He sat down next to her on the couch, his cocky smile gone, a serious look in its place.
“About that. You never said anything to Colin, did you?”
“No. I haven’t talked to him in four years, Rich. When would it have come up?”
“I don’t know, but I never told him, either. I don’t know if we should.”
“Rich, I doubt it would ever enter a conversation, but if it does, I won’t lie to him,” she said, looking him in the eye. “It shouldn’t matter to him, anyway. Don’t worry about it.”
He looked unsure for a minute, then glanced back towards Kara’s door.
“Does she know?” he asked.
“Yeah, she knows. She knew before she met you.” Briana replied. “It’s no big deal, Rich. Seriously, stop worrying.”
“Alright,” he said finally, then looked back at her, his cocky grin back in place. “You know I’ll always love you, right, Babe?”
Briana smiled back, but her look turned serious. “I know that, Richie. I’ll always love you too. You’re one of my best friends.” She leaned in to give him a hug, then realized he still didn’t have his shirt on. “I appreciate the fact that you work out and your body is awesome, but can you please put your shirt on? It’s hard to concentrate.”
Rich looked pleased at that. He stood up to go into the kitchen for coffee, throwing his shirt over his head along the way.
Kara came stumbling out moments late and grunted at Briana on her way to get some coffee.
“You’d better have left me some coffee,” she grumbled at Rich.
“Dang, girl, you’re lookin’ rough.” Rich stated with a laugh, running out of the kitchen to avoid Kara’s wrath.
“Shove it, Rich,” was Kara’s reply. She walked in holding the warm cup up to her face inhaling briefly, before taking her first sip. “Don’t mess with me before I’ve had my coffee.”
“Noted,” he replied, as he sat back down on the couch with his mug.
“So, ladies, what’s on your agenda today?”
Kara was still waiting for the coffee to take effect and didn’t reply, so Briana answered.
“Nothing much. I’m off today, so I’m planning to lie out in the sun and read. But Kara has to work.”
“Yeah, me too. I’ll be serving up some delicious treats at The General Store if you guys want to stop by,” he offered with a wink.
Kara looked at him blandly over her steaming mug. “No, thanks.”
“Yeah, I’ll pass, too,” Briana said with a look of regret. “Sorry, but although I know I’m going to run into Colin now that he’s back, that doesn’t mean I’m going to seek him out.”
“You’re not still mad at him for what happened four years ago, are you?” Rich questioned her. “Bree that was a long time ago. You guys have been apart way longer than you were ever together.”
“I loved him, Rich,” Briana replied quietly. “He really hurt me.”
“I know that. Believe me, if anyone knows how much he hurt you, it’s me. But give the dude a chance. It’s been a long time. He’s grown up, and I know he regrets hurting you.”
“I don’t know if I’m ready yet. A lot of time may have passed, but I’ve only just started to see him again. It’s like seeing him has brought back all of those feelings of hurt and resentment, as if it just happened.”
“Just think about it.” Rich stood up and took his cup back to the kitchen, then came back out to give them each a hug. “Well, ladies, I hate to break it to you, but I have to get going. Work is a’waitin’.”
“You’re working at a soda fountain,” Kara said, finally waking up enough to get snarky. “It’s not like the city will crumble if you don’t get to work on time.”
“Hey, Ms. Grumpy Pants, this is my last summer before I’m a college graduate and have to get a real job, with all of the stress and long hours that come along with it. I plan to make the most of my time at the counter, and vow to have the happiest customers in town,” he declared with a wink and a smile. Then he walked out the door.
Briana couldn’t help but giggle at his dramatic exit.