5. Shelby #3
“My whole life changed that day,” I rush out, needing to finish everything before Gabi utters the words I’m terrified to hear.
“Without that prize money, the partial scholarships I did get barely covered room and board.
On top of playing golf and keeping my grades up in school just to maintain those scholarships I did get, I still had to work and take out student loans to make up the difference.
Golfing in the summer and staying up with my sport was impossible because I had to work to make sure I had money for the next year.
“And, while I’ll never be able to prove this, every time I walked onto a golf course in Louisiana after that, I swore people looked at me differently.
I was denied entry to tournaments. Told the field was full when I knew damn well it wasn’t.
I was blacklisted by Mr. Ashcroft and his good ol’ boy friends.
I quit my job at the country club, which was the only way I was even allowed to play there, because I couldn’t be around them and handle their stares.
That day changed my life, Gabi. And not for the better. ”
How I’m not a mess of tears right now, I’ll never know. I don’t cry often. But I did cry that day. A lot. Probably more than I’ve cried in my entire life. And the memories haven’t faded. How can they when I’m still surrounded by the reminders.
“My life wasn’t the same after that. If Beau would’ve just…”
The rest of the years-old plea dies on my lips, and I sit in silence, being held by Gabi, as I wait for her to say something. Anything. And when she takes a breath before talking, I stop breathing.
“I believe you,” she says. But before I can exhale in relief, she adds, “But I believe Beau as well.”
I slump my shoulders in defeat. If my own best friend doesn’t believe me, then it’s official, no one ever will.
“It’s—”
I start to sit up, but Gabi holds up her hands, stopping me from surrendering to the inevitable brush-off. “Let me finish.”
Damn, she’s really developed a solid mom voice since she had the baby.
“I do believe you, Shelby. I know how hard you worked then and now at your game. I know you could beat anyone—including Beau and Chad—any day of the week. I believe you won, and I know you wouldn’t make up cheating accusations because you were bored on a Friday.”
I’ve never felt a bigger “but” coming in my entire thirty-six years.
“But I also know Beau.” And there it is.
“He doesn’t cheat, Shelby. He never has.
He’s a lot of things, but none of those are a cheater.
I don’t know what happened, but after hearing this, I truly believe that two things can be true at once.
Someone screwed with the scores, but it also wasn’t Beau. ”
I’ve thought about this a few times over the years, but every time I do, it doesn’t make sense. Beau was in charge of my scorecard. I signed off on it. Then he turned it in. Who else could’ve changed the names? Who else would’ve?
“It’s in the past,” I say, wanting desperately to end this conversation. I hate talking about that day. Or even thinking about it. I’m exhausted, tired, and if I’m about to lose the one person in my life I love more than anyone, I’d like this whole thing to end sooner rather than later.
“It is, but now it’s my turn,” Gabi says. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I get why you didn’t when it happened, but all those years. Jeez, Shelby. That’s a lot of weight to carry alone.”
All I can do is shrug. “He’s your brother. You love him. I never wanted you to have to pick sides. And…”
“You thought I was going to side with him over you,” she finishes my sentence for me. Complete with a sigh I know all too well.
I look down as I shamefully nod. “Everyone else did.”
“Damnit, Shelby,” Gabi says, bringing me back into her embrace. “You stubborn woman. Don’t you know there’s nothing you could do to make me hate you?”
“Well, there were a few times over the years I wanted to kill your brother. I think that would’ve made you hate me.”
“Depends on what he did,” she says, kissing the top of my head before letting go. “But I agree, we can’t live in the past anymore. It’s time to come to terms with the present, and maybe the future.”
Fuck. I almost forgot the whole reason I was here and mad in the first place.
“You can’t change what happened back then. As much as you wish you could, you can’t. And I’ll bet my monthly diaper bill Beau would say the same thing.”
I start to open my mouth to say something, but Gabi stops me. “No. You’ve talked enough. My turn.”
“Who are you and what did you do with my best friend?”
“Your best friend has been on the receiving end of advice for years. It’s payback time,” she says.
“You two are playing together. It’s going to be good for both of you.
Which means, somehow you’re going to have to figure out a way to be civil with each other.
You, or he, but probably a combination of both, need to bury this twenty-year-old hatchet.
Suck it up and figure out how to get through one week of playing golf together.
After that, you can go back to the bickering you two love to engage in a little too much. ”
“Promise?”
Gabi laughs as we sit back on her couch. “I’ll even let you fight him in the bakery.”
“You really are the best friend a girl can have.”
“Damn straight.”