Meant to Marry Me: Nashville Country Dreams Part 1 novel Chapter 3

Watching the guys play pool, Bree sat next to friends she hadn't seen in far too long and tried her best to listen to what they were talking about. Concentrating was hard. She truly hadn't been prepared for Trent to be there, and the fact that he was served as a distraction.

Jason must've noticed her change in behavior. She'd mentioned Trent to him before because he'd come up when she was telling him some stories about things that had happened with this particular group of friends while they were in high school. Jason had specifically asked if Trent was going to be there, which Bree had thought was odd, until now. Jason wasn't the brightest bulb in the pack, but he had to have guessed there was more to her past with Trent than she was telling him.

There was more to it than Bree was willing to admit to, most of the time. The drink in her hand was helping with the introspection, though. Trent still looked good. In high school, she'd catch herself staring at him and have to look away before he noticed. They were friends, after all, nothing more.

Nora was telling a story, and everyone laughed. Bree chimed in, trying to fool them all into thinking she was a part of the conversation, but her mind had wandered back to junior year….

Out in the parking lot, Bree could still hear the music playing in the gymnasium. She felt so stupid, buying a new dress and getting herself all made up--for what? Stupid Chris Smith wasn't interested in her. He'd just been using her to make his ex-girlfriend jealous.

Bree pulled her phone out of her pocket and started to dial her mom. She hadn't driven herself to the dance, so she had no ride home. She might look like a little kid having her parents come and get her, but it beat walking home.

"Bree! Are you okay?"

She turned around to see Trent jogging toward her, the corsage his date had pinned on his lapel a few hours ago a visible reminder that he'd come there with someone else.

"I'm fine," she said, sticking her phone back in her jacket pocket. "I just… want to go home." There was no sense trying to hide her tears from him. Trent knew her better than anyone.

"I saw what that jackass was doing, Bree. I'm so sorry."

She wiped her nose on the back of her hand, realizing she was also still wearing her corsage. She took it off and hurled it across the parking lot. "Why do guys have to act like that?"

"I'm so sorry," he said again, brushing a strawberry-blonde lock of hair away from her face. "Not all guys are like that, you know."

Shaking her head, she folded and unfolded her arms, not sure what to do. "Well, it seems like everyone I date is."

"Yeah, I'll give you that." He chuckled, sticking his hands in the pockets of his dress pants.

"That's not funny." She pushed him playfully, and since he had his hands in his pockets, he staggered backward a little bit.

"I was just kidding, Bree. Trying to make you laugh."

"Yeah, except it's true."

"Bree…."

"God, Trent. I'm such a loser."

"You're not a loser, Bree. He's the loser." He had his hands on her now, pulling her by the arms so she'd look at him. "Anyone who doesn't know your worth is a loser."

She looked into his eyes for a moment but then dropped her head. "You're just saying that because you're my best friend."