Make it Last (Friends & Lovers, Book 1)

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Briana started her shift, happy that not only was it Friday, but that it was actually her Friday. Getting weekends was rare, and rarer still was getting weekends off with her friends so that they could barbecue at the gravel pits.

Pam had allowed Briana, Kara, and Pete to switch shifts with some of the more seasoned workers, who had the prime shifts already locked. Most of them were happy to pick up a weekend now and then. It was a lot more packed and they usually made better money.

It was busy, even for a Friday, but Briana had plenty of help in the kitchen, so she didn't feel like she was overwhelmed. Just busy, which was how she liked it.

Kara came sauntering back into the kitchen to pick up an order. "So, Bree, is Mr. Gorgeous going to be at the pits tomorrow?"

"Rich?" Briana asked absently, putting the finishing touches on the grilled chicken wrap for Kara's order. "Yeah, he said he was going to stop by."

Kara walked up to her, forcing her to look up and focus. She had an odd look on her face and didn't say anything for a minute.

"What?" Briana asked her. "I've got a lot of orders to finish, Kara. Why are you acting weird?"

"I'm not, I was just wondering if you would be upset if I talked to him, that's all."

"Who, Rich? No. Why would I care?" Briana looked at her and Kara gave her a look that said, "You know why."

"Kara, I told you about that. It was just a one-time deal. We never dated or had a relationship. It wasn't like that. I have no claim on him. It's fine, I swear."

"Okay, cool," Kara said with a smile and a bounce. "I didn't want to poach. I just wanted to make sure there was nothing there. You know I'd never do that to you."

"I do. Now get this wrap and get out of here. I've got work to do," Briana said, trying to push her back out into the dining room.

Briana worked diligently, getting orders out as fast as she could until it was break time. She decided to go out into the dining room. Pam didn't mind if they took their breaks out there, as long as it didn't cause a problem for the customers.

Briana grabbed a Coke from Pete and was about to find a seat when she found herself face to face with Colin.

"Hey, Bree."

This was the moment she'd been dreading, but now that it was there, she found that she knew just how to handle it.

"Hi, Colin," She replied, and started to walk around him.

"Wait," he said, putting his hand on her arm to stop her from walking away. "Can't we talk?"

She looked pointedly at his hand and then up at his face, not saying anything until he removed it.

"We don't have anything to talk about, Colin," she said, hoping her face looked bored because her nerves were bouncing all over the place. "Besides, I'm working."

"Looks like you're on break," he replied. "C'mon, Bree, just give me a couple minutes."

She was about to tell him to shove it, when she felt someone come up behind her and two strong arms wrapped around her.

"Hey, Babe, I've been wondering if Pam was ever gonna give you a break." Kent whispered in her ear

He said it loud enough for Colin to hear, and Briana noticed him stiffen at Kent's words and his obvious familiarity.

"Yeah, I've got a quick one." Briana turned and gave him a grateful look, before going up on her tip toes to meet him for a brief kiss.

She thought she heard a grunt or something come from Colin, so she turned to give him a smile and an introduction.

"Oh, sorry," she said, though she wasn't in the least. "Kent, this is Colin. We went to high school together. Colin, this is Kent."

"What's up, man?" Kent asked, extending his hand for a shake.

Colin looked at the offered hand, then back at Kent who may have been an inch shorter than him and shook it.

"Not much. You must be new around here." Colin said.

Briana tried to hide a smirk at Colin's discomfort. It looked like he wanted to punch Kent in the face.

"I've been here for about two years. I work over at the paper. You know, just temporary, to gain some experience and move on to a bigger gig."

He seemed happy to hear that Kent was just a transient and that he'd be moving on eventually.

Briana couldn't help but think that Colin had no right to be jealous of anyone in her life. He was the one who walked all of those years ago.

"Cool, man. Well, I'll leave you two to your business and I'll see you around," Colin said, eager to get out of there. "Bye, Bree."

"Yup," was her only response. She pretended to ignore him as he walked away, focusing her attention on Kent. "Thanks for coming to my rescue."

"Who was that guy?" Kent asked, looking up at Colin's retreating back before looking back down at her. "At first I thought he was your date or something, but the look on your face changed my mind. It looked like you wanted out of the situation. I hope you didn't mind me coming up behind you like that. It just seemed to fit the situation."

"No, I didn't mind, I appreciated it. We dated in high school and I really hoped I'd never have to see him again. Pretty stupid, considering how small the town is, but he'd never planned to move back here."

Kent was quiet for a moment. "Oh, so he's the douche from high school." He looked up again, as if wishing Colin was still standing in front of him.

"Yeah, but it's no big deal. It was a long time ago. He just took me by surprise, is all." As did the feelings she'd had when his hand touched her. It didn't seem fair that the one person she never wanted to see again was the one person who could set her body on fire with one innocent touch.

"All right, Babe. You know that I'm here for you anytime you need me. If you want to tell him we're together, feel free," Kent said with his cocky little grin lighting up his face.

Briana touched her hand to his cheek and smiled, wishing she felt the things for Kent that she'd felt for Colin.

"Thanks, but I'll be okay. I don't want to cramp your style and ruin your chance with the ladies," she responded playfully, trying to soften her negative response.

Kent looked down at her seriously, his heart in his eyes. "Bree, you know all you have to do is say the word, and there will be no other ladies."

She nodded, wishing she could give him the answer he wanted.

He smiled again, all seriousness leaving his face. "You still want me to pick you up at one tomorrow?"

"You sure you still want to go?" she asked, giving him an out if he wanted one. "If you have other plans, I'll understand."

"Nope," he replied. "I'm all yours."

"Okay. One o'clock will be perfect." She tip toed up to give him a quick kiss before turning to go back to the kitchen. "I'll see you then.