Make It Last (Friends & Lovers 1)

Briana stepped in between the two guys. “It was just one time, Colin. It was never anything serious,” she said.

“That’s. Just. Fucking. Great,” he managed before turning and storming out of the apartment.

Briana turned to Rich, who had gone ashen with regret.

“Shit,” he said simply, before sitting back down in his chair.

Briana went to find Kara, Kent, or Pete, but ran into Roni first.

“Roni,” she said, grabbing her hand and pulling her over to Rich. “Can you keep an eye on him for me? Make sure he doesn’t leave this apartment, okay?”

“Sure,” Roni replied, looking anything but sure as she looked at the gorgeous guy sitting there like he’d just seen a ghost.

“Thanks.” Briana ran to her room to grab the car keys.

“What’s up, Bree?” Kara asked from the kitchen. She followed Briana into her room, noting her friend’s frantic movement.

“Who does he think he is?” she asked out loud. “He’s the one who dumped me! He has no right to act all pissed off, like we did something terrible to him.”

“What are we talking about?” Kara tried to get her attention, but she was scouring the room like a crazy person.

“Son of a bitch. Where are the keys?”

“Probably in your purse. Are you going somewhere?” Kara asked, picking up Briana’s purse and handing it to her.

“Yeah. I’m going to have it out with Colin, once and for all.”

Chapter Ten

Briana knew that Colin was staying at the apartments behind The General Store from a conversation she’d had with Rich. She just hoped that that’s where he went after he left the party. Then she pulled behind the store and saw his truck, so she parked behind it.

She stormed up the steps and pounded on the door.

It swung open as she raised her fist to knock again.

“Not now, Bree.” Colin said, swinging the door closed again.

She put her foot in the doorway and pushed the door as hard as she could, shoving past him and walking in, before turning to look at him with her hands on her hips.

“Yes, now, Colin,” she countered.

He slammed the door shut and looked down at her small angry form.

“Fine, you wanna go?” he yelled, storming past her, his arms emphasizing his words. “Let’s go.”

“No,” she turned on him, standing up on tip toe so she could get in his face. “You don’t get to be mad here, Colin. You left me, not the other way around, and I doubt you’ve been celibate for the last four years. Tell me, are you still a virgin, Colin?”

“That’s not the point, Briana, I don’t care that you’re not a virgin. I didn’t expect you to stay a virgin forever. The point is that you slept with Rich - my best friend. Or should I say, my former best friend.”

“Oh, give me a break. Rich is still your best friend. You aren’t going to let one night three years ago ruin the friendship you’ve had your whole life.”

Colin turned from her to walk over to the window.

“Colin, listen,” she pleaded, her voice softening at the look on his face. “We were both away from home for the first time. I was upset because I was still missing you and I’d heard you had started seeing someone. He was upset because he’d been riding the bench all year. We were hanging out and drinking, and it just happened. It was only once, and it was really awkward afterwards. We agreed that we only wanted to be friends, and have been ever since. Don’t be mad at him.”

Colin looked at her, his heart heavy and jealousy coursing through his veins. “What about you, should I be mad at you?”

She felt her blood start to rise again, angry that he was trying to make her feel guilty when she had no reason to be.