Something Special

Chapter 4

“Luckily, they had some normal food today.” Brianna sat down her cafeteria tray with a burger and fries and soda across from Winnie.  “I’m ready for some comfort food.”

“Aww, rough morning? C’mon, tell me what happened?” Winnie cooed. Winnie was the best friend a girl could ask for.  She had a way of getting people to open up to her, and she was a great listener.  Being able to talk through some of her feelings was how Brianna had been able to deal with her elderly parent’s passing last year. Winnie had been there for Bri through it all…the funeral arrangements, settling her parent’s estate, and even set up a meal train for her and Damon—except Damon was hardly there for any of it.  He was oddly absent when Brianna had needed him most.

Brianna recounted her morning exchange with Damon. “I seriously feel like I have to walk on eggshells around him, or else he goes off and starts yelling and cursing. I really thought he was the love of my life, and then when my parents died, he just…I felt so alone…” Tears escaped the corners of her hazel eyes, threatening to ruin all the eyeliner she applied this morning. 

Winnie came around the table and enveloped her in a warm embrace. “Girl, he doesn’t deserve you!  You care more about him than he does you. Marriage is supposed to be 50-50, right?  You’ve been putting more than your 50% in, if you ask me.”

“My parents always taught me that marriage should be forever, and I can’t just bring myself to give up.” Brianna defended. “I always saw people who either changed their minds and got divorced or stayed with people who abused them or cheated on them…and I vowed I would never do that with my own marriage.  Damon has never done anything like that, so I feel like I just have to live my life that I made.”  Brianna dabbed the corners of her eyes, trying to salvage what was left of her makeup. 

“Hey, I get it.  But you know, it takes two people to make a marriage work, you can’t do everything by yourself.  You are a beautiful, caring, smart woman.” Winnie held her by the shoulders and looked her in the eye.  “Just promise me that if he ever hurts you, you’ll let me know---so I can come help you hide the body.”

“Winnie, you are crazy! And truly the best friend anyone could ask for.” Brianna hugged her friend, as she spotted Portia entering the cafeteria with the new Greek god. “Omigosh! There they are!” 

“Who?” Winnie looked around, and immediately saw who Bri was referring to.  “OH.  Do you know Portia has been dragging that poor fella all over the office? He acts like he’d rather be getting castrated than be with her.” 

Brianna nearly spewed her Diet Coke across the room at hearing this. “Winnie!” giving her a surprised look.

“What?  It’s true.  In fact, all the ladies who try and get their hands on him, he basically shuts them down. He doesn’t seem interested in them,” Winnie stated as she finished her salad. “Portia’s the only one who has been able to speak with him for any amount of time, but she has REALLY been pouring on the extra sexiness…I think she even unbuttoned her blouse an extra bit—when she bent over to pick up a paper from the floor, I thought she was going to have a ‘wardrobe malfunction’ in the front lobby.”

For the second time within minutes, Brianna almost lost her Diet Coke again. Coughing, she regained her composure and leaned over to Winnie. “Well, I almost got to shake the god’s hand, except Portia intercepted and passed me her coffee instead-which, by the way, spilled all over my Edgerton report!  Mr. Mason was there, but he was just eager to pass off the intern to someone else, and Portia greedily obliged.”

“What a witch!” Winnie quietly exclaimed. 

“THAT’S what I said!!” Bri agreed.