Chapter 21

A horrible ache started in the pit of her stomach and rapidly spiraled through her inner organs out through her extremities until Bree’s entire body seemed to be on fire from the inside out. “Wait--what?” Maybe she hadn’t heard Trent correctly. Maybe this was all a joke. Hank was known for being a prankster. “Excuse me?”

The fact that Trent’s blue eyes were focused on his shoes let her know she had heard him correctly, though. This wasn’t an awful dream. This was reality. He was marrying Monica Edge. “It’s me, Bree. I’m the groom.”

“You’re marrying Monica?” The words fell out of her mouth like rocks plopping into a lake and sinking directly to the bottom, the weight of them just as heavy and un-buoyant.

“I am. She’s... my fiancée.”

“Oh.” She ran a hand through her hair, and he could see the pain in her face. He wished he could take it back. He’d just assumed she knew, that Lilly or someone had told her. But, he shouldn’t have assumed anything. He should’ve called her himself and made sure she knew. “Wow.”

“I’m sorry, Bree. I should’ve made sure you knew.”

“No, no, don’t be silly. It’s fine. I mean... it’s a small world, that’s for sure. I didn’t even know you knew Lilly.”

“I knew Monica first. I knew her before Lilly transferred. When I broke up with Heather, Monica asked me out. We’ve been dating for a while. I guess... you and Lilly are close, right? I figured she had to have mentioned me.”

“She didn’t. But then... I never mentioned you to her. Not by name, anyway. Not specifically. Probably in passing. She probably didn’t realize that you were you. That the Trent I knew in high school was the same one that her sister was dating.”

“No, I guess not.” He was looking at her as if he had just assumed the whole world knew she’d been in love with him once. “Well, if you’re not comfortable singing, I don’t think anyone would blame you.”

“What? No, don’t be silly. I’m definitely surprised. But of course I’ll still sing. I’m a professional, after all, and besides, you and I have been friends forever. Why wouldn’t I want to sing at your wedding?” The fact that she was going to be singing a song she’d written about him marrying someone else when he was supposed to marry her wasn’t lost on her. She wondered how familiar he was with the song. Had he figured out that she’d written it for him? Since she’d never said anything to anyone to let them know for sure that he was the inspiration, he couldn’t know for certain.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m positive.” She took in a deep breath and let it out, and then, pushing down all of the pain that had surfaced earlier, she stepped forward and said, “Congratulations,” as she wrapped her arms around him.

Meant to Marry Me: Nashville Country Dreams Part 1 Chapter 20: Groomed Undeniable Attraction Chapter 52: Epilogue The Russian Mobster: Russian Mafia Romance Chapter 37 (Additional Chapter)

It took him a second to hug her back, but he did. “Thank you, Bree.” The scent of the ocean mingled with that masculine scent that was completely Trent, and she had to thrust an elbow into the stomach of the pain that threatened to bubble up inside of her again.

He stepped back, and she looked into his eyes for one more moment, wondering where they’d gone wrong and reminding herself it didn’t matter now.

It was too late. He belonged to someone else, and she’d just have to learn to let him go for good.

“You want to come inside, and I’ll introduce you to everyone? I know Lilly is excited to see you.”

“Sure,” Bree said, planting a fake smile on her face. “I’d love to.”

She followed him to the door, still taking deep breaths and trying to calm herself down. Soon, she’d come face to face with the woman who’d manage to do the thing she’d been praying to do for years--to make Trent her own. How would Bree look Monica in the eye and congratulate her for making Trent her fiancé when he was the one person in the world Bree could envision herself being with? It might just be the most difficult thing she’d ever do in her entire life--maybe impossible.

Meant to Marry Me:

Nashville Country Dreams Part 1 Undeniable Attraction