31. Beau
BEAU
I’m always one to justify a sweet treat. And one is definitely justified after spending the morning telling a reporter every shitty thing a man you once considered a friend did to you and the person you love.
I also feel justified in choosing Emily to write this story. I know she’s fair, her follow-up questions were amazing, and I could tell she’s ready to expose Chad just as much as we are.
We met via Zoom, and I felt a strange sense of satisfaction as we watched her mouth drop more and more with every single thing we told her about Chad.
How he behaved as Shelby’s coach, the things he pulled as her caddy, the inappropriate remarks and touches.
Off the record, we told her about what happened to us back in high school, and all she could do was shake her head.
She warned us that she’d have to do her due diligence and give him a chance to comment, which we knew would happen.
She’s even going to call other golfers he’s worked with and see what their stories are.
But even if they stick by their story that he’s the best, or if Chad tries to deny anything, the power of Shelby and I joining forces to ruin his reputation will far outweigh whatever statement his daddy’s lawyer comes up with.
The interview took three hours. It was long and exhausting, and hearing all the shit Chad did to Shelby made me want to find him and kill him myself.
Which is why I more than earned a sweet treat. Because restraint should be rewarded.
“There he is, Kitty. My boyfriend. Got himself married. And not to me.”
I laugh as I walk hand-in-hand with Shelby through the front doors of Sugar and Sweets. I should’ve realized we’d run into these two.
Phyllis and Kitty are a pair, to say the least. They’re here every day. They’re loyal as hell. And they are, by far, the most senior, and unhinged, customers my sister serves at her bakery.
“Sorry, Phyllis. This one stole my heart. But you’ll always be my number-one girl.”
The raised eyebrows she gives me confirms she’s not buying my flattery in the least bit. “A month ago, she smashed a cupcake into your face. Now you’re married? You can just say it, Beau. The sex was that good.”
I swear, every time I think I know what’s going to come out of this woman’s mouth, I realize I don’t have a damn clue.
“I was in denial,” Shelby says, and this time, it’s not of the smartass variety. “Which pains me to say, because I love being right.”
“I get it,” Kitty says, coming over and giving Shelby a side hug. “His dick is big isn’t it? What are we talking? Eight inches? Nine?”
“Kitty!” I shout, feeling slightly embarrassed, while also a little flattered. “This is a family establishment.”
“Oh, little Ace doesn’t know things yet,” she says before stepping in front of me. “It’s nine, isn’t it?”
“Who wants a scone!” I shout, needing this conversation to be over with.
Clearly my embarrassment doesn’t bother Shelby, who leans in to whisper something to Kitty.
“I knew it! Phyllis! It’s girthy!”
“You are trouble,” I say, taking Shelby by the arm and pulling her toward the display counter. “No more hanging out with Kitty and Phyllis for you.”
“Oh come on,” she says, clearly loving my mortification. “At least I didn’t lie and say it was small.”
I know I shouldn’t beat my chest at her words. I’m a grown man. But when your wife says you don’t have a small dick, it does something for a guy. “You know you’re going to pay for that when we get home.”
She pats my chest. “I’m counting on it.”
Taking a deep breath to calm myself down, Shelby and I start looking at the options Gabi has on display today. The best thing about Sugar and Sweets is that she has her staples, but there are always some surprises based on her mood or the seasons.
“There we go,” I say, opening the glass case to reach for a chai scone. “Want one?”
“Yeah…” Shelby’s response doesn’t sound definitive, though.
“Do you want something else?”
“I don’t know,” she says as she continues to look through the options. “Just checking if she made my favorite, but I’m not seeing them.”
“What are Shelby’s favorites? You know, in case I ever need to earn some brownie points. Wait, are they brownies?”
“Bad joke, Big Boy,” she says, but sighs as she stands up. “They’re lemon bars. But she rarely makes them.”
“Really?” I don’t think I’ve ever met someone whose number one choice in a pastry are lemon bars. Though, a tart dessert fits Shelby to a T. “If you like them, I bet Gabi would make them for you.”
“She does occasionally,” Shelby says. “I know they don't sell well. I don't want to put her out just to have my favorite in stock whenever I want them. That’s selfish.”
“You know…” I lean in, pretending I’m about to tell her a secret. “I do have some pull around here. Just say the word, and I’ll get them added to the menu.”
“I’m not using my husband for desserts.”
“Why not? I'd use you in a heartbeat.”
I didn’t mean for it to come out in a bad way, but nonetheless, it earns me a playful slap on the chest.
“Just get me my scone. Or I’m going to tell Kitty and Phyllis I was exaggerating.”
“You wouldn’t!” I yell, but that just gets me a devilish grin from Shelby as she heads for an open table.
I take a pair of tongs to fish out the desserts, when I see my sister walking up next to me.
“You think because you own the place you can just take whatever you want?”
I smile as I do exactly that, adding an extra maple scone because they look delicious. “I believe the manager of the establishment once told me I didn’t have to pretend to need something, but I could come in whenever. Consider this whenever.”
I put the scones on a plate before bringing Gabi in for a huge hug. “Good to see you.”
“Same to you, big brother. How are you?”
“I’m good,” I say, kissing the top of her head. “Sorry I haven't made it here the past few weeks. It’s just…thing have been nuts.”
“To be expected,” she says. “How’s that going?” Gabi tilts her head toward Shelby, who’s cooing something at Ace as he sits in his high chair.
“Well…really fucking well.”
I don’t know if it’s the tone of my voice or the smile on my face that has Gabi wrapping me in a hug, but if she squeezes any harder, breathing is going to be difficult.
“This makes me so happy!”
I hug my sister back, because I know those words don’t even begin to cover her excitement. All she’s ever wanted was for us to get along again. For years, we put her in the middle because of the role she played in both our lives. Fuck, we have so much to make up for in that department.
“We’re still figuring things out,” I say as Gabi steps back. “But know that the next time you need to play referee, it’s because we can’t decide on what to have for dinner.”
I mean it as a joke, but an actual tear forms in Gabi’s eye.
“Gabi. I—”
“Stop,” she says, waving her hand in front of her face to hold back the tears. “I’m just so happy.”
“Me too, sis. Me too.”
I grab our pastries while Gabi grabs a few toys for Ace, and we make our way over to the table where Maddox is already sitting with Shelby. But before I can make a crack about our mundane and nothing-exciting-happening few weeks, I hear the loudest gasp Shelby has ever let out.
“Oh my God! Is that what I think it is!”
I’m confused as I look at Shelby, one hand covering her mouth, while the other points to Gabi. It takes me another second to figure out what she's pointing at.
The very large, and very sparkly, ring on my sister’s finger. One I know she didn’t have before.
“Gabi? Did you two get engaged?”
My sister beams and Maddox instinctively puts his arm around her, kissing her temple. “You two aren't the only ones who did a thing in Vegas.”
As the words leave Maddox’s mouth, Shelby’s on her feet, lifting Gabi out of her chair, hugging her so tight my sister might explode. I stand as well, extending my hand to Maddox before bringing him into a bro hug.
And as for little Ace? His level of unbothered right now could be studied.
“I know I give you a lot of shit. But welcome to the family.”
My words couldn’t more accurately express how I feel about this guy.
I had my questions and doubts about him when I first found out this mid-twenty-something was pursuing my sister.
But time and time again, he’s proved that when it comes to Gabi, he’s solid.
Committed. He’d do anything for her. And that’s exactly the kind of man I want her to be with.
“Thanks man,” Maddox says. “And thanks for never punching me.”
I laugh and give him one more pat on the back. “There’s still time for that.”
We laugh as I look over to Gabi, who’s showing my wife her ring.
I start fiddling with the cheap ring Kat sent to us after we got back from Vegas. I’m guessing at one point Shelby and I had rings, but neither of us know what happened to them. We’ve each remembered to wear the provided ones when we’re out in public, but neither of us wear them around the house.
Maybe we will now.
A lot has happened in the last twenty-four hours.
I know I never want to take it off. But now I also know I don’t want a dollar-store ring on my finger.
I want a ring I’ll be scared to lose. One I’ll only take off to replace with those silicone ones when I’m playing, because I want everyone to know I’m off the market.
I look over to Shelby, who’s fawning over Gabi’s ring, pretending to be blinded by the shine of the stone.
Does she want something more? She’s said more than a few times that she never saw herself getting married, so I doubt she has a Pinterest board with every hint I could need to buy her the perfect ring.
But every woman should have a ring they’re proud to wear.
Every man should get to give their wife a ring they’ll wear the rest of their lives.
Looks like I have some shopping to do soon.
“When'd you do it?” I ask.
“Saturday,” Maddox explains. “Your parents came and watched Ace. I had a whole thing planned. Super romantic. I went all out.”