“Maybe it is about baseball. Baseball business is really stressful. Did you ask him what was going on?”
I saw the way he looked at Renee. He was madly in love with her and to me this wasn’t adding up. I hoped this was just a misunderstanding; if Brian and Renee couldn’t make it work then I would never have a chance with Trip.
If he decided to call me.
“I tried to ask him, but he said to trust him.”
“Okay, maybe it’s a surprise for the wedding.”
Renee’s shoulders relaxed as if my suggestion reassured her, but then they raised right back up with tension pulsing off of her.
“I didn’t think of that, but this morning when he took a shower I checked his phone.”
“Nene.” I shook my head and clutched her hand.
“I know. I know. It’s a stupid high school move, but I knew he was keeping something from me.”
“And what did you find?”
Tears ran past her sunglasses and she swiped at them.
“It was from a woman Shelley.” Renee’s tone turned snotty when she spoke her name. “They were talking about secret places to meet. She asked if I suspected anything and he told her no.”
“There might be another explanation.” I squeezed her hand and she dejectedly shook her head.
“She told him it was going to be difficult sneaking around on me, and do you know what he texted back?”
I braced myself, already planning on buying a shovel.
“He said it was worth it.”
My stomach rolled around, sloshing the coffee in it. “What do you want to do?”
“Can we move back into your apartment? He goes out of town for an away game next weekend and I’ll go get our stuff when he’s gone. I texted him screenshots of his conversation and told him the wedding was off. I also texted him to leave us alone and I’d be moved out by the time he came back.”
“You know you’re always welcome at our place. Are you sure you don’t want to talk to him first? See if he has an explanation?”
Renee crossed her arms over her chest, letting me know the subject was closed. I drove back to the apartment, keeping my mouth closed. Unsure if it was horrible friend etiquette that I was thinking of sneaking into the bathroom and texting Brian when we got home.
Brian made my etiquette question void when we found him sitting on the floor by my apartment. His hands were thrust in his hair as he studied the ground. When he heard us approach his head shot up. His eyes rimmed with pain.
Renee turned around and stormed off.
“Wait, it’s not what you think,” he shouted to her back.
She whirled around and shot him with a death glare. I stood in the middle, wondering what I should do while I shuffled my feet back and forth.
“And what do I think?” she asked, setting her hands on her hips.
“I’m going to go inside and let you two talk this over.” I moved to unlock the door, wanting to remove myself from the awkwardness.
“Stay, Kenna. It’s Brian who should leave.”
Well, there went that idea.
“I’m not going anywhere until you let me explain.”
“Can we please do this inside?” I begged them, hoping the neighbors weren’t calling the cops.
