10. Brooke
Chapter ten
Brooke
The sharp sound of my phone ringing cuts through the silence of my meditation, jolting me upright from where I was lying on the workout mat in Marcus’ home gym. With a newly racing heart, I check the caller ID, only to reach an all new high-speed, nearly beating out of my chest when I see the name.
Beau.
What the . . .
I haven’t talked to him since I ran away from our engagement. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t tried. He called multiple times a day for the first few weeks, but I ignored every one. I know it was immature of me not to deal with it then. Maybe I at least owe him the courtesy of a conversation now. Someone must have told him I’m back on the same continent because ever since I returned to the states, he’s been texting and calling at least once a day. I should just get it over with.
I still hesitate with my finger over the Accept , but give in and pull the phone to my ear .
“Beau.”
“Hey, babe.”
“Don’t call me that,” I spit with a tone somewhere between disgust and annoyance. “What do you want?”
“Is that how you’re going to talk to me after three years? After everything we’ve been through together?”
“After everything you’ve put me through, you mean?”
“Don’t play the victim. The story of us you’ve created in your head isn’t in alignment with the truth, and you know it.”
“What do you want?”
“For you to come home. It’s time.”
“Says who?”
“Your mother. And Me. The Cancer Week fundraisers are coming up. Your favorite events at the club.” I’m shocked he remembers something about me, despite his poor delivery and word choice.
“I’m not ready to come home yet, Beau,” I admit.
“It’s time. It’s the least you could fucking do, Brooke. Either way, I already bought your flight home.”
“You did what?!”
“Brooke, you’re coming home. In two weeks. That should give you plenty of time to wrap things up with your little friends.”
“And what if I say no?”
“Either you show up, or I’ll make sure your mom doesn’t have a job to show up to.”
I suck in a breath. “You wouldn’t,” I call his bluff. I haven’t talked to him in years . I can’t understand why he even cares. Maybe he just needs the last word?
“Try me.”
Maybe I was too immature then to deal with this the right way, but I’ve grown now. And he’s exactly who he’s always been. If he’s still that same shady guy, I should take this threat seriously. Even though my mom doesn’t support the things I want for my life, she’s still my mom. I don’t want her to lose her livelihood because of me. “Fine. I’ll be there. Send me the confirmation. Are we done here?”
“Not even close. I’ll be seeing you.”
I mumble some sort of acknowledgment before hanging up and immediately calling Cam. He's my only friend who has met Mom and Beau. There's something great about people you don't have to explain details to because they just know.
He answers on the second ring. “Hey, babe.” The pet name from my best friend hits different compared to when Beau says it. “What’s up?”
“Hey.” I sigh in defeat, feeling like I’m twenty again, trapped and alone in a bed I don’t want to be in with someone I never want to see again.
“Oh no. Hold on.” I hear a scuffle, like he’s leaving the room he’s in, and then the background noise goes silent. “What happened?”
“Beau. He’s such a piece of shit.”
“Bitch, I’ve been telling you that since we were sixteen and he wouldn’t help us make a pyramid for the Bring It On dance.”
A genuine laugh leaves me. “He missed a solid opportunity to see up my skirt.”
“Always an Aaron, never a Cliff.” I imagine him shaking his head as he clicks his tongue.
The next laugh gets caught in a sigh, and there’s silence between us for a moment. “He threatened to get my mom fired if I don’t come home. Do you think he has that power?”
“What the fuck?” I echo his momentary silence before he continues. “I don’t know. The board loves your mom for all the sucking up she does, and the club would honestly fall apart without her. I’d like to think no one would let that fuck boy make a call like that. Especially when his mommy wears the pants in that family, and she’s your mom’s best friend. But…”
“But what?” I insist.
“They just put in a new fountain on the front lawn of the club. It’s so big, it’s an orange couch short from being Friends .”
“What does that have to do with Beau?”
“He paid for it–along with a ridiculously large plaque with his name and credentials carved into the gold. Yes, real gold.”
“Do you think he has any idea how tacky he is?”
“Tackier than the whale tail making a fashion comeback.”
“Cam,” I chuckle. “You’re getting off track.”
“Sorry, sorry. Look, I don’t know how much power he has over something like this. I can ask around, but I wouldn’t take his threat lightly. He’s done worse for less.”
I groan, hating this. “He bought me a flight, you know?”
“Oh, fuck. Yeah, I’d say he’s as serious as an owl trying to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop.”
“I know you’re trying to lighten the mood here, but your sparkling personality is feeling a little extra right now,” I tease.
“Blame my date. That man knows how to banter. He’s got me at the top of my game.”
“God, I’m sorry! This could have waited until tomorrow. Go, go. Give me the details after you sneak out of his place in the morning.”
“I’m thinking I might stay for breakfast. Apparently he knows how to stuff French toast.”
“CAM! ”
He chuckles. “Seriously, though. You might as well come home if you already have a flight.”
“Anything from Beau has strings.”
“Undoubtedly. But you already promised your mom. Might as well kill a couple of birds with a free stone and not give him any reason to cause problems.”
“He’s still going to cause problems, but fine. You better clear your schedule for me. I’ll need my sidekick.”
“I’m all yours. Let me know when and where.”
“Thanks, Cam. You’re the best.”
“I know. Love you, babe.”
I return the sentiment and hang up, still feeling slightly concerned about the future of my mom’s job and significantly worse now that I have a set return date to hell.