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“You’re sure about this?” I look up at the apartment building in front of me and then back to where my best friend, Tess, is sitting in the passenger seat of my car.
She arrived in California two days ago with a plan to win back Sebastian, her high school boyfriend and perhaps the love of her life. Those two have gone back and forth for so many years I can’t keep up with them anymore. Though I must admit, I was surprised when she showed up at my front door the day before yesterday. In the five years since she and Sebastian broke up, this is the first time she’s made any real attempt to salvage what they have—or had; I guess that part still remains to be seen.
“I’m sure,” Tess finally manages to answer my question, letting out a slow breath as she looks back in my direction, her blue eyes full of uncertainty.
I give her a warm smile and reach out to pat her leg. Tess has always been the strong one, the one to hold our little group together. It’s weird feeling like I’m somehow the rock in this situation. I guess it just goes to show how full circle our friendship has come.
“You can do this, Tess,” I reassure her. “Just walk up there, knock on his door, and tell him you love him.”
“Just like that,” she laughs nervously. “You make it sound so easy.”
“He loves you, and you love him. If you both focus on that it should be easy.”
She nods, forcing a small smile. “I hope you’re right.”
“Only one way to find out.” I look up at the apartment building again and then back to Tess. “Go, you got this.”
“You’ll keep your phone on you in case I need you to come back?” she asks for what feels like the hundredth time.
“Yes, now stop stalling and go,” I say, not telling her I have no intention of actually going anywhere until I know she’s good.
“Okay.” She lets out a deep breath before pushing open the car door and climbing out. I offer a few additional words of encouragement before she shuts the door, and within moments, disappears inside.
I stare at the building for the next several minutes, envisioning what might be happening inside and if my best friend is finally getting the man she’s loved nearly half her life. It took a lot of courage for her to come here. I know it couldn’t have been easy. And not just flying across the country to pour her heart out to Sebastian; I’m sure that’s nothing compared to breaking off a two-year relationship with the other man she just agreed to marry days ago.
I have to admit, I envy her strength. To go after what you want so fiercely it’s a quality I wish I possessed. Then again, I don’t know that I’ve ever truly wanted anything that badly before. To get away from my alcoholic mother and the less than desirable company she keeps, maybe, but I don’t know that I’ve ever wanted or needed something so badly that I would put everything on the line to go for it.
But Tess, she loves with her whole heart and has more drive and desire in her little toe than I have in my entire body. That’s one of the things I love so much about her. She may seem shy and innocent to some, but to those of us who really know her she is anything but. She’s strong and independent. Fiercely loyal and trusting to a fault. There isn’t one thing she wouldn’t do for the people she loves. She’s shown me that on numerous occasions.
I’m so lost in my thoughts that I barely register the tall, broad man crossing toward me until he’s standing right in front of my car. He meets my eyes through the windshield, and a wide smile immediately flashes across his face.
“Anthony Treadway.” I almost squeal, climbing from the car so quickly you would think it had just burst into flames.
Within seconds my arms are wrapped around his middle, squeezing him like he’s the sweetest damn thing I’ve ever seen. Honestly, he just might be.
Anthony, or Ant as we’ve always called him, dated my other best friend, Courtney, in high school. They were very Tess and Sebastian for a while, but things rapidly declined for them and they broke up shortly before I left for California between my junior and senior year of high school. And while I considered Ant a good friend of mine, I haven’t seen or spoken to him since I moved.
“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” I smile up at him as I step out of his embrace.
He’s a good head and shoulders taller than me and just as attractive as he was in high school, or at least that’s what I think until that smile of his once again graces his face. Nope, definitely hotter now.
“Bree Kingsley, as I live and breathe.” He looks at me like he couldn’t be happier to see me, and in some weird way that leaves me with a whooshing feeling in my gut.
“My god it feels like it’s been forever.” I take a full step back so I can really get a good look at him. Tall, lean, broad shoulders—he’s filled out a lot in the last five years. His dark hair is a little longer, pushed to the side haphazardly to keep the strands from falling into his eyes, and he has some day-old scruff lining his jaw, giving him a rugged quality that I have to admit is definitely doing it for me.
I shake off the thought. Ant is someone I’ve always harbored a bit of a crush on. Nothing I ever acted on, of course. He was Courtney’s and therefore completely off limits. That didn’t stop me from checking him out every chance I got, but that little bit of information I always kept to myself.
“What are you doing all the way out here in my neck of the woods?” I ask. “Last I heard you were living in Boston.”
“I’ve actually been here a couple months now. Needed a change of scenery.”
“And how’s that working out for you?” I question, just needing to fill the space.
“I love it. I love the weather, the beaches, and the laidback west coast vibe.” He shuffles his feet as he shoves his hands into the front pockets of his worn jeans.
“Thinking you might hang around for a while?” I question.
“Maybe.” He shrugs, non-committal. “Guess that depends on whether or not Tess is stealing my roomie.” He chuckles, gesturing to the building behind him.
