“Wait, what? You knew, and you didn’t tell me?”

She could hear Christy shrugging over the phone. “I thought you knew.”

“Then why did you say, ‘that swanky wedding’ and not ‘Trent’s wedding’?”

“Because, it’s not like he’s the only one there I know. Hank is there, right? And Trent brought Matt and Dwayne over to my house a couple of times on breaks and stuff, so I know them, too. I know Lilly because she used to be your roommate, and Monica’s been in some fashion shoots and shit, so I recognized her.”

“Okay, okay, I get it.” Bree hoped she didn’t sound too mad, but she was a little mad. Why would Christy not tell her what she was walking into? “Why aren’t you here?”

“I’ll be there Saturday. So will Abs and everyone else. You think Trent didn’t invite us to his wedding?”

“I don’t know. He didn’t invite me.”

“Well, there’s a reason for that, isn’t there? And yet, there you are, soaking it all up. How is that, anyway? How is it knowing he’s gonna marry someone else? I mean, I’ve always speculated that you wrote that song for him.”

“I didn’t write it for him. I didn’t write anything for him.” Now, Bree was lying to the very person she’d called for help. Still, she felt betrayed that all of these people knew she was walking into a firestorm and hadn’t warned her. “It’s… weird, though. If I had known it was his wedding, I would’ve said no.”

“God, Bree, I’m sorry. I guess I should’ve told you he was getting married when I first found out. I just figured you were better off not knowing, especially since she’s a model and all. I mean, not that you’re not gorgeous--just as pretty as she is--it’s just… who wants to hear the guy she used to have a crush on is marrying a model, you know?”

“I know.” Bree let out a hot blast of air. “That’s actually not why I called, though.” She heard Christy talking to her driver and getting out of the car, and in the distance, she could hear the beat of the music coming from the club.

“Hey, I can do it… maybe.”

“At least maybe there will be hot guys without their shirts on. I mean, other than Trent and Hank. Are Matt and Dwayne still hot?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t spent that much time around them.”

“You don’t know if they’re hot? Girl, you have still only got eyes for Trent.”

“Oh, stop! I’ve gotta go. Talk to you later.”

“See you later,” Christy corrected, and then her friend hung up.

Bree set her phone aside and realized Christy could read her like a book. She hadn’t thought about seeing Trent without his shirt on, though it had crossed her mind that her little petite self would be wearing a bathing suit next to Monica and her friends who were seventy-five percent legs. Bree would look like a twelve-year-old girl next to them. At least Lilly wasn’t as statuesque as her sister and her friends either.

Again, she blew out a deep breath, realizing she was screwed. She had to go to the volleyball match because she’d told Hank she would. Chances were, she’d end up embarrassing herself by bouncing a ball off of her head or falling on her face.

“This is going to be epic,” she said, shaking her head. Hopefully, she wouldn’t dream about face planting or otherwise making a fool of herself. How bad could her dreams be when her life was already a nightmare?