Chapter 39: Nothing But the Truth


    “Bree, is there something you want to tell me?” Trent asked, his hand on top of hers in the sand.


    Slowly, Bree nodded and pulled her phone out of her pocket. “Yeah, I guess you could say that. Do you


    know why Hank was so upsetst night?”


    Trent nodded, and she was surprised. She’d assumed he had no idea. “He still has feelings for Monica,


    I guess. He went out with her a time or two before she and I started dating. I wouldn’t have gone out


    with her at all under the circumstances, but Hank said it was fine.”


    “Apparently, it’s not fine,” she said, looking into his eyes.


    “I guess not. But by the time I realized that, it was a little toote. Besides, Monica insists she never


    had serious feelings for him. So even if I stopped seeing her, that wouldn’t solve Hank’s problem.”


    “It might’ve made him feel better. At least he wouldn’t have to see her all the time and know he couldn’t


    have her.”


    “That’s a good point.” Trent shrugged and looked out across the ocean.


    “Besides… I don’t think Monica was beingpletely honest with you. I know she wasn’t. Neither one


    of them were.”


    She could almost see the shiver that went through his body. His eyes were on her again, heavy with


    concern. “What do you mean, Bree?”


    “I mean… she’s cheating on you. With Hank.”


    His blue eyes widened and his mouth hung open for a long while before he finally cleared his throat


    and asked, “Are you sure? I can’t believe either one of them would do that.”


    “I’m sure,” she said with a nod. “I debated about whether or not I should tell you for a lot of obvious


    reasons. I finally decided it wouldn’t be fair to anyone if I didn’t, but most especially not fair to you.


    Trent, you deserve to be with someone who knows what she has when she’s with you. How anyone


    could ever step out on you is unfathomable to me. If she doesn’t recognize how special you are….”


    Bree stopped talking because she knew she’d end up reciting the vows she’d written for him when she


    was in high school and had dreamt of marrying him. She’d ramble off a list of all the things she loved


    about him right here in the sand. But that’s not what he needed right now.


    He looked away from her, and she gave him some time to process. It had to be a shock. When he


    pulled his hand away from hers to cross his arms over his knees, she tried not to be offended. But her


    hand felt cold now without his.


    “I wish there was a way you could hear this and not be mad at Hank. He first mentioned that he had


    pretty strong feelings for her at Christy’s party, a long time ago. I think he’s tried to get over her, get


    away from her, but just can’t seem to do it.”


    “He’s supposed to be my best friend.” Trent ran his hand through his hair.


    “I know. I couldn’t believe he’d do that either. I’m so sorry.”


    “But you’re not shocked that she’s cheating?”


    “I told you, I’m surprised anyone would cheat on you. But, no, I’m not shocked Monica would do


    something so selfish. Even if she wasn’t cheating, Trent, you deserve so much more.”


    He shook his head and scoffed. “Now you say that. Bree, why didn’t you say anything like that five or


    ten years ago when I wasn’t about to get married?”


    “Because… you were my best friend. I didn’t want to ruin it and lose you. I wasn’t sure how you felt


    about me….”


    “Damn it, Bree. I kissed you, didn’t I? I would’ve in the parking lot at the dance, too, if Hank hadn’t


    shown up. He’s been sabotaging my life for years.”


    It was her turn to be quiet and contemtive. Eventually, she said, “I’m sorry, Trent. I should’ve said


    something, especially after you kissed me. I tried texting you, but I guess I had the wrong number, and


    whoever my messages went to jerked me around a little bit. But… does it have to be toote now?”


    As the question rolled off of her tongue, she wished she could take it back, that she could suck it back


    in, or reach out and grab it.


    “Bree… I’m engaged.”


    “Even after I just told you she’s cheating, you’re going to marry her?”


    “Just because Hank says--”


    She stopped him with her hand and then found the pictures on her phone. “I don’t think Hank’s this


    good at Photoshop. And besides, there are videos.”


    Trent took her phone and looked closely at the first picture before his expression changed. He turned a


    little green, and she thought he might be sick for a second. Quickly, he scrolled through the rest of


    them, not looking at any of them long, and certainly not watching the videos. “Why would they take


    pictures of that?”


    “I didn’t ask. Hank doesn’t know I stole them.”


    “How did you get them?”


    “Last night, when he was drunk, I airdropped them to myself.” She put her hand out for her phone, but


    he didn’t give it back to her. Instead, he pulled out his own phone and stole them from her. She


    deserved that. “Please don’t tell him I told you. If I’m going to lose you, at least leave me Hank.”


    Trent handed her phone back to her. “You’re not going to lose me, Bree. I’m right here. I never meant to


    leave you. I’ve thought about you every single day since I’ve met you, especially after that kiss. But….”


    “But you’re engaged to Monica, and you don’t even care that she’s sleeping with your best friend.”


    “I don’t know. I need some time to think. To talk to her. To… figure this out.”


    She couldn’t me him for wanting to think about it. She would want to, too. But she’d also be furious,


    and he didn’t seem like he was. In fact, he seemed so calm, it was almost as if he wasn’t all that


    shocked himself, like he’d suspected it.


    “All right. I’ll let you think,” she said, pushing up off of the sand. She took a few steps and then nced


    back at him. Trent hadn’t moved. He was staring out at the ocean as if the answers were all in the


    crashing waves.


    So many thoughts came to mind. How many times had she gone over this moment in her head? This


    was her opportunity to tell him how she felt, to let him know that she loved him, that she wanted to be


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    with him, that if he would leave Monica and be with her, he’d never have to feel like second best ever


    again, and she’d certainly never cheat on him. Instead of pouring all of that out, she turned to face him


    and cleared her throat. He nced up at her. “You know, people ask me all the time who I wrote the


    song for--‘Meant to Marry Me’.” He nodded.


    Bree took a deep breath and continued. “I always lie and say it’s just a made up song, that it’s not really


    written for anyone in particr. But you and I both know that it’s a lie, Trent. You know that I wrote it for


    you. When I’m singing it at your wedding tomorrow, listen to the words really closely, because every


    single one of them is true. I just can’t believe the song I wrote is really happening.” She shook her head


    and walked off through the sand, headed to her room and a soft ce to fall.


    Tears were streaming down her face as she reached her room. She’d done everything she could to try


    to change his mind. Maybe Trent would give it some thought and realize Bree was right, that he


    shouldn’t be with Monica. But if he didn’t… there was nothing else she could do, and that was probably


    the most painful realization of all. For so many years, she’d said he hadn’t chosen to be with her


    because he just didn’t realize how she felt. But now, he knew. And if he chose to be with someone else


    anyway… she wasn’t sure how she’d make it through.


    In her room, Bree copsed on her bed, sobsing in angry bursts as she thought back over all of


    the memories she’d collected of Trent, ever since that day in kindergarten when she’d met him at the


    bus stop. He’d been waiting there, his shaggy hair a mess in the morning breeze, one strap of his


    backpack constantly falling down, a lopsided grin on his face.


    “What’s your name?” he’d asked.


    Being shy at the age of five, she’d said, “Bree.”


    “Bee?” he’d asked. “That’s kinda different.”


    “No, not Bee--Bree.”


    “Oh, thank goodness. I thought you might sting me.”


    She’dughed, and so had he. They’d sat by each other that day and every day for as long as they’d


    both ridden the bus. Tomorrow, he’d marry someone who wanted to unseat her, and Bree’s heart was


    broken into a thousand pieces. There was nothing in the world she or anyone else could do about it,


    though. Not unless Trent recognized that Monica didn’t know how to love anyone but herself and sent


    her packing. Otherwise, the dream Bree had had for so many years would be like the sand on the


    beach, sifting through her fingers.