Meant to Marry Me

The countryside flying by outside the bus window had Bree mesmerized as she thought about how far away from Nashville they were traveling for the weekend. Zelda had booked two shows in St. Louis, one on Friday night and one on Saturday, which meant Bree would be spending her first night in a hotel while traveling with the band. She was so excited, she couldn't doze off like some of the other bandmates. Even though they didn't have a show that night, just the idea of traveling to a new town with these guys, preparing to play for two large crowds, had created a giddy excitement inside of her that continued to bubble to the surface throughout the drive.

Trent wasn't with her. He'd decided to stay in Nashville that night and fly to St. Louis the next day since he'd already had meetings scheduled with some important clients by the time Zelda was able to book the shows. She missed him already, but it was also nice to have just her band on the bus as they headed out on this new adventure together.

Zach hadn't quit--not yet anyway. He hadn't said anything about it in the last two weeks, and she was hopeful he'd gotten over his reservations. She glanced across the aisle at where he was sitting, staring out the window, the way she had been for most of the trip.

She'd been afraid the situation between them might be odd after his revelation, but it hadn't been. If anything, they'd become better friends. She'd warmed up to him, and the two of them joked around a lot. She still thought he was unbelievably hot, but she didn't have those nervous butterflies around him now like she had in the past.

Cat came and plopped down in the seat next to her. "How's it going?" the other girl asked, a grin on her face. "You look excited."

"I am excited," Bree admitted. "I can't wait for the shows. This arena seats ten thousand people. That's twice as many as the biggest show we've ever played before."

Cat smiled. She was clearly happy but not as crazy excited about it as Bree was. She looked around to see if anyone was paying any attention to them. All of the other guys were asleep, and Zach was still staring out the window. Lowering her voice, Cat asked, "So... did he talk to you?" and nudged her head in Zach's direction.

Raising both eyebrows, Bree asked, "About what?"

A sinister grin spread across Cat's face. "You know. Feelings and junk." She giggled, and Bree joined in, just because it seemed like the polite thing to do.

"A little," she said with a shrug, trying to keep it nonchalant. "Why?"

"I don't know. I was just wondering. Do you think he'll take that other offer?"

Now, she had Bree's attention. "What other offer?"

"Oh, he didn't tell you?" Cat's face was a mix between a child who'd been caught with her hand in the cookie jar and someone who'd done something naughty and wanted to get caught, like she knew that Bree probably didn't know what she was talking about before she'd opened her mouth. "The Gunslingers asked him if he wanted to join their band."

Bree felt her blood begin to boil at the audacity of another band trying to move in on her territory. "They did what?"

"Sorry--I figured he would've told you before he told me."

She shook her head. "No, he said he might want to look at other options, but he hadn't mentioned he had another offer." The idea of him leaving made her furious, but she realized she didn't own Zach. "If he wants to go, there's not much I can do to stop him." Bree hated to admit it, but it was true.

"Unless...." Cat stopped talking, but her face said she wanted Bree to figure out what she was thinking

Bree had no idea, though. "Unless... what?"

"Unless... you, you know, reciprocate his feelings." Cat looked at Zach and then at Bree, shrugging and making her eyes wide.

Hardly able to believe her ears, Bree asked, "Are you kidding? I have a boyfriend, Cat. One that I love. A lot."

"Okay, I'm sure you do. But so what? You're a famous singer now, Bree. There's nothing wrong with having a little side piece."

"Are you serious?" Bree asked, still staring at her like she was a crazy person. "Yes, there is. There's a lot wrong with it, Cat. I'm not famous, by the way, but even if I was, there wouldn't be anything okay about that, that's for sure." "Well, if he quits, our band's not going to be the same. Kell isn't as good as him, and you know it. Besides, I heard Kell's going to start playing with Sizzler. Then what will we do?"

"I don't know," Bree admitted. "But we'll figure it out. Hopefully, Zach will stay. Besides, I don't think he feels that way anymore. I think it was just a little crush... but it's over now."

"You think?" Cat scoffed, leaning back in her seat with her arms folded. "I don't. He just mentioned it to me yesterday. So...."

Bree stared at her for a moment. "Mentioned going to play with another band?'

"Yeah. Because he's infatuated with you."

It was hard for Bree to believe Zach would say that to anyone, especially Cat. It wasn't as if the two of them were friends. But the keyboardist's suggestion certainly wasn't an option. She'd just have to hope Zach decided to stay of his own accord. Because having a little side piece certainly wasn't a possibility, and she wasn't breaking up with Trent.