Meant to Marry Me: Nashville Country Dreams Part 1 novel Chapter 7

Bree was furious! How could that jerk of a now-ex-boyfriend take the car and leave like that? It wasn't even his car! She'd borrowed it from her roommate because it had new tires on it and wasn't as likely to break down as hers. Jason didn't even own a car! He got to and from class on a little Vespa he called his baby. He was such an idiot. At least they were done, and she'd never have to see him again.

Her roommate, Lilly Edge, had gone home for the holidays, too, but her sister, who was a year younger than her, had stopped to pick her up on her way through town, so she didn't have to drive. Her sister had been attending a college in Ohio, but she decided to transfer for the next semester so she'd be closer to home. Now, she'd be going to the same school Trent attended. Lilly and her sister, Monica, were very close. Sometimes, Bree wondered why they weren't at the same school.

She'd called Lilly as soon as she realized what Jason had done, but she hadn't answered. Then, she'd called her mom. She was still on the line talking to her when Lilly called. "I've gotta go, Mom. Lilly's calling."

"Okay, honey. If you decide you wanna come home, Aunt Stacy and Uncle Tom will be coming right through there in a couple of hours on their way to Grandma's."

"Okay. Thanks. I'll let you know." She clicked over before Lilly hung up. "Hey, girl. I've got some news."

"Someone stole my car?"

"How did you know?"

"I just got a phone call from the state police that it was broken down on the side of the road near Paducah. I couldn't imagine what you'd be doing there."

"Paducah?" She shook her head. "I guess Jason was taking it home for the holidays. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay. My dad's taking me to get it now. We are hoping it's just out of gas. But… what's going on? I'm glad you weren't with him. I mean, I'm assuming not."

"No. We had a huge fight last night and decided it was over. I was intending to leave first thing this morning, but I fell asleep with a pillow over my face to drown out the sound of his buffalo snores, and I guess I didn't hear him get up."

"Gosh, Bree. That stinks. How are you going to get home?"

"Well, he was supposed to be driving me to my house for the holidays after the weekend in the cabin, and then we'd go back together. But my mom said she'd take me back to college. I can get a ride to her house with one of my friends from high school. Or I can catch a ride with my aunt and uncle in a few hours. They're coming through here."

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know. I don't really want to stay here. It's been nice seeing everyone, but I'm so mad at Jason, I don't even want to talk to anyone or have fun." She shook her head, her thoughts going to Trent. Now was her chance, but it just seemed dumb. Besides, he'd avoided her earlier when everyone else was trying to comfort her. She knew he felt like this was his fault.

"What were you fighting about?"

She blew out a hot breath. "It's a long story." She was sitting in a den in the back of the cabin, and she knew everyone was giving her space. She could hear them in the other room, playing a game of cards. It sounded like they were having a lot of fun, but she didn't want to be part of it.

"It seems weird you'd go all the way there to have a fight."

"Well… the fight was about someone who is here."

"Who?"

Bree had never told Lilly about Trent. She'd mentioned him in passing a time or two, but she hadn't told her about the almost kiss, or the fact that she'd had a huge crush on him for as long as she could remember. "There are a couple of guys here who are single. Jason saw me talking to one of them and got the wrong idea. But… he also said some pretty shitty things about me last night, like about me sleeping with him. So, it wasn't just about that."

"You're kidding? Bree, I've been trying to tell you he's a jerk. Sure, he's hot, but you need a nice guy, like that guy who got your guitar back for you. What's his name?"

"I honestly don't know," she admitted. "He's in a couple of my classes, but I don't know his name."

"Maybe you need to know his name."

"Maybe." She thought about the blond who'd chased down the thief. He was sweet and kind of cute with his goofy grin. But he wasn't exactly her type. It didn't matter. She’d already made up her mind the night before—for the foreseeable future, she wasn't dating anyone.

"Well, we're almost to my car."

"I'm so sorry about all of that, Lilly. I'll pay you for the gas money it's taking for you to go get it, and for whatever repairs need to be done." She had no idea how she'd afford that. She'd have to be gigging for the rest of her life to make it up to Lilly.

"No, it's fine. My dad's a mechanic. Besides, I'm guessing the moron just forgot to put gas in it. It's not wrecked or anything."

"If you change your mind, let me know. You did such a nice thing in letting us borrow it."

"Okay. I'll keep you posted. Just don't worry about it."

"Thanks, Lilly." She hung up and tried to decide what she should do next.