Chapter 28 Shakes & Promises Beau
Shakes & Promises
Beau
The rumbling whir of the blender is a siren call to my roommates.
Cole and Grant are the first to wander in, eyeing the rainbow of ingredients scattered all over the counter.
Greek yogurt, peanut butter, vanilla, cinnamon, fresh blueberries, raspberries, and spinach.
They’re all spread out around the vat of my favorite protein powder.
It’s the only one I’ve been able to find that doesn’t taste like the blacktop area of an elementary school playground.
JJ skids in next, barefoot and shirtless. “You making your special recipe?”
“Yes,” I reply, adding a dash of cinnamon before I pulse the mixture one last time. “Not for you.”
Dev strolls to the doorway next, leaning against the frame, arms crossed.
“Do any of you actually go to classes?” I ask. I was really hoping to avoid a scene.
“Not on Wednesday afternoons.” Grant flips open the snack cupboards, eyeing the many choices before his eyes drift back to the thick liquid I’m pouring into a second chilled tumbler.
I screw the lid on tight, turning around to face the rabid dogs I live with. “If you clean up after, you’re welcome to make your own.”
“Who’s that one for? Is it Wilder? It must be. He’s going to go grovel, guys!” JJ claps his hands.
Shaking my head, I walk away. It takes a lot to step away from the mess on the counter, but I have to trust these guys will clean it up. “I’m not groveling, just explaining.”
“Same difference.” JJ again.
The faucet turns on full blast. There’s a clatter as something falls to the counter.
“See you all at practice,” I call behind my back. It’s better if I don’t turn around. Then I can pretend there’s no water splashed all over the counter or spilled cinnamon. Or whatever it is JJ knocked over.
Dev claps me on the shoulder as I walk by. “Good luck,” he says in a low tone meant only for my ears.
Even after psyching myself up the entire drive to school, I’m still standing by the door awkwardly while a group of skaters eyes me from the other end of the hall, giggling. The smoothie cups send chills through my already damp palms.
At least their laughter finally spurs me on, and I push through the door to the stairwell. What if she’s not even in there, and I drove here for nothing but disappointment and an extra helping of protein?
The door to her favorite office is ajar, so I don’t feel as bad pushing it open. Her long hair is pulled up in a messy bun on top of her head, but I’d love to run my fingers through the loose strands dangling by her cheeks. I can almost feel the soft silk.
“That you, Maize?” she asks, not looking up from the laptop. Her bottom lip is tucked between her teeth.
“Cold.”
Her head jerks up, eyes wide. “Beau.”
“Hot.”
The word sparks something in her, and her eyes trace a slow path down my body.
“I brought you something.” I hold out the shake and take my time walking across the tiny room.
She shakes herself out of the trance she was in, reaching for the garish orange tumbler with a cartoon black cat on it. Her head tilts to the side as she studies the cup like she’s never seen one before. “What’s this?”
“My world-famous protein shake.” Needing to do something with my hands, I lift my own up to my lips and take a long sip. Her narrowed eyes track the movement.
“Trying to prove you didn’t poison it? That’s not very convincing.”
It breaks the tension, eases the tightness in my shoulders, and I hold my cup out to her. “Want to trade?”
“Nah, I’m not stupid. You could have slowly built up an immunity to the poison over the years. It’s a trap.”
Now I’m full-on laughing. “Just try it. I promise it’s good.”
“Protein shakes aren’t good. They’re functional.” She leans back in her seat, and I’m glad to see she looks more relaxed now, too.
“This one is. I promise. Money-back guarantee.”
She reaches for the drink, tilting the cup to take a long swallow. “That’s freaking delicious. Where’d you get it?”
“My house. I made it.” I take another sip of mine. Now that my mouth isn’t so dry, the peanut butter and berry taste registers.
Her face crunches up, and she holds it out at arm’s length. “You didn’t make this.”
“Yes, I did.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, my butler had to take the week off.”
A smile tugs at her lips. “I’m sorry. Just a little surprised. I’d expect you to be the type to buy a ten-thousand-dollar diamond necklace to apologize. Not hand blend a protein shake.”
“Oh, don’t worry, the necklace is on order. But the private jet was busy today, so they can’t bring it until tomorrow. You know, when the butler gets back.”
“Wha… you’re joking. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be judgy.”
“It’s okay.” I’m used to it.
“No, it’s not. I wouldn’t have doubted anyone else.” Her features have softened, but then she narrows her eyes. “You are joking about the necklace though, right?”
“I was, but if you want one, I’m sure it can be arranged. You don’t seem like the diamond necklace type. But I could buy you a few new Bauers if you’d like. Not sure what I’m apologizing for, though. Other than my father being an asshole.”
The words hang there as she fiddles with her laptop and takes another swig of the drink. “Yeah, he kind of is.”
“Sorry about that. I shouldn’t have taken you to that thing. I know how shitty they can be. It was selfish of me, but I needed you there. Didn’t want to go alone.”
“I don’t blame you. I’d rather bag skate for an hour than come to another one of those things.
” She shifts in her seat. “But I think I should be the one apologizing.” She looks up at me, then back down at her still-open laptop.
The glow from the screen has faded. “Could you sit down? You’re making me nervous. ”
“You’re nervous? Do you know how nervous I was coming over here today?” But I settle into the chair across from her.
“You were?”
I fold my hands together, propping my elbows on the desk. “Yes. You haven’t been exactly eloquent in our recent texts, or between practices since the gala.”
“I was thinking things through, and I realized something. I shouldn’t have judged you for your choice.
Everyone has the right to make their own choices.
And if working for your dad’s company is what you want, then you should go for it.
Just because I wish I could play hockey professionally doesn’t mean it’s for everyone. ”
I sigh, reaching up to rub at the tightness in my chest. “I don’t.”
“Yeah, I get it. It’s hard on the body. The chances of making it are slim, even for a player as good as you.
Your career could be cut short by an injury.
” She leans back in her seat, and I can see her scrolling through the mental checklist. As if she’s got it at the ready.
Maybe to make it easier to swallow that it’s not an option for her.
“That’s not what I meant.” I drag in another deep breath.
This is why I came over here after all. Tracked her down to her lair.
Test out the strange concept of openness and honesty.
“I meant I don’t want to work for my father, his company.
It’s all bullshit. Fake people making money off the sweat and tears of others.
Trying to convince the world they’re actually doing something important.
Something worthy of the oodles of money they hoard like dragons.
I want hockey. Sport brings people together.
It’s entertainment and hope and community.
I want to make a difference, like you’re doing.
That’s what I want. But I made him a promise. ”
Her brow is furrowed, and I can’t quite get a read on her.
“What promise is worth more than your life? Your happiness?”
I sigh. This is the hard part. The part I’ve kept locked down tight.
Because if she found out, Cece would lose it.
“For my sister. I made a deal with my father so she could stay at Lakeview. She got into some trouble at her old school. And after she transferred here, she started dating Dev, and that turned into a whole thing. He was threatening to pull her from Lakeview, so I made a deal. I’d work for him when I was done school if Cece could stay here to finish.
Stay in her house with her new roommates.
” It wasn’t even that hard. I’d always been unsure of the pro route. This just solidified my decision.
“Okay.” She draws the word out. “But she’s your twin, right? She’s graduating at the end of the year. What’s holding you back from bailing out of whatever deal you’ve got going on after you’re both finished college?”
“That’s not who I am. I can’t go back on that promise.”
“Oh, Beau.”
Her warm hand lands on my arm and gives a gentle squeeze. “I admire your integrity. But don’t promises fall apart when you make them under duress? I’m pretty sure blackmail and manipulation are grounds to toss things out in court. Why are you holding yourself to a higher standard than the law?”
“I just can’t do it, Luna. I can’t.”
“Okay. I respect your decision. But just know if you ever change your mind, I’ll be in the front row of your first pro game. Well, maybe not the front row. I’m not some billionaire’s daughter, but I’ll be cheering you on from the nosebleeds.”
If that dream were ever to come true, I think I’d rather see her sitting with the other WAGs, but now might not be the time to mention that.
“It’s okay. I can buy you a box of tissues.”
That smile spreads across her face. The one that lights her up from the inside better than any of her ring lights. “Gee, thanks.”
“You’re welcome. By the way. If you see my sister, could you please not mention any of this to her? She knows I smoothed things over with our father, but I didn’t fill her in on all the details.”
“Like sacrificing your dreams for her?”
“Don’t tell me you wouldn’t do that for your sister?”
“Fair point.” Her eyes flick back to her laptop, and I can tell she wants to get back to her work, but I’m glad we sorted this out. I’m happy I explained this to her, even if I didn’t quite get the entire truth out there.
“What are you working on?” Now, I’m stalling. Her presence simultaneously soothes my nerves and leaves me restless, itching in my own skin. I don’t want to leave.
Her head is already bent as she taps away on the keyboard. “I got the pictures from the photographer for the charity calendar. I was going through them to narrow down the options.”
“You are?” I step around the desk, closing the distance between us. “I can help with that.”
There’s a picture frozen on the screen. It’s definitely not a keeper for the calendar, but I’d put that one on my lock screen in a heartbeat. She’s laughing with her entire body as I’m untangling a kitten from her long hair.
“It’s amazing sour-faced Jared could capture that much emotion. He’s good.”
“Right? I knew I could trust Damien’s recommendation, but when he showed up, I did have a moment of doubt.”
I guess I have a plan for the rest of the afternoon. After grabbing the second chair from the other side of the desk, I settle in beside her, leaning in. “What have you got so far?”
She turns to me. “You don’t have to stay. I got this.”
“You don’t have to do everything yourself, Wild Thing.”
“Kind of feel like it’s my turn to say, look who’s talking.”
“Go ahead. Say it. I’m still going to stay to help you out with this.”
“You’ve got good taste. I guess I could use your eye.
” The keys click as she switches between screens, bringing up a folder that says January.
She clicks on the first image, then scrolls through several pictures.
“I’ve narrowed it down to these for January.
I was going to send all my picks out to the rest of the team for their feedback, and then we can choose our winners. ”
It’s us. All the emotion is there. He’s done a twist on the serious pose.
If our arms were crossed and the smiles were photoshopped off, it would look intense, competitive.
But the cats in our arms totally soften the image.
Especially the ridiculous floof I’m holding.
The mere memory of her voluminous tail brushing my face has me reaching up to scratch my nose.
“We get January?”
“Of course. We’re the captains. That’s what everyone is in for, right? Wildaker. Hottest new couple of the hockey world?” Every syllable is drenched in self-deprecation.
“I can’t believe they gave us a couple name. Completely ridiculous.”
She turns to me, looking up from under long lashes. “I’ve been called much worse on social media. I actually kind of like it.”
Need comes on hot and fast, ripping through me. Something about the pictures. The sentiment. It gets to me. The name inextricably ties us together. Lets everyone know that she’s mine. And that I can get behind.