“So, how do you and Kelli know each other?”

Shane looks up surprised. “What?”

“Did you guys used to date or something?”

“Something like that,” Shane nods and walks a couple of steps away, looking at all the pieces on the ground.

“Shane,” Carmen tries to get her attention but only gets a small mumble. “Come on, I want to know…”

“Look, it was a long time ago, okay?”

“What was?”

“Me and Kelli were friends, okay? Can we just drop it?” Carmen looks down feeling rejected. Shane sighs. “I’m sorry, her and I just – we didn’t leave things in the best of ways. It’s just weird having her back.”

“What happened between you two?”

Shane scratches the back of her head and sets down the instructions. She takes a drink of her beer and looks at Carmen. “We were best friends for years – inseparable. We did everything together. And after a couple of years our friendship evolved.” Shane stops and has another drink of her beer.

“So you guys dated?”

“I don’t think you could call it that…” Shane laughs. “Neither of us liked relationships. We kind of we’re just going out, but had no boundaries. Until one day she told me she loved me.”

Carmen’s heart stops. “Oh…” she plays with her hands. “What did you say?”

“I said that I thought we should be friends and nothing more,” Shane replies with a forced laugh as she takes another sip. “The truth is I was just scared to feel that way about someone.”

Carmen shakes her head as a fake smile makes its way to her face. “And now what?”

“What do you mean?” Shane asks confused.

“Well, it’s obvious you two still have feelings for each other.”

“Carm, that was a long time ago,” she explains. “Yeah, I still have feelings for her, she was the first girl I ever loved. I didn’t go out for months after she left town. But that’s in the past. She was my best friend for years, it’s good to have her back.”

“Uh huh,” Carmen replies, hurt flowing through. She looks down trying to hide the tears built up in her eyes.

“Carmen,” Shane continues, moving closer to her and reaching out her hand.

“Don’t!” she warns moving back. “I get that you were friends, but did you even think about how I might feel about all this? Would you have even ever told me about the two of you if I didn’t keep persisting?”

“I don’t know…”

“What are you trying to hide?”

“Nothing! I’m here aren’t I? I’m with you!”

“Is that where you want to be?” she asks heatedly. Shane stays silent. “I don’t want to be your second choice, Shane.”

“Is that what you honestly believe?”

“I don’t know what to believe! You go sneaking around with your ex-girlfriend and keep your relationship with her a secret from me, did you think that I just would never find out?”

“That’s not what’s going on here,” Shane responds. “And I wasn’t sneaking around. I’ve never lied to you about my relationship with her.”

“No, but you never trusted me with it either.” Shane looks to the side, avoiding her accusing eyes. “Why was it such a big deal? Why didn’t you want to tell me?”

“I don’t know,” she whispers. “I guess I just didn’t think it was that important.”

“You didn’t think it was important to tell your girlfriend that the girl you’ve been spending all your time with is your ex-girlfriend? The first and only girl you’ve ever loved?” Carmen turns and walks out the door.

Shane takes another drink of her beer and hears the front door slam. She turns back to the mess around her, sighs and rubs the back of her head. “Not the only…”