Chapter 553) Echoes Across Miles

University of Britchester
St. Laurel Library

Standing in front of the university library, Briar Rose clutched her cell phone, frustration mounting.

“Why won’t you ring, you stubborn plastic square? Or at least beep. Or buzz. Anything! That’s your one job… so… do it!”

A chuckle from behind made her spin around to find a familiar face.

“I am admittedly not be the most tech-savvy person, but I’m pretty sure that’s not how phones work. Also, it’s a rectangle.”

“Braddy! I mean, hi Brad.” Briar Rose beamed at Bradford ‘Brad’ Cunningham, her ex-boyfriend.

“You can still call me that. I don’t mind,” he smiled.

“Can I… hug you? Or is that too weird given our context? I really need a hug.”

He nodded, opening his arms. She leaned into him, savoring the familiar scent.

“So… turns out we’re not in any classes together,” Brad said, already aware she’d changed her major.

“Yeah… I was going to tell you, eventually, but I didn’t know how to talk to you anymore after the way things went down, it felt like I should keep my big mouth shut. Basically, I shelved the idea of becoming a therapist on account of me realizing I don’t want to listen to other people’s problems for a living. I can’t even solve my own,” she admitted with a deep sigh.

Brad nodded, understanding.

“Phones that should be ringing but aren’t and other such tragedies of life, hm? Hey, want to grab a coffee and catch up?”

“Yeah. Phones that should ring with a call from someone who hopefully misses me as much as I miss him are only the tip of the iceberg for me. Okay. I’m supposed to be studying, but my brain can’t function today anyway. Coffee sounds great!”

They settled into a cozy university café, sharing a croissant. Bri mindlessly fed Brad little bites, lost in her thoughts. She told him about her summer with Jackson, her decision to switch to performing arts, and her knack for opera. Brad shared that he was now dating Molly Evans, who grew up across the street. Molly was also one of Bri’s many cousins.

“My dad freaked out when I got a C on that paper. First C ever, and he acted like I’d gambled away our entire life savings in Las Vegas. Mom even packed an overnight bag and took us to Willow Creek for the night, so dad could simmer down by himself.” smiling, he shared his anecdote.

“What was the topic? Must have been something complicated.” Bri giggled.

“Ha, you’d think so, but it was the very basic Anatomy 1,” Brad grinned.

“That’s hilarious! We should talk to Molly about some in-depth lessons,” Bri teased.

“I think I just got distracted or nervous and messed up on the multiple-choice questions,” Brad explained.

“Yeah, I get it. Historical art questions will be the death of me. If my grades tank, I’ll get the whole ‘wasting our hard-earned money’ lecture from my parents. But hey, they all failed at least one semester too. Then again, they were founding what would become a very successful and famous band in college, so there’s that,” Bri said.

“True. We’re adults now, sort of. Do you feel adult yet? Cos I sure don’t, wondering when that is finally gonna kick in.” Brad asked.

Bri: “Not even close. Half the time I stumble around the campus feeling like a little kid who lost her mommy at the grocery store. Plus, I still get carded all the time. Apparently, I look 16. Just great. Nothing makes you feel more like adulting than when everyone else is treating you like a child.” She laughed, sipping her coffee.

Brad: “I know the feeling. Legal drinking age here in Britchester is 18, but like you, I’m heading strongly towards 19. Yet, I get carded for every damn drink I order. Molly doesn’t, but I do. Way to look manly to your girlfriend. Our first official date was traumatic, to put it mildly.” He chuckled, leaning back in his chair.

Bri: “So, we’re both baby-faced. I think in ten years from now, we might be happy about that, and everyone else will be jelly.” She smiled, tracing the rim of her cup.

Brad: “Oh, Bri… before you find out. Trouble with my accommodations—I roomed with Sterling Covington. He got insufferable after breaking up with Iris. Short fuse, testy all the time. We got kicked out for fighting. Another not-so-fun discussion with my dad. There is literally NOTHING available to move to closer than 2 hours away, so Molly put in a good word with your Grandpa Blaine and he allowed me to move into one of the vacant rooms of the private Cameron-family owned Foxbury campus house.” Brad sighed, running a hand through his hair.

Bri: “Sterling? He must really be difficult to be around if he got you to fight. Even when you and I had rough moments, you were always composed and uber-calm.”

Brad: “Guess we all have a breaking point.”

Bri: “Well, at least I now know where you live. It’s nice talking to you again. I missed that. Guess I missed you.”

Brad: “Same. Let’s keep the dialog going. Hang out sometime—unless it’s game day. Then it’s dragons versus lobsters. You’d look great in your dragon shirt. Did you apply to be the next mascot yet?” He teased, knowing her aversion to mascots.

Bri: “I wouldn’t be caught dead in that! But yeah, let’s hang. You still have my phone number?”

Brad: “Of course. Maybe you could bail me out after my next brawl. Dad says once a boy starts fighting, it’s downhill from there and it’s now confirmed. Started at your home during that one party, and now I was temporarily homeless for another fight on campus. Delusion of grandeur about my fighting skills are only the beginning. Maybe next time you see me I joined a notorious gang and have face tats.” He laughed.

Bri: “I forgot how witty you are. Thanks, Brad. I needed this.” She chuckled, feeling lighter.

Pushing his bicycle, Brad walked Bri home. The evening air was crisp held a hint of Christmas in the air, the streetlights flickered on as they strolled side by side. Waving him goodbye, Bri watched him mount his bike, the moon casting shadows across his face. His eyes lingered on her, a silent promise in that last wave.

But fate had other plans. As if summoned by the universe’s mischief, Iris appeared next to Bri, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, the ex is back. Bet he’ll be dreaming of mounting something other than his bike tonight.”

Bri rolled her eyes. “Iris! We just ran into each other and had a good talk over coffee. He’s dating Molly now.”

“Well, well,” Iris said, leaning against the front door. “One way to keep the Cameron genes around, huh? Can’t have Bri, so let’s date the cousin. You heard he dated our other cousin from the Bay over summer? I’m telling you; he’s hooked on Cameron genes. More addictive than potato chips, apparently.”

“Kristin? And Brad?! WHUUUUT?!” Bri’s disbelief echoed through the quiet street.

“Yep,” Iris confirmed. “All blonde, with a soft, warm complexion, and light eyes. Our Braddy has a type. She’s called Bri—or, if out of reach, the next closest thing. Lucky me, I don’t fit his prey typology. Brad’s really not doing it for me.”

Bri’s patience snapped. “You’re weird. Go have sex with our ‘brother’.”

“Was that your lame attempt at insulting me?” Iris raised an eyebrow. “Jas is about as much our brother as Spiderman is. Besides, mom says at least there won’t be any bad surprises in his past. We know all he’s been up to and into. And he doesn’t have a crazy-ass dad like your Braddy. Or did you forget all about Dr. Cunningham’s shenanigans while lost in Braddy’s baby blues? Cos I sure haven’t. Can’t have Braddy without that old grinch. Just remember that whenever you feel tempted.” she mocked Bri’s nickname for her ex.

“Yeah, well, Jas isn’t without secrets,” Bri retorted. “Remember that day he dropped the bombshell? Turns out he’s related to Taylor—barf—McCoy. Nobody knew that! Eeew!”

“So what, Bri? That’s not anything interesting. Why would I care about his second cousin? That is only noteworthy to you because you are now dating her ex. If it weren’t for Jackson you wouldn’t even remember that anymore. Taylor told you cos she knew it would rub you wrong cos we are both close with Jas and she knew that it would bother you, and it did, Jasper wasn’t hiding that fact; just didn’t feel it was worth mentioning, he’s never been close with that side of the family and genuinely couldn’t give two shits about them.” Iris shrugged, walking into the house, followed by her twin sister. “We’ve got more cousins and second cousins than stars in the sky. But why do you care about Taylor anyway? Trouble in paradise with your cowboy? That was quick.”

“No trouble,” Bri said, her voice low. “Last time I spent the long weekend with Jackson, Taylor turned up. I KNOW she still wants him. She’s dating someone herself, but I’m not convinced Jackson’s off her radar. What if she sneaks in some night, when Stryker’s already in bed and… seduces him?”

Iris grinned. “Bet Stryker would like that a lot. Hopefully, such a young lover won’t give him another heart attack.”

“I mean Jackson!” Bri corrected, her frustration boiling over.

“Look, Bri,” Iris said, her tone serious. “If Jackson were down for that, he’d be a hussy. Cheating is cheating, even if the prey comes to you with a cheap attempt. He should still say no. So, which is it? Do you trust him or not?”

“Easy for you to say,” Bri snapped. “You have your boyfriend in the house! Why is that still a secret anyway?”

“It’s not. We’re just not that… public about it,” Iris replied cryptically. “Different rules for different games. Jas and I just … are. No need to rub people’s faces in the obvious.”

“And you haven’t even told mom and dad that you’re up close and personal with Jas. Do Maddie and Colton know?” Bri challenged.

“Bri, get a life!” Iris huffed and walked off, leaving Bri fuming.

She ran after Iris, but stopped, changing her mind about furthering this argument, right as Jake rounded the corner, Bri couldn’t help but wonder: Maybe Iris was right. Maybe it was time to apply some of her own wisdom to her tangled heart.

Jake and Bri stood in the hallway, her conversation with Iris echoing off the walls, he must have heard at least a good part of it, so Bri told him about her sister’s relationship with Jasper, sounding like a pouty toddler. Jake’s raised eyebrow and dry humor only added to the mix when he revealed everyone already picked up on that by now.

Bri’s cheeks flushed as she realized the extent of her family’s knowledge about her and her sister’s supposedly secret relationships when he recalled her past dalliances with Jackson. She had thought that secret was buried deep, but apparently, her expansive family’s gossip mill worked faster than a social media post. She cringed at the thought of her teenage escapades being common knowledge among her relatives.

Jake, ever the pragmatic one, tried to ease her embarrassment. “Things like that only stick until the next drama hits,” he said, his voice low. “And in our family, there has never been a short supply of those. I wouldn’t worry about it, Bri.”

But Bri couldn’t shake off the mortification.

She followed Jake to his room, curiosity piqued when he received a text message. Was it from a girl? Did he have a girlfriend? Another secret? The questions tumbled out of her, and she barely noticed when his roommate, Cai, another cousin of hers, yelled at her to leave as he changed into his running clothes.

As she retreated down the hallway, Bri’s mind raced. She had been so focused on her sister’s love life that she hadn’t considered her own.

Over the following weeks Brad, her ex, her old friend, had apparently now become her study partner and coffee buddy, and he had been a constant presence lately. They hung out, studied together. But then, at that crowded hot tub party at her own campus housing, which she shared with five other family members, those being her twin sister Iris, Jasper Hargrave, Cai Camore, Cai’s sister Zoe, and Jake Cameron, things took yet another unexpected turn for Bri when she watched Brad making out with Molly, and something shifted inside her.

The joy of partying drained away, replaced by a strange ache. Bri retreated to her room, sitting on her bed, lost in thoughts of her past, present, and uncertain future. She wondered if she’d ever find someone who made her heart race like that—someone who could take her breath away with a single kiss, but who would finally be within her reach, always, not just sometimes and under certain conditions. Why did love always have to come with ifs and buts for her? First with Brad, then with Jackson and somehow, still also with Brad in a strange way.