Meant to Marry Me: Nashville Country Dreams Part 1 novel Chapter 5

Bree hadn't meant to follow Trent outside--not exactly anyway. She'd seen him leave but hadn't realized he'd stepped outside for a breath of fresh air in the same place she had until after she was halfway out the door. It would be strange to walk away from him. It seemed strange to walk toward him, too, though. But her feet were headed in that direction before she had a chance to stop them.

The night was chilly, which was to be expected in the mountains in December; she wished she’d thought to grab her coat. It wasn't snowing, but the wind was stirring up ice crystals from the ground. The stars twinkling in the heavens were spectacular. This was exactly what she'd been looking for when she came out here. Peace, quiet, beauty, and a wonderful man. She had just hoped somehow that's what Jason would end up being. The better she got to know him, the more she thought that wasn't likely the case.

"Hey," Trent said, glancing at her and then back out at the landscape. "You had enough pool for one night?"

"Enough reminiscing for a while, I guess." She could feel the effects of the alcohol. She'd drank a little too fast on an empty stomach. Hopefully, it wouldn't lead them to a place of no return. "How have you been?"

"Okay." He shrugged. "Trying to focus on school as much as I can."

"Hence no girlfriend at the moment?" She smiled at him, hoping it came across as teasing and not inquiry, though she really did want to know. It seemed like every time she was single, he was dating, and vice versa.

"Not at the moment," he replied. "Jason seems like a… guy."

Bree laughed, nudging him gently in the arm. "He is a guy."

"Sorry--I couldn't bring myself to say anything better. ‘Great’ just wasn't going to work in that sentence."

Shrugging, she said, "You've just got to get to know him. He really does have some great qualities."

"Like what?"

He looked like he genuinely wanted to know. "Well, he's really good at math--just like you. He may end up being an accountant."

"Cool. Maybe I can work with him someday, and he can help me to better see all those endearing qualities you speak of."

She shook her head. "He volunteers at the soup kitchen."

"When it's required for a grade."

"Oh, he told you that story?" She turned to look at him, resting an elbow on the porch railing.

"He did. If you ask me, it was the guy who went and got your guitar you should've brought to the cabin, not that guy." He hooked a thumb over his shoulder.

"Gee. I guess he really rubbed you the wrong way, huh?" Bree turned back around so she was looking at the mountains again.

Trent let out a loud sigh. "I'm sorry. It's just… he said some things that weren't cool."

Now, he had her interested. "Like what?"

"Like… he expects you to… you know…." His eyes were wide, but he didn't say more.