Chapter 2

The end of my junior year was coming quickly. I was trying to soak up all of my time with Tate that I could, and normally I stay in Tennessee over breaks, but this spring break was Baylen and Quinn’s wedding. My mom insisted that I come home a bit early. So that is what I did.

Tate drove me to the airport. He spent the night with me the night before. I was really going to miss him this week until the wedding. He was flying in the day before the wedding, so I would have to do all of the festivities without his support this week. Casey and Wren were coming home for two weeks. I could not wait to hug my girls. Case would be able to distract me from Keegan. I was not looking forward to seeing him. The minute I got off of the plane I was to head to the banquet hall to help my mom finish up the center pieces. I hadn’t seen her or Ms. Kyren since Christmas, so it would be so much fun.

The Uber dropped me off at the front of the convention center with my bags. The hall was beautiful. There was a large, brick water fountain out front that was illuminated with warm lighting in the bottom. When I entered the foyer, the floor was a beautiful marble and there were two tall staircases on either side of me. The walls had giant sconces spread out evenly on the walls. The furniture was thick and gorgeous. Ms. Alison and Quinn definitely picked this place. Baylen would have no clue. I was so busy taking in the ambience that I didn’t even hear my mom calling my name.

“Breesy girl, hey my doll,” she said, almost scooping me off of the floor in a huge bear hug.

“Oh my gosh, hey mommy. I was so distracted by the beauty of this place that I didn’t even see you. I apologize,” I said, quickly accepting her embrace.

“Come on into the room. I can’t wait until you see what we have done already,” she said, pulling me into the other room.

Ms. Kyren and the girls instantly saw me and ran over to me. Kailee was as tall as I was now. They were turning 15 years old and it was so odd to me. They were tiny babies not that long ago when I first met them. And now standing in front of me were these gorgeous, curly, blonde haired beauties.

“Brees, I have missed you so much,” Kelsie said, squeezing me around my waist.

I hugged her back and brought Kailee into the hug as well. Ms. Kyren smiled and let us have our moment.

She knew why I hadn’t returned home when Keegan was there, but she had kept it from the girls.

“Are you coming to dinner tonight at the house?” Kailee asked.

Dinner? I hadn’t been made aware of a dinner. I was seriously exhausted from my flight. I didn’t know who would be there. I was stunned for a moment.

“I uh, I hadn’t thought about it Kai,” I said, stumbling over my words.

She looked at me confused and then at her mom. Ms. Kyren ushered them off to finish some decorations with my mom. She grabbed my hands and looked at me, with that look she gave me when she had bad news.

“Brees, I know you and Kee haven’t seen one another in years, but could you just give your brother this one family dinner tonight?” she pleaded.

I scowled and folded my arms. I didn’t want to see him right now. I knew I had to eventually, but tonight was not the best time.

I excused myself to make a phone call. I had to see if Casey was back in the states yet. There was no way I could do this without her. I dialed her number and it rang for what seemed like forever.

“Hello,” Casey said, sounding as if she were sleeping.

“Case! Are you sleeping?” I asked, stopping myself from over sharing right away.

“James, I literally am trying to adjust my body back to this crazy time difference. Wren has been super crabby because of it,” Casey said, yawning.

“I’m so sorry, Case. You know I wouldn’t call you unless I really needed you. Can you come to dinner tonight at my house?” I asked, sullenly.

“Jamie-pie, I would love to, but this is a non-starter for me and Wren. I will catch you up in the morning, but you may be seeing a lot more of us,” Casey said.

“Wait what? What do you mean?” I asked, trying to hold in my excitement.

“In the morning James. Goodbye for now. I love you, and whatever your dilemma is, call Tate. He will know what to do,” she said, hanging up.

As her voice left my ears silent, I felt anxious. I can’t tell Tate that I’m going to see the former love of my life and that I’m nervous about it. What would he think? He knows that I’m over Keegan. He knows that ship has sailed. But this nagging feeling in my chest was becoming overwhelming. What was I going to do? How could I even look at Keegan? We hadn’t spoken to or seen one another since our break up years ago. He had a serious relationship that Baylen had mentioned, and I am in one now. I love Tate. Yes, that’s it. I have to keep telling myself that my boyfriend is the absolute best and that he will be here in three days. I can do this. I can stare down the barrel of a shot gun. A part of me wants to just tell them no. Tell them I’m tired or make some excuse. However, the curious part of me really wanted to see if I could control my emotions when I saw him. I had to do this. I wanted to do this. I can face Keegan Patts.