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When Briana got home on Saturday night, Kara told her that Rich had put together an impromptu barbecue at his parents’ house for the next afternoon. They were out of town for a few weeks, so he thought it would be the perfect time to get everyone together.
Briana got up and went to the grocery store to pick up a few items that she could contribute to the party. She decided to make a spinach and raspberry salad and trifle for desert. Just as Briana wrapped up the dishes, Kara came out in a blue-green summer dress with strappy sandals.
“Ready?” Kara asked as she coated her lips with a shimmery gloss.
“Yup. I just need to grab my bag. You have your clothes for work?”
Kara patted the small backpack that she carried, frowning as she said, “Yes. It stinks that we have to work tonight. We’re going to have to leave just when the party gets goin’.”
Briana ran to her room and grabbed her stuff, then met Kara at the car to load everything. When they arrived at the party there were already quite a few cars lining the streets in front of the house. They followed the sound of the music and the smell of the grill around the side of the house and let themselves in through the gate. Pete and Nicole were sitting and talking at one of the folding tables, while Rich manned the grill. Colin, Kent and Roni stood awkwardly by a long table of food, talking intermittently.
Briana and Kara headed towards the table to put the dishes down and said, “Hi,” to Pete and Nicole as they passed.
Kent walked over to Briana and leaned down to give her a kiss. She stood still, conscious of the fact that Colin was watching and unsure o
f how the next few minutes were going to play out. Kent pulled back and looked down at her face.
“Everything all right, Bree?” he asked confusion showing on his face.
“Yeah,” she responded. “Everything’s fine.”
She couldn’t stop her eyes from darting to Colin and Roni. Kent followed her gaze and then turned back to her.
“Is there something going on that I should know about?” He looked like he was trying not to get upset.
“Um, let’s go inside and talk,” she responded leading him through Rich’s sliding glass door.
“Don’t tell me you fell for his shit already, Bree,” Kent started before she had a chance to close the door.
She saw Colin start, as if he was about to follow them inside, but she shook her head at him and turned to Kent. She looked up at him, her gaze taking in his blond hair and beautiful grey eyes. He’d always been so good to her, never pressuring her for more than she was ready to give. She felt horrible that she couldn’t give him the one thing he’d always hoped for.
Her.
“Kent, it’s not about Colin,” she began. “I love you, and I always will, but we both know that this thing we’ve been doing for the past few years isn’t good for either of us.”
He dragged his hand through his hair as he paced around the room. “Don’t tell me it’s not about him. Things were great before he got here. Look, Bree, we have an understanding… we always have. If one of is with someone, we back off. It’s fine. I’ll let you have your fun with Colin, then I’ll be here for you when it’s done.”
He stopped in front of her and she saw the hope on his face. She knew then that she had to let him go. He deserved better than what she had to offer him.
She walked closer until their bodies were almost touching and placed her hand on his cheek. “You deserve better than this, Kent. Better than me. You’re a wonderful guy. You deserve to be with a girl who will give you all of the love that she has to offer. Who will appreciate how kind and amazing you are.” She looked into his eyes, “We can’t do this anymore. Whether or not things work out with Colin, I won’t be back to use you as my crutch. But I will always cherish you as my friend.”
Kent closed his eyes, then turned away. “Can you give me a minute?” he asked gruffly.
Briana didn’t say anything, just turned and went back outside. She didn’t meet Colin’s eyes as she walked over to where Pete, Nicole, and Kara sat. She sat down, but didn’t join their conversation. She couldn’t help but picture Kent’s crestfallen expression before he’d turned from her.
Before she knew it, the backyard was full of people and she went in search of Kara. She walked up to where Pete stood alone and asked him if he’d seen Kara. He nodded his head towards the tree line of the backyard, where Kara was making out with some tall, lanky guy that Briana didn’t recognize.
“She’s drunk,” Pete stated.
“What?” Briana asked incredulously. “We have to be to work in an hour.”
“I don’t think she’s gonna make it.”
Briana walked over to Kara and tugged on her arm. “Kara. Kara. Stop. We have to go.”
The stranger pulled away long enough to say, “Fuck off,” then went back to slobbering all over Kara.
“Kara.” Briana tried getting closer and tapped her on the back. “We have to get to work.”
