Trent Walker had just sunk a difficult shot, knocking two balls in the outside pocket when Bree walked into the room. She took one look at him and muttered a curse word. Not sure exactly what to make of that, Trent lined up the next shot but ended up scratching, which wasn't a surprise, considering how jarring it was just to see her again, let alone have her drop an expletive at the sight of him.
"Our shot!" Hank Yarborough said, a little too much happiness in his voice. "But first, let's take a break to say hi to Bree!"
Everyone set their pool sticks down and went to say hello. Even the girlfriends who had been watching got up to go meet her, despite the fact that one of them, Grant's girlfriend, Jody something-or-other, had been complaining about Bree getting the good room ever since she'd sat down next to Hank's girl, Kensey. Apparently, the two knew each other from school and were sorority sisters. What sorority, Trent didn't know, but he had a feeling it was one full of rich bitches by the conversation they were having.
He waited until last to go say hi to Bree. She clearly hadn't been expecting him. Why she didn't want to see him, he didn't know. As far as he could tell, they were on good terms. It had been a while since he'd talked to her or even sent her a text, but that was because he'd been so busy getting his accounting degree at University of Kentucky, he really didn't have time to keep up with everyone. At least, that’s what he told himself every time he thought about picking up the phone to send her a text.
"Hi," she said, stepping up in front of him. Her smile looked much more friendly now than the face she'd made when she first came in the room
"Hi, Bree." Trent leaned down and wrapped his arms around her. He almost wished he hadn't. She smelled just as good as she always did in high school--like vanilla--and it was all he could do to make it a quick hug.
He could make up excuses all he wanted to, but he knew darn good and well the reason he hadn't talked to her had nothing to do with college classes.
"How's it going?" she asked him as the pool game resumed behind them, and Nora headed back out of the room.
"Good. It's going good. How are you? How's school going? University of Louisville everything you hoped it would be and more?"
She laughed, and he remembered how much her giggle had always made him smile, but he held back now, not wanting to seem too eager. "It's great. I'm really loving my music program."
"That's great. You'll be famous before we know it."
"I don't know about that. As long as I can teach music, I'll be happy."
He stood there for a second, looking at her awkwardly, not sure what to say, when a guy he hadn't met yet stepped through the doorway behind her.
Bree turned. "Oh, Jason. Come meet some more of my friends from high school. This is Trent Walker."
"Trent?" It was a question. "I didn't know you were going to be here."
Shaking his hand, Trent said, "It was sort of last minute. Isaac's girlfriend didn't want to come. Or be his girlfriend anymore."
Bree hid a smile, but Jason just shook his head. "Well, it's nice to meet you."
"You, too." But the way Jason was looking at him, he didn't think it was. Trent wondered what Bree might've said about him that made Jason leery of seeing him there.
She gave him a small, awkward smile, and then headed off to introduce Jason to the rest of the gang. Trent turned back to the pool table, wondering if coming here had been a big mistake. He'd be lying if he didn't admit that the main reason he'd agreed to come was because he wanted to see Bree, but he wasn't expecting for her to still be able to take his breath away.
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."
"Best friend?" he repeated. "Wow. I've gotten a promotion."
"Stop. You know you are." He pulled her closer, and Bree put her head on his shoulder. His arms circled around her, and she inhaled deeply, wishing she had a way of telling him she wanted so desperately for him to be more than a friend.
But she had no idea if he felt the same way, and she couldn't mess this up. What would she do without him in her life? Shrivel up and die? Bury herself under a rock and stay there forever?
"You should come back inside, Bree." Trent's voice was just a whisper in her ear. "Don't give him the satisfaction of knowing he upset you."
"Are you kidding? And watch him dance with that stupid bitch all night?"
"Let him watch you dance with a bunch of hot guys all night. All right, well maybe not any hot ones--but me, and Isaac, and Hank…."
She raised her eyes to look at him. Did he really think he wasn't hot? He was the hottest guy in Shelbyville. "What about your dates?"
He shook his head. "Our dates all know that we're friends. Hell, Missy and I are just friends. You know that."
That's what he'd said, but she didn't know if Missy was aware of that. "Are you sure? I was just going to call my mom. How am I going to get home when this is over?"
"Hi--I'm your next door neighbor. Pretty sure I can get you home." He slipped a finger under her chin and gently raised her face so she was looking at him. "Bree, Bree… it's okay. You're okay. You're better than okay. You're amazing."