Chapter 23

What a great time for her cousin to show up.

It wasn't lost on Briana on how most of the other guys had checked out Nadine when she walked through the halls the first day. One thing her cousin never had a problem doing was attracting the attention of men. And Briana had been on guard that first day, convinced that Nadine's next target would be Brian.

Like hell she will, Briana thought. I will snap that whore's neck in two if she even as much as looks at him in a way I don't like. Good old Nadine is going to find out the hard way I'm not the shy little girl who hides in the corner anymore.

Nadine had been gone for years; Briana hadn't even seen her since her wedding with Gary and then his funeral, and now all of the sudden the woman was back in the picture wanting to be buddy-buddy, as if they have been close all of their lives.

"I know what you're thinking, Bree," Nadine said a few days later. "You still think I'm some home wrecking, gold digging slut. I'm not that girl anymore. I've grown up, gotten my own career, and the only thing I want to think about is working on my new life. I know a long time ago you thought I was out to take Gary from you, but that wasn't the case then and it isn't the case to take your fiance now."

"So why are you here?" Briana asked, a touch of suspicion in her voice.

"I want to make amends. Bree, I was…am….a recovering cocaine addict," Nadine sighed. "As part of my recovery, I have to make amends with all the people I've wronged in my life. I know I've put you through hell, made you feel like shit, especially knowing how much you wanted to get into cheerleading back in eighth grade. I ruined that for you too."

"I figured that out a long time ago," Briana nodded. "But you know what? Weird as it sounds now, you actually did me a favor."

Nadine brightened. "Really?"

"Yeah," Briana nodded, now convinced her cousin had changed. "It turned out I was better suited for volleyball and Future Cosmetologists, and then years later I met Gary."

"Um, about that, I'm sorry for hitting on him so much too."

"Not that he was interested anyway," Briana said with a slight smile.

"I rather picked that up eventually. I kind of flirted just because I could. Pretty warped, huh?"

"To say the least."

"But this guy you're going to marry; Jesus, Bree, he could almost pass for Gary's twin. How did you hook up with him?"

Briana filled Nadine on the details of the fateful first day in Tina's shop and some of the events from there, up to their recent engagement. She grinned, showing her cousin a pile of blond hair in a dust pan. "I even talked him into finally cutting off about three inches," she added. "He was starting to look like a caveman and had more splits than a Vegas divorce court."

Nadine studied the contents, amazed. "You mean that's…." she began.

Briana nodded. "Every little scrap."

"Good lord girl, and you're tossing it out? You need to bag that up and sell it on Ebay. You could make a mint."

"I don't think Brian would relish the idea of having his own hair auctioned to random strangers," Briana laughed.

"Briana!" a male voice yelled right outside. "Have you seen any of my razors? I need to shave before tonight."

"Speak of the devil," she nodded to Nadine. "Excuse me."

Nadine smiled back and heard Briana right outside. "For the love of God, Brian, you are so disorganized sometimes. They're in your black bag; if they were a snake, they would bite you. While I have you here, I want you to meet someone anyway."

"Do I have to? I kind of look like shit."

"You're fine and I won't think my cousin will care."

"Your cousin? I thought you didn't have any family around since Gary died."

"Neither did I; I hadn't seen her since his funeral, in fact. We weren't that close, but things are changing in that respect. Now get your ass in here and meet her."

Briana practically dragged him into the room where Nadine was and made prompt introductions. The two shook hands and chatted briefly and though Nadine eyed and nodded approvingly, there seemed to be little to no interest on Brian's part as far as Nadine's tall, striking beauty was concerned.

"Nice girl," he told Briana later, "but it wouldn't kill her to eat a few cheeseburgers."

Briana broke out laughing. Oh, he's getting more like Gary every day, she thought, totally reassured.

"Hey, I got an idea," Brian said, breaking her thought.

"Try me," Briana smiled.

"Well, you know I already asked Paul to stand up for us at the wedding. Here's the shocker; dude doesn't have a date."

"Wait. Your own best friend, Mr. Excitement, The Intrepid Traveler, who supposedly has women falling all over him, doesn't have a date?" Briana couldn't believe her ears.

"You got it. Anyhoo, Nadine is right up his alley. Skinny ass, big tits, friendly. He'll dig her. Hell, she might even like Paul's goofy ass. What do you think?"

"I think it's worth a shot. She doesn't really know anyone here but me and she just met you, so it may work."

"I'll give him a call after I shave. I'll send a picture too."

"Picture?"

"Yeah, I got one on the sly with my phone before she left the room."

"You are one sneaky little man," Briana laughed.

"Be a good girl and I'll show you how sneaky I can really be later on tonight." Brian wiggled his eyebrows.

"Go get ready for your match," she laughed again. "I don't think Carlito wants to be kept waiting."