19. Shelby
SHELBY
“Shelby, that was quite the round. Eight under par with an eagle on thirteen. What did you do differently today?”
Well…I had two orgasms before ten a.m. That might have something to do with it.
“I wish I knew,” I say to Courtney, who, like always, is the utmost professional. It’s also in this moment that I realize we’ve both slept with Beau. And that’s not awkward at all. “Everything just finally clicked for me today. It felt good.”
There. A perfect, standard answer that Ethan will be proud of. And I didn’t say one thing about Beau, or his dick.
But God, his dick. It should be illegal for any man to have a perfect penis. Penises shouldn’t be perfect. But his is. It’s absolutely not fair.
And yes, I did feel it subconsciously as I lined up every shot today. I’m sure somewhere a commentator was asking why I was squirming before a few of my shots. But then I’d go and hit an amazing ball, so they probably just think it’s part of my new routine.
Which it isn’t. Last night—and this morning—was a one-time thing. Never happening again.
“Shelby, can I ask you why you had a new caddy today? Follow-up: Where was Chad Ashcroft, and are the two of you still working together?”
I do my best not to have a reaction to Michael’s question.
Of course he’s the one who would ask this.
I don’t know why he’s obsessed with me working with Chad, but every question he’s asked me all week has had to do with him.
Is it because I left Vegas to work with Chad?
No, that can’t be it. Yes, I left Vegas because I thought working with Chad was going to be my best move, but also because my ex-boyfriend was married.
Oh wait, he should remember that, since it was him.
“Chad and I are no longer working together,” I answer plainly. “I thank him for the help he gave me while I was rehabbing from my surgery, but our methods weren’t meshing. It was best for both parties to go our separate ways.”
“Does this have anything to do with Beau Devereaux punching him yesterday? Also, there are rumors that they got into a fight Wednesday night as well. Can you confirm?”
Was Michael always this slimy? Or am I just now noticing it because he’s not giving me average sex. “Whatever happened between Chad and Beau is between the two of them.”
“So we won’t be seeing him the rest of the tournament?”
I send Michael a “this better be your last fucking question on the topic” look. “If you do, it won’t be with me. Next question.”
I don’t know why those two words feel so good to say, but they do. Maybe because it seems as if it’s final. That the Chad-saga, at least for now, is over.
Oh! Maybe my play today had nothing to do with Beau but everything to do with Chad finally being gone. Yes! That’s it! My perfect drives and the thirty-foot putt I made that’s going to be on SportCenter’s Top Ten is because Chad was far away.
Oh thank God…
“I know you gave a statement yesterday about the incident on the sixteenth hole, but is there any follow-up you’d like to give today?”
I take a second to think about what I want to say to Michael’s question, knowing Ethan is going to watch this.
“No follow-up. But I do want to again apologize to the tournament, the fans, Beau, and everyone else involved. It’s not who I am as a person, or a golfer, and I promise you, nothing like that will happen again. ”
Fighting on the greens is never going to happen again.
Using Chad as my coach and/or caddy is never going to happen again.
Fucking Beau is never going to happen again.
So many nevers today. But necessary ones.
“Question.”
Beau’s smile is lazy as I straddle him on the hotel bed, a glass of whiskey in my hand.
“Answer.”
“Never have I ever gotten married.”
He thinks about it for a second, then takes the whiskey glass from me and goes to drink it. Right before it touches his lips, he stops. “No, Shelby. I’ve never been married before.”
I take the glass back. “Just me?”
“Just you, Belle.”
“Last question.” I snap my attention over to Courtney. Damn, that was a weird memory that never happened. “With your play today, you’re now right outside of the top ten before your partner tees off tomorrow. Do you think the two of you could be in the running come Sunday?”
“I never counted us out,” I say, my answer a little more cocky than I usually am.
“Beau is one of the best golfers on his tour. Yes, our day yesterday was one both of us would like to forget. Both how we played on the course and how we acted. But we’ve put it behind us.
That’s the beauty of golf. Every day is something different.
A new start. And I teed Beau up today. Now it’s his turn to take us into Sunday with momentum. ”
The entire room of reporters seem a little shocked at my answer, probably because that’s the most I’ve said in an interview…ever. Huh. Did good sex not only unlock good golf but also my ability to talk to reporters?
Add that to the things I’m never telling Beau. He doesn’t need to know I’m now suddenly a chatty Cathy. Or that the sex was good.
God it was good…
I thank the reporters for their time and grab my cell phone as I walk out of the media center. I’m barely two feet away, when I feel arms wrapping around my shoulders, squeezing me in a hug I’ve known my whole life.
“Now that’s the Shelby I know!”
I smile as Gabi makes her way around me, giving her a better angle for a real hug. Maddox is standing behind her, Ace strapped to his chest. Next to him are Mr. and Mrs. Devereaux, looking at me like proud parents.
“Thanks,” I say, suddenly feeling overwhelmed by the attention. “It was a good day.”
“Yes it was, dear,” Mrs. Devereaux says, stepping in and taking over where Gabi just was. “And I need to say, I don’t know what my son did or said yesterday, but I want you to know, I’m on your side.”
That makes me laugh as I feel my cell phone vibrate in my pocket. “I appreciate that.”
I quickly glance at my phone, my face overheating when I see who it’s from.
“I’m guessing Asshat is my brother?” Gabi says. “Better than the last name you had for him.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Dipshit had a ring to it.”
“Language, Shelby.”
“Sorry, Mrs. Devereaux,” I say as I turn away. Because Gabi has no shame in reading my text messages, and after last night, I have no idea what this is about to say. But I do know she can’t know what happened between me and her brother. Not now. Not ever.
Asshat
Good round today.
Oh! You unblocked me. It really is my lucky day!
Phew. Good. Rated G for the whole family.
How many times today did you think about my tongue? Every hole? No. That’s too much. But it was every other, wasn’t it? I did see you squirming out there a few times. You were thinking about my cock weren’t you—
“Did you hear me, Shelby?”
I jump—actually jump—out of my skin when I hear Gabi. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
“Are you okay?” Gabi asks, concern etched on her face. “You were twitching like that on the course today too.”
Son of a bitch. Who invited my best friend here? “I’m fine. Just been having a cramp that keeps popping up, trying to work it out.”
Gabi doesn’t buy my shitty excuse. “Is it in your butt?”
“Yup,” I say too quickly. “It’s the oddest feeling.”
“Been there,” Maddox chimes in. “When it hits in that weird spot, it’s like there’s nothing you can do.”
“Exactly,” I say, and I don’t know what forces brought Gabi and Maddox together, but I’m so glad it happened. Because he’s my favorite. “Anyway, what did you ask?”
“I was seeing if you wanted to get dinner tonight? We’d have to be in early because of Ace, but we’d love to take you out.”
Just as I’m about to agree, I check my cell phone that hasn’t stopped vibrating in my hand. I don’t know what Beau is sending, but it needs to stop.
You were thinking of me, weren’t you? All day today. And you played lights out. Coincidence?
I swear this man buys golf balls and audacity in bulk.
Me
My play had nothing to do with you.
I find that hard to believe.
Well, believe it.
Care to try and prove that?
My immediate response is to ask ‘how,’ but I have a feeling I’m going to regret saying that.
Come to my room. If I play like shit tomorrow, it had nothing to do with us.
“Shelby? You in?”
“Yes.” That’s the word spoken, except I wasn’t saying yes to the question Gabi asked me about dinner. The yes was to Beau, only I said it out loud instead of texting it.
I am so fucked in the head it isn’t funny.
“Sorry, I meant yes I’d love to, but I can’t,” I quickly try to cover up my blunder. “Agreed to meet up with some old friends tonight.”
Old friends is a stretch of how to describe Beau, but…
“Where is that son of mine?” Mrs. Devereaux asks, as if she knows I was just thinking about him. “He should be out here supporting you.”
“I knew he wasn’t going to be here,” I defend. “After yesterday, we both felt it would be best—and Ethan agreed—that he stay away today. Just a day to cool things off.”
“I guess that makes sense,” Mr. Devereaux says in a huff. “Maryann, call Beau. Tell him he’s meeting us for dinner tonight. I didn’t come all this way to not even see my son.”
“I think he might have plans,” I say, immediately wanting to smack my hand over my mouth. Why did I say that? I’m a freaking idiot!
“Really?” Gabi says. “With who?”
“Not sure,” I quickly say as my phone vibrates in my hand again.
What do you say, Belle. You in?
“I gotta go!” I panic, giving everyone a hug and saying goodbye. They all seem confused, but nobody presses me on my sudden departure, and I leave so fast a trail of dust follows me.
Which is great. I don’t want to have to tell them the highly inappropriate things I’m about to do to their son.
“Pants off.”
I push past a shirtless Beau as he stands inside the door of his hotel room.
“Belle! What a surprise.”