Country Love

ii

  I'm painting the fences when Brad arrives. He looks at me in disbelief as if he isn't the one who got me this job.

"Hey Bri, good to see you here." he says.

"Hi Bradley." I reply icily, making it a point not to use his nickname.

He's about to say something when Chad appears and says, "Good to see you man, come on, I'll show you around and tell you what to do."

"Okay, see you around Brianna."

Thank goodness he left, suddenly all the memories of me and him come rushing back to me and I drown my thoughts out by listening to one of Kerri Smith's classics, Be Better. I sing along to the song, playing it on repeat.

Mama always told me to be better,

But she never knew how much I hurt,

Still, I tried not to upset her,

So I buttoned up my shirt,

Left for the city because I'm strong,

But here I am, singing this song

Suddenly, Chad walks up to me, and says, "Kerri Smith's got quite a fan in you, huh? And here I thought only twelve year olds listened to her"

"Excuse me, Chadley Johnathon Cooper Sloane, Kerri Smith is a lyrical genius, and I wouldn't expect a himbo like you to understand any of her songs."

"Oh, I'm a himbo?"

"No, just stupid, not good looking." I lie, trying not to look at his biceps.

"Okay, sure," he stares at me intently for a moment, "here, I'll help you."

"I'm an independent woman, I can handle this and I get paid by the hour, remember?"

"Maybe I'm a loving son who doesn't want his parents to waste money on your sloppy handiwork"

I glare at him, "Well, then get your own brush."

Chad returns with his brush far too soon. Apparently, he's in a chatty mood. He asks me, "So, you and Brad, huh?"

"Me and Brad?"

"Yeah, you and Brad." he replies.

I roll my eyes, annoyed that he would even think that Brad and I were ever a thing.

"We were friends in middle school. Happy?"

"Just friends?" he presses.

"Even if we were more than friends, what do you expect we did together in middle school?"

"So you were more than friends."

"No." I reply, wondering why he was so concerned with a middle schooler's love life.

"Okay," he glances at me, "why'd he get you this job?"

"More like how did he get me this job, do you even know the guy?"

"Not too well but our dads are friends."
"So you and Brad aren't-"

"No, we're not." Suddenly, his jaw tightens and I decide to drop the matter.