Summer in Highview was boring. Most of the day, Bree sat in her new room and practiced the guitar. It wasn’t as if it was actually her room, though. Her parents had left almost all of the belongings from her room in Shelbyville boxed up because they assumed she wouldn’t be moving back in with them. With only one year of college left, she’d likely be moving out on her own, starting a new job and a new life somewhere else. So… they’d set up her bed and her dressers so the room could be a guest room. That was it. The rest of the room still looked an awful lot like Grandma’s old storage room. Most of her things were stacked against one wall now instead of occupying the majority of the room, but it wasn’t like it was Bree’s own space.

That was okay though. If anything, it would inspire her to get out on her own. Just as being bored to tears encouraged her to find places to play every time she got a chance. She spent as many nights of the week possible playing in bars, restaurants, an occasional wedding or party, wherever she could make a few bucks and get her name out there.

It was different not having Sam with her. She’d sort of grown used to having him play alongside her after so many months of doing it at school. She was missing him more than she wanted to admit, and they spoke on the phone a lot. But Bree was used to missing people, so it wasn’t anything new.

When Christy invited her to Shelbyville for her birthday party, she hesitated. Would Trent be there? Christy said she hadn’t invited him even though she’d seen him a few times that summer. “I figured you wouldn’t come if there was a chance he’d be here,” her friend had explained.

“But… he’s your friend, too. That’s not fair.”

“He’ll get over it,” Christy had said. “I’d rather see you. I never get to see you.”

“Fine. I’ll be there,” Bree had promised.

Now, driving into town in her small Toyota Camry, she just prayed she didn't run into Trent. It was unlikely since she was just going to Christy’s house, and he obviously wouldn’t be there. When she was almost to town, she got a text. At a stoplight, she checked it. “Could you please stop and get some ice? We didn’t get enough.” Christy’s text had Bree cursing under her breath.

“Sure.” She set her phone aside and headed toward a little convenience store a few blocks away.

Bree pulled into a parking spot and went inside, her money in her hand so she could hurry. The chances of her running into Trent now were slim to none, but her luck was rotten most of the time, so she wanted to be quick. She’d paid for her ice and was leaving when he walked in. “Son of a biscuit eater,” she muttered under her breath.

“Bree.” It wasn’t a question. “Hi. How are you?”

“Fine.” She shrugged, hoping he realized that meant she didn’t have time for him.

“You look… great.”

She glanced down at what she was wearing. It was a yellow sundress with brown and orange flowers. The peasant top came down around her shoulders, showing off her nice summer tan. Her brown cowgirl boots also looked nice with it. “Thanks.”

He looked hot--but she wasn’t about to tell him that. In a pair of jean shorts that hugged everything just right without giving anything away and a T-shirt that might’ve been a second skin and showed off his six pack, she could’ve either tossed the ice aside and lunged at him--or doused herself in a cold bath of ice and melted water.

“Are you going to Christy’s?” he asked.

“Yeah. I’m sorry she didn’t invite you because of me.”

“Because of you? Oh. I thought it was because of….”

The door behind him dinged and a beautiful blonde walked in. “Trent, babe, are you coming?” She draped herself over his shoulder like a wet towel.

“Yeah. I’m coming. Heather, this is a friend of mine from high school. Bree, this is Heather.”

“Hey.” Bree managed a small smile. So Christy didn’t like his new girlfriend? Did they even know each other? She didn’t bother to ask. “I’ve gotta go.”

“Nice to meet you,” Heather said, though her eyes told a different story.”

“Yep. See you, Trent.” She stepped around the happy couple and headed out to her car, putting the ice in the trunk because it was already starting to melt.

“Bree, wait!” Trent came after her, leaving Heather standing there staring. “Listen, I wanted to say…. I didn't realize I had the wrong number for you until after…. For a while. I’m really sorry. I did try to call you.”

“I tried to call you, too. And text you. It’s fine, Trent. Clearly, you have a girlfriend now. And I have a boyfriend. Sam. He’s a musician. I love him. In fact, we’re moving in together in the fall.”

“You are? Wow, that’s… that’s great.”

“Yeah, so don’t worry about it. It was… just a kiss.”

“Right. Yeah, it was just a kiss.” He nodded. “Okay. Good. So we can be friends again?”

“You bet.” She managed to widen her smile, though she didn’t feel it in her heart.

“T and B for life?” He held up his fist, and she bumped it.

“Yeah. T and B for life.”

Bree got behind the wheel and took off, trying to keep her tears at bay and not speed out of the parking lot. Trent watched her go for a few minutes, but when he turned back to Heather, Bree saw her hands outstretched as she berated him for leaving her to go after Bree. Good. Served them both right. She headed off to Christy’s wishing more than ever that Sam was there with her. He wasn’t Trent, and he could never be Trent, but he was good at taking her mind off of Trent, and that’s what she needed right now.