When they were escorted to their table, he pulled out Briana’s seat for her, then sat across from her. Her delighted grin made him happy that he’d been taking care to be a gentleman for her.
They ordered their food and caught up as they nibbled on spinach dip.
“So,” Briana began, “how are your parents doing?”
“They seem happier than they’ve ever been,” he answered. “Mom started playing tennis and has made a beautiful garden in their yard. She’s taking more time for herself, since I’m out of the house, which is really good for her. Since she’s so happy, that make
s Dad happy. They’re going out on date nights now and everything.”
“That’s wonderful. They’re such a great couple. I’ve always looked up to them for that,” Briana admitted. “When I get married, I hope my marriage is as great as theirs.”
“Me, too,” Colin replied, reaching over the table to hold her hand. “I know I’ve said this already, but I’ve really missed you, Bree.”
She looked down at the joined hands and then back up into his dark eyes.
“I’m sure you’ve had plenty of company over the last few years,” she said softly, not voicing the question that was apparent in her face.
“I’m not going to lie and say that I didn’t date after we broke up. I kept things pretty casual for the most part, but I did have one girlfriend while I was in school. It was more of a status thing. We liked each other, but we weren’t in love. It was nothing like my relationship with you, Bree. You’re the only girl that I’ve ever been in love with.”
Briana blushed at that, and couldn’t help the smile that formed at his words. She’d always assumed that he’d see other girls while he was a way, and she’d figured that unlike her, he would have another relationship. But she couldn’t help the uneasy feeling that came with hearing he’d had another girlfriend.
“What happened?” she asked. “Why’d you break up?”
“She was only interested in dating me because I played football and was getting scouted. Once I got injured, there was nothing that I could do to help her get what she wanted.”
“That sucks,” she said, getting angry on his behalf. “She sounds like a terrible person.”
Colin chuckled at her reaction. “Nah, she’s not that bad,” he replied. “Like I said, we knew what our relationship was, so the only thing that was injured when she dumped me was my pride.”
Briana squeezed his hand, then let it go when their food arrived and they both began to eat.
They talked a bit more while they ate, catching up on things they’d missed in each other’s lives since they’d last spoken. As they waited for the waiter to return with their bill, Briana talked to him about Pete’s love for Kara.
“I feel so bad. He’s been in love with her for over a year, and every time she brings another guy around, she crushes him a little bit more.”
“Does she know how he feels?” Colin asked.
She frowned. “She thinks he has a crush, so she doesn’t take him seriously. She says that she wants to stay single and just enjoy life, but I don’t think she is enjoying life. I think she would love to have someone, but that she’s afraid of being hurt.”
After he signed the bill, Colin took her hand and said, “You have to let them work this out. If you interfere, you’re just going to upset Kara.”
“I know,” she admitted, “but I know that Pete is exactly what she needs. I just wish she’d give him a chance.”
They walked out of the restaurant, but Colin paused before they got to his truck.
“I know that you have to get up early to go to your Moms, but I’m not ready for our night to end.” He pushed a strand of hair behind her ear as he spoke.
“It’s still early,” she responded. “What did you have in mind?”
“I have a bottle of wine in the truck. How about the gravel pits?” he suggested.
“Okay,” she agreed with a smile, reaching up to give him a soft kiss on the lips. “Thanks for dinner.”
He leaned into her and deepened the kiss. “My pleasure.”
When they got to the gravel pits and snuck through the fence, Colin opened his bag and produced a blanket, a bottle of wine, a corkscrew and two glasses.
“Looks like you thought of everything,” Briana said, pleasure lighting up her face.