Page 30 of Summer Shot
“I get it. You think I like chasing red flags,” Libby fiercely fires back, her face turning red with frustration.
My hands grow clammy from this conversation. I set my wine glass down, worried it will slip out of my grasp.
“You’re putting words in my mouth,” Bren retorts. “I just want you to be happy.”
Libby drains her wine glass in a few quick slurps, clearly ready to be done with this conversation. “I’m happy with how things are right now.” Without asking, she picks up my full glass and starts to drain that one too. “Not everyone needs the perfect long-distance relationship like you and Liam have.”
Bren snorts. “Our relationship is far from perfect.”
Libby sets my finished wine glass down, and grabs another slice of pizza, taking a big bite. With her mouth full she practically spits out the words, “Oh please.”
Tears pull in the corner of Bren’s eyes as her face transforms, her lips quivering and her expression full of agony. “I haven’t talked to him in an entire week okay. Happy? It’s not perfect.” Bren’s voice is barely a whisper.
My heart sinks to my stomach at her confession. I had no idea Bren was struggling with Liam. I wish she told me. Softly I assure her, “Bren no one is happy that you’re upset, don’t be silly. We love you.”
Head nodding, Libby agrees adding, “We are always here for you, why didn’t you say anything?”
A few tears stream from Bren’s eyes, her voice quiet and quivering when she says, “What am I supposed to say?” She grabs a napkin, loudly blowing her knows. “Suz already left me. I have to leave you guys, which breaks my heart, and my boyfriend is too busy living out his dream to talk to me, but I shouldn’t be sad. I get to start my literal dream job next week.”
The tears steadily flow down Bren’s round cheeks. She sniffles, grabbing another napkin to use as a tissue.
Moving to be closer to her on the couch, I pull my cousin into a side hug, wishing I could ease her pain. “Oh, Brennie Bean, I’m so sorry. It’s a lot of change, but you’ll get through it. We all will.”
Suz moves to fill everyone’s empty wine glasses before adding, “I know I don’t share much about it but you know I’m a private person. I’m working on being okay with everything that’s changed after graduation too.”
Looking around the room at each of us, Bren’s gaze falls on me. “Please stop looking at me like I’m Bambi after the mom dies.”
Suz hands Bren a now full to the brim wine glass. “I'm always just a phone call away.”
“Do you want to go out tonight?” Libby asks. “Get your mind off things and let loose?”
Bren reluctantly shakes her head. “No, I don’t want to share my best friends with the rest of the world on my last night.” Her eyes meet mine as she sips her wine. “Is that okay?”
I squeeze her to my side again. “Whatever you need, Brennie Bean.”
A heavy sigh escapes Bren as she nuzzles into my side and rests her head on my shoulder, setting her full wine glass on the side table. “Better wine. The kind that comes with a real cork in it next time.”
Chapter fourteen
Laur
My heart rate slows and a lump forms in the back of my throat as Bren and I carry the last of her boxes down the stairs of our house. By some miracle, my eyes are still dry. It hasn’t hit me that she’s really leaving.
While Bren instructs her moving crew, which just consists of some of the hockey players, I do one last sweep of her room to make sure she hasn’t missed anything. The room is bare. No bed, no dresser. There’s even a blank space on her wall where just hours ago a picture of us and one of her and Liam hung. Not a single thing is left in her closet.
The floodgates open, and tears stream down my face. My heart is as empty as the room is.
“Oh, babe, come here.” Lucas walks into the room and pulls me into a hug. “It’s going to be okay.”
“I know,” I sob into his chest, trying to avoid leaving mascara stains on his t-shirt. “But I'm going to miss her.”
“Me too,” he replies, giving me a tight squeeze. “The guys and I are going to leave so you can say bye to Bren.”
My head nods against his chest, not ready to let him go yet.
“Oh, before I forget, Suz left this note for you.” Lucas pulls away, handing me an envelope.
For my heart’s sake, I’m thankful Suz left at the crack of dawn. My puffy red eyes can’t possibly handle more tears right now.
