Chapter 25 Beau
BEAU
“Arms out, please.” Mrs. Shaw takes Maverick’s measurements for his tuxedo. He’s grinning from ear to ear the whole time.
Per Baylee’s request, I snap a few photos of her fiancé, which I’ll give her after they tie the knot.
Mav glances through the plate-glass window as though he can see into the bridal shop across the street. “Baylee says the girls’ dresses look great.”
Jace sits in one of the chairs along the wall. “Is she pregnant? Is that why y’all are racing to the altar?”
“We’re not racing anywhere. It took us years to get to this point. And now that I know she’s the one, why would I want to wait?”
“Just saying, what’s the rush? You already live together.”
Maverick rolls his eyes. “Someday, you’ll get it.”
Rhett chuckles and pats Mav on the back. “Glad you know what you want. Paige and I are really happy for you guys.”
Sitting next to Jace, I elbow him and lower my voice so Maverick doesn’t hear. “Why are you so surly today?”
“Just annoyed. First, Rhett got married. Now, Mav. Next year, it’ll probably be you with your secret sweetheart.” He rolls his eyes.
Rhett sits next to me. “Who has a secret sweetheart?”
Shit. I shoot Jace a look he immediately understands.
Because Honey and I just happened, I don’t think we’re ready to face whatever ribbing we’ll get from my brothers.
And I don’t want her catching flak from her family.
Jace scrubs his face and pulls a lie outta his ass.
“One of my bandmates has a girl. Doesn’t want to leave her behind when we go on the road. It’s a mess.”
Rhett nods. “You’ve been doing that cleanse, right? No sex for a month? How’s it going?”
“I’m in a bad fucking mood twenty-four seven. That’s how it’s going.”
Rhett chuckles, and I grab Jace in a chokehold. “Poor baby bro. Not getting laid.”
He jerks out of the chair, yanks me to the ground, and tries to get me to submit. Rhett yells at us. Maverick laughs. Mrs. Shaw mutters, “Not this again.”
I flip Jace over and shove his face into the ground.
“Not today, bro.” Laughing, I let him go and stand up before I offer him a hand, which he begrudgingly accepts.
Fortunately, nothing was broken in the takedown, and I’ve already changed out of my tux.
I dust myself off and motion across the street.
“Gonna go check on the girls.” We’re all supposed to go out to eat after this.
“I’m starving.” If starving means dying to see Honey.
As I cross the street, my heart starts to beat hard. I haven’t seen her since Sunday morning, though we’ve been texting all week.
When I open the door, I see the bridesmaids hovering around Baylee, who’s standing on a platform in front of mirrors in a captivating white gown. “Look at you, Bay. What a beautiful bride you’re gonna make my brother.”
Her million-watt smile says it all. “I can’t wait.”
Honey’s standing opposite me, and I grin when she winks at me. Goddamn, she’s gorgeous. I’m about to make my way to her, except I realize Sylvia’s crying as she watches her daughter. “How are you doing, Syl?” I open my arm to her, and she hugs me.
“I didn’t think this would make me emotional, but it’s hard to watch your baby grow up.”
“I’m sure it is.”
“You’ll see.” She sniffles. “Someday, you’ll have kids of your own, and in the blink of an eye, they’re getting married and having their own babies. It catches you off guard.”
My eyes connect with Honey, who’s fluffing out the back of Baylee’s dress. She gives me another secret smile.
It hits me, how much I’d love to do this with her. Which is fucking insane given that we’re not even officially dating.
But I can see it, clear as day. Honey in a white dress. Walking down the aisle to me. Saying “I do.” Having my children. Being part of my family. Working the ranch with me.
Damn, that’s a good dream.
Now we just have to get past a nearly hundred-and-fifty-year-old grudge to make it happen.
I sigh, not having the first clue how to accomplish that.
Once Sylvia is over her tears, she joins Baylee, and I catch Honey ducking down the hall to the dressing rooms. While all the girls talk about Baylee’s dress, I follow her.
She’s coming out of a stall with her purse when I grab her around the waist. “Oh my God, you scared me.” She laughs and reaches up to grab my face. “Hey, you.”
“Hey, gorgeous.” I walk us back into her dressing room and close the curtain behind us before I kiss her.
Moaning, she wraps her arms around my neck, and I lift her into my arms and press her against the wall. I kiss her until she’s panting.
From down the hall, I hear someone asking where Honey went, and I reluctantly set her down and adjust myself. “Guess we can’t stay back here.”
She touches her lips, which are a little swollen. “Why not?”
I chuckle and nuzzle her neck. “I just heard someone ask where you went.”
“Are we still going out tomorrow night?”
“Absolutely.” I pat her ass. “We’d better go.”
“You go first.”
I laugh. “Why was I even in the dressing room?”
She bites her bottom lip. “Helping me look for an earring?” She pulls a gold hoop out of one ear. “This one.”
“Good thinking.”
I kiss her again because I don’t know when I’ll be able to again tonight. We come out of the stall and run right into Paige.
“Hey, y’all. What’s going on?”
Honey motions to me. “Beau was helping me find my earring. It must’ve popped off when I was changing earlier.” I wave at my sister-in-law like a dumbass.
Paige looks back and forth between us with a questioning look in her eyes. I’d better nip this in the bud. “Honey and I decided we should practice being nice to each other. For the sake of the wedding.”
“Oh. That’s great. Whose idea was this?”
Honey and I both say, “Mine,” at the same time.
I smirk at her. “Liar.”
She laughs, and I use this opportunity to duck past Paige, who’s looking confused.
Once the girls are done, we all meet up at the Smokehouse for dinner.
It’s a cowboy-themed grill house with old black and white photos of ranchers and cattle.
We sit at a long table, and fortunately, Baylee wants us seated next to whoever we’re partnered with for the wedding, which means I get to sit next to Honey.
She leans over to me and whispers, “That was some stealthy kissing earlier.”
“You liked that, huh?”
“You have no idea.”
It’s my turn to press my mouth to her ear. “You wet, princess?”
She sucks in a breath and turns those baby blues my way and nods. Fuck.
I shouldn’t have asked the question ’cause now I’m rock hard at a family dinner, which is fucking awkward.
Maverick taps his drink with a spoon. “Bay and I are so glad y’all could make it tonight.
Even though this isn’t a formal rehearsal dinner and we’re not planning a bachelor or bachelorette party, we just wanted some time with our closest friends and family.
Everyone in this wedding helped us get to this point, and we want you to know we love you and are grateful for your friendship. ”
Baylee kisses Mav and then turns to us. “I’m not sure if you guys know everyone, so I wanted to do some introductions just in case.”
The only two people I don’t know well are her friends Vera and Rory, who both work at Baylee’s salon. I think Vera’s now dating Baylee’s ex, Sean, who’s Leo’s birth father. She actually got Bay’s approval to date him, which I thought was cool.
Baylee laughs and turns to Maverick. “If your brother Isaiah actually makes it for the wedding, he’s standing with Vera. But if he doesn’t, I’ll just have an extra bridesmaid.”
“He sent me his measurements for his tux,” Rhett says. “So it’s possible.”
Isaiah’s been gone so long, it’ll be a shock to all of us if he returns.
Baylee then introduces Rory, who’s sitting next to Jace. “I’m really sad to see Rory go. I know she’s going to kill it in her new job. Rory is our newest town librarian.”
“It’s nice to meet y’all formally,” she says, barely above a whisper.
We all congratulate her, and Rory pushes up her glasses and smiles awkwardly. She glances at Jace, who’s sitting next to her, but he’s texting someone.
I kick him under the table, and he shoots me a dirty look. “Why’d you do that?”
“Put your phone away,” I mouth.
“Yes, Mother.” He obliges, and then starts talking to Leo, who’s sitting in Sylvia’s lap on his other side. Leo jumps on Jace, who stands him on his lap. “Do y’all need me to practice with the ring-bearer here?”
Baylee nods. “That would be great. We’re planning to tie the rings to his suit so he doesn’t toss them somewhere, but if you could practice walking with him slowly so he doesn’t race down the aisle, that would be great.”
“I’m on it.” Jace tickles Leo, who squeals with laughter. Rory looks at Jace, a little starry-eyed. It makes me wonder if she’s one of his fangirls. He has a lot of those.
When the food gets served, I laugh to myself when I realize Honey and I ordered nearly the same thing—medium-rare steaks but with different sides.
I nudge her. “Your baked potato looks good.”
“I was thinking I should have ordered fries.”
I hold up my plate. “Wanna swap?”
Her smile nearly knocks me over. “Yes, please.”
As we dig into our dinner, I ask her how work went this week.
“You’re going to die when you hear the latest. We have some weirdo who’s been pooping around the school.”
I nearly choke on my iced tea. “Are you serious?”
“Dead serious.” She waves at our plates. “Sorry. It’s a gross topic for dinner.”
“Is it some kind of senior prank?”
“Maybe? But it’s so disgusting. People are calling him the Mad Crapper.” We look at each other and laugh.
“But that’s better than arson, right?”
She nods. “I was thinking the same thing.”
“Have y’all had any more trouble?”
“No, thank goodness.”
When dinner’s over, I help her put on her sweater. “Where’d you park?”
“Behind the restaurant.”
“I’ll walk you to your car. It’s dark.”
She smiles. “If you insist.”
We hug Baylee and Maverick and say goodbye to our friends. I have to stop my face from reacting when Baylee gives me the thumbs-up as I follow Honey out. I turn, only to see Jace fluttering his lashes at me and making kissy faces when no one’s looking.
Not sure how long we’re gonna be able to keep this a secret.
On the way, I tuck my hands into the pockets of my jacket so I’m not tempted to grab Honey’s hand. It’s easy to forget I can’t be as affectionate with her as I’d like to be.
“Tonight was really nice,” she says, almost longingly. “I love how well you get along with your brothers. How y’all support each other.”
“We’re a rowdy bunch. It might take a minute to get used to it. What are dinners like with your family?”
“Fraught with tension. My mom always giving into whatever my dad wants. Cash quietly resenting our father’s demands. Trig getting drunk so he doesn’t have to deal with any of it.”
Damn. That sucks. “I’m sorry, Honey. That has to be tough. I guess I figured y’all had money, so things had to be easier for you.”
She shakes her head. “Money doesn’t buy happiness. Or at least, not with my family. It’s one of the reasons I’ve tried to forge my own path. My dad’s really pissed about it.”
“What do you mean?”
“For one, I won’t live at the ranch. I’m teaching, which he hates. And I’m a fan of picking out my own boyfriends.” She grins at me.
I wink back and tug her pinkie with mine. “Kinda like that too.” But her words get me thinking. “Have you told your father about being in Baylee’s wedding yet?”
She sighs. “Not yet. He’s still pissed about me not going out with Ian. It’s probably a good thing he’s been out of town. When he gets back, though, I’ll tell him about the wedding.”
“Will he blow a gasket?”
“I hope not, but I’m bracing myself for the worst.”
“I’m sorry, babe.”
“I figure it won’t be like this forever. He just has to get used to me having my own life. It might take some time, but I hope we’ll get there.”
“I’m sure you will,” I say, wanting to be encouraging.
When we reach her vehicle, I tuck my hands in my back pockets. “As much as I’d love to kiss you goodnight, I don’t want you to get in trouble with your family.” It’s Friday night, and there are a lot of people walking to and from their cars.
“I’m a big girl, Beau. I’ll kiss who I want to kiss.” Then she leans up on her toes and plants one on me. “Good night.”
I grin as I open her car door. “Night, darlin’. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I wish she could come over tonight, but she wants to get her grading done. I love her work ethic.
As I watch her drive away, I realize that’s not the only thing I love about her.