Chapter 16 Beau
BEAU
As soon as the meeting concludes, I head for the English department, but there’s no one there. I wait around, hoping to spot Honey, but a hall monitor yells at me for trespassing and escorts me out.
It’s clearly not my day.
Christ, Honey thinks I accused her of arson. What the fuck?
I realize we haven’t spent much time together, but I hope she knows me better than that. This entire fiasco resulted because I followed the chain of command. I spoke to the chief, who spoke to the sheriff, who fucked up everything. The man needs to retire.
Since there’s another half hour of school left, I head for my truck and park a few houses down from her place. This is the second time in two days I’ve staked out her house. I’m starting to feel creepy about it.
Sitting here gives me time to fume about her being on a date last night. Is that what she wants? A man who lavishes her with a bouquet his assistant picked out?
I’m out of my depth here. Maybe Honey McAllister should marry that rich asshole. Because she and I bring out the worst in each other.
At least that douchebag took her to dinner and sent her flowers. That’s better than how I’ve treated her.
I pinch the bridge of my nose and close my eyes. What am I doing here? I’ve never stressed out over a woman. Why am I so strung out about this one?
My phone buzzes with a text on our family chat.
Maverick: Hope y’all are coming tonight. It’s gonna be a good game. Thought we could barbecue afterward.
Shit. Forgot about his game.
Rhett: I’m only barbecuing if you win.
Baylee: Don’t be grumpy. Of course Mav’s team is going to win! Go Wolves!
Rhett: This is how I motivate my little brother.
Maverick: *laughing emoji* Consider me motivated.
Jace: We have a gig in Austin, so I can’t make it, but will you save me some food?
Paige: I’ll make you a plate. But eat it. Last time, it grew mold in the fridge because you forgot.
Jace: *face palm emoji* Sorry about that!
I glance at my watch. If I go home and grab a quick nap, I can still make Mav’s game. I always try to catch them if I’m not at the firehouse. With one last look at Honey’s dark apartment, I decide this is a lost cause anyway.
Me: Count me in. I’ll meet y’all at the football field.
A few hours later, I pull up to the now packed parking lot at the high school.
Yawning, I find a spot a block over and walk to the football field where I find Baylee, little Leo, and Baylee’s mom Sylvia.
I give the girls hugs and then hold out my arms to Leo, who makes grabby hands for me. “Bruh!” he shouts.
I chuckle. Neither Leo nor Ella can say Beau yet. “Hey, buddy. I swear you’ve grown since I saw you last week.”
Baylee smiles as I throw her son in the air. “He loves you.”
“I love him too.” I’ll never get tired of his laugh. “Feels like he’s always been a Walker.”
Her smile grows. “Mav says Leo’s going to be tall. He’s in the top fifth percentile.”
I tickle Leo’s belly. “Are you gonna be a football player like your dad and uncles?” We all played a little football at some point, but Maverick was the star college player. It’s pretty cool that he now coaches at our old high school.
I offer to carry Leo up to our seats since he’s getting big, and Baylee, Sylvia, and I make our way up the stands. We wave to Rhett, who’s down in the first row with his kiddos. He likes to sit close to Paige ’cause she’s on the field with the cheerleaders.
Once we’re seated, Baylee turns to me and whispers, “Are you okay with Honey being in the wedding? Rhett hasn’t said anything, but I got the impression he was taken off guard.”
Is it going to make me crazy being in a wedding with Honey while she’s dating that asshole? Absolutely. But I won’t let my personal issues interfere with Baylee and Maverick’s day. “I’m fine. Honey’s a great girl. I’m glad y’all are friends.”
Her eyes widen. “Really? You think she’s great? Because whenever you two are around each other—”
“We antagonize the shit out of each other?”
She laughs. “Something like that.”
“I promise to be on my best behavior. We all want to make your wedding special.” I glance around to make sure no one’s listening. “But just because the Walkers don’t have an issue with it doesn’t mean the McAllisters will approve.”
Her lips twist. “I’m afraid of that, but Honey says it’s not a big deal.”
I hope she’s right.
Baylee nudges me. “How bad was that fire the other day? Where was it?”
“We contained it quickly, thanks to Honey calling it in.” I point to the scorched area behind the back parking lot.
“That’s so close to her house.”
That worried me too, but I don’t want to say anything that might get misconstrued again, so I keep my mouth shut.
Leo wants his mom, so I hand him over and settle in to enjoy the game. For Maverick’s first year coaching, he’s killing it. So far, we’ve won all but one game.
The Wolves are up by one touchdown at halftime. That’s when Paige’s cheer team steps out onto the field. We all clap for the squad. They form into a pyramid and start flinging girls off the top. The crowd goes crazy.
Before the third quarter starts, I take drink orders and head down to the concessions. When I come around the corner, I run into the little princess herself. Honey’s eyes widen when she sees me.
We stop and stare at each other. I’m pissed about her date, but at the same time, I don’t want her thinking I told the sheriff she was somehow responsible for the shed fire.
“Excuse me,” she says curtly and starts to walk around me.
This is bullshit. “We need to talk.” I grab her hand and pull her behind the bleachers where it’s dark.
“What the hell, Beau?” she hisses.
“Calm down, princess. I’m not abducting you. Just like I didn’t accuse you of arson earlier.”
Honey yanks her hand out of mine. “Duly noted.”
She looks beautiful tonight in a little western button-up that’s tucked into jeans that hug her body to perfection and those damn cowboy boots. Why did she have to wear those boots when we fucked? Now they’ll always remind me of her.
This woman makes me insane. I hang my hands on my hips as I debate what to say and decide to go with the truth.
“I was worried about you. That fire was feet away from your house, and I wanted to make sure you weren’t some kind of target.
That’s why I spoke to the chief.” I explain how my concern got miscommunicated after I discussed it with my boss.
She nods, but still looks annoyed.
Kids yell at the other end of the stands, and we both instinctively walk deeper into the shadows.
When she doesn’t say anything, I sigh. “Let’s get one thing straight. I would never do anything to hurt you or make you look bad.”
She bites her bottom lip. “Why do you think the sheriff suspected me?”
“I’m guessing he doesn’t have any suspects and was grasping at straws. If it means anything, I think you convinced him you weren’t involved. When I left this afternoon, he was planning to interview the janitors.”
With a sigh, she nods. “I’m—I’m sorry for assuming the worst. And while we’re discussing assuming the worst, you should know I didn’t sic my brothers on you.”
Instinctively, I reach up to touch my eye that’s almost healed. It’s now a faint yellow. Based on her no-nonsense expression, I believe her.
I really hate fighting with this woman. “Listen, I was going to check on you again after the shed fire, but we got another call and had to go. Our entire shift was like that. Three days solid.”
“It’s okay. I was fine.”
I scrub my face. “It’s not okay. I was going to call you, but I didn’t have your number.”
She gives me a sad smile. “I’m not your responsibility, Beau. But thank you. I appreciate the sentiment. But it’s better if we don’t…”
“Interact?”
She nods. “This is too complicated already.”
“Because of that guy you’re dating.”
She stills.
“I saw you with him last night.”
“Wh-what?”
“Your date. With that guy in the suit.” I cross my arms. “Last night, I stopped by your place when I finally got off my three-day shift. I wanted to check in on you. Only you weren’t home. Because you were on a date. With the same guy who sent you roses, I assume.”
“I wouldn’t say we’re dating. We’re just getting to know each other.” Her eyes narrow. “Besides, aren’t you having a thing with your co-worker? That girl Melissa?”
I frown. “How do you know…”
“Because I have two damn eyes in my head, Beau. I see how she looks at you. Like she’s hoping to get laid later.”
Honey’s pissed. I smile because I can work with that. Leaning closer, I tug a strand of her silky hair. “You jealous, princess?”
“Go away, Beau.” She pushes me, but I don’t budge. Shaking her head, she closes her eyes. “We’re so bad at this.”
“Bad at what?”
Her hands fist at her side as she growls. “This. Whatever this is.”
I can’t handle seeing her angry. I cradle her face and tilt her head so she has to look at me. “Mel and I are over. Besides, I’d never two-time a woman.” I graze her bottom lip with my thumb. “Don’t want you thinking I’m that kind of man.”
Swallowing, she pulls away. “I’m not who you want, remember? One and done. Your words, not mine.”
I cringe, hating that I said something so crass. “But what if—”
“No what-ifs, Beau. At the end of the day, you still hate my family, and they still hate yours. What would we do about that?”
Bracing my arm on the pillar next to me, I look down. “Not sure, princess. I don’t have all the answers.”
“That’s because there aren’t any.”