“Thanks for helping me with this, man,” I say to Beau before handing him a water. He puts down his drill and eagerly takes it.
“No problem,” he says, twisting off the lid. “Why are you just now putting up shelves in here? Haven’t you lived here for almost a year?”
“I finally found a good use for it,” I say, scratching the back of my head. I step back to admire the new shelves Beau just helped me mount in my spare room in the garage. Also known as Emery’s workroom, which she has yet to use. I was starting to worry she only told me yes, so I’d quit asking.
“Don’t tell me you’re moving in with that chick already,” he frowns, following me into the other room where there are a few stools scattered around the shop.
I cross my arms as I lean back on the stool. Irritation settles in my gut at the way he sayschick. I shouldn’t be upset over an insult about my fake girlfriend, but I’m playing a part, right? I should be defending her.
“She’s not just somechick,” I snap, tempted to grab the end of the plastic water bottle so it splashes all over him.
“I’m sorry,” Beau says, his eyebrows raised like he’s just now realizing he struck a nerve. “I didn’t realize you two were that serious. I thought you just started dating.”
There’s that phrase again. The same one Eve tossed out last night. It’s completely accurate, yet it still raises my blood temperature. “We did,” I sigh, gripping the bridge of my nose and taking in a few deep breaths. “That was definitely an overreaction.”
“No, it wasn’t,” Beau corrects me. “I guess I don’t know how to act around you now that you have a full-blown girlfriend. It’s definitely taken some adjusting on my part. You’re all in love and shit now. It’s weird.”
That statement causes my spine to stand straight up. How did we go from not that serious to him thinking I am in love? Talk about emotion whiplash. “It’s fine, man, really,” I say, grabbing my own water from the table beside us. “Now you know how I felt when you dated Kate.”
Beau lets out a deep chuckle, making me feel like we’re relaxing into our dynamic again. We’ve been friends since we were in elementary school, which is a long-ass time. I always thought he’d move away and go to college, but when he ended up staying in Honey Grove, I can’t lie—I was thrilled.
“You can say it,” he says, taking another drink. “It’s only fair since I dissed Emery.”
A grin pops onto my face. “She was a bitch man,” I say with my full chest. I don’t take pride in using the b-word often, but Kate Whitmore earned that title when she broke my best friend’s heart…repeatedly.
He nods his head, agreeing with me, but I know he’d never say it himself. Beau was a gentleman even when he didn’t want to be. “I haven’t thought about her in a long time,” he says, letting out a sigh. “I think it’s safe to say I’ve fully recovered.”
He’s right. Bringing up Kate’s name would’ve had him sulking for days. Still, thankfully, with a heavy dose of reality and a lot of late-night talks from the master of emotion, also known as Knox Cooke, Beau was no longer at the mercy of a five-foot something manipulation master.
“How are things going with Emery?” Beau asks, quickly pushing all the attention off him. He’s good at that, which makes us the perfect duo. He hates attention, and I love it.
“They’re good,” I say, and for once I’m not lying. She no longer has a permanent scowl on her face when she looks at me, and she’s even let herself laugh at some of my jokes. I’d call that progress. Not to mention our unplanned yet earth-shattering kiss had me breaking through barriers I never thought I’d see the other end of. It’s safe to say I’m a certified Bambi whisperer.
Beau leans forward and tips his chin to me like he’s expecting more. I guess real boyfriends typically rave about their fake girlfriends. Silly me. “She’s great, man. She’s smart, stubborn, and way too good at reading me. And I can’t stop smiling when I’m around her. Being with her just makes things feel light and warm.”
I look at Beau, and I suddenly realize I’ve said way more than I intended to. “But yeah. She’s great.”
“Wow,” he says, slapping his thigh. “You’ve got it bad. I’m going to have so much fun teasing your ass.”
I roll my eyes, and a memory from the other night pops up in my head. “Speaking of women,” I begin, a huge smile stretching across my lips. “I saw you talking to Marie the other night. Or should I say getting yelled at by her.”
Beau’s shoulders square up and his left foot starts shaking. I hit a nerve. “She hasn’t liked me since high school,” he admits.
“Really? I don’t remember you two ever interacting much.”
He shifts in his seat awkwardly. “We didn’t really. She dated my cousin for a few months back in high school.”
“What does that have to do with you?” I ask, but all I get is a grunt in response. I roll my eyes—a trait I’ve seemingly inherited from Emery. “Why are you being so cagey?”
“Cagey?” he asks, amusement peeking through the cracks.
“I’m not an English teacher, Beau,” I say, kicking his heel. “Look it up, dumbass. You could use a few new words in your vocabulary.” Can you believe I used to think this neanderthal was smarter than me?
“Whatever,” he replies, shaking his head. “All you need to know is she didn’t like me then and she doesn’t like me now. End of story.”
“Oh, come on,” I grin, slapping my hands against my thighs. “There has to be a reason. Did you steal her lunch money? Run over her dog? Fuck her sister?”
He levels me with a flat look. “Drop it,” he grumbles, getting to his feet.
