“We’re just friends!” Theo shouts, and it takes me aback. I know I’m only getting to know Theo, but he’s never struck me as the kind who loses his cool. Or maybe he only does when a certain woman is named? All I know is that he’s trying to even his features, but he can’t stop the redness from covering his cheekbones.
“Sure…” Asher and Beau say in unison.
“We are.”
“Yup. Totally,” Asher says. “Because I know for my best friend’s wedding I agreed to be a bridesmaid while helping her build a wedding arch even though I’ve been in love with her since I was five.”
“I’m a brides-man. Get it right.”
Beau laughs under his breath. “If that’s the only thing you’re denying then you’re in a heap of trouble.”
Theo flips off Beau before turning to me. “Ellie is my best friend. We grew up together and by the fate of the baseball gods, she works for the BlueBirds on the social media team. She’s also getting married next year. And since I’m a good guy, who happens to be pretty handy, I told her I’d help build some things for her wedding to save her money. On my off days I go to her house and work on some projects. That’s it.”
“You left out the part where you're madly in love with her and you're pissed as fuck that she's getting married.”
A ball of dough that Theo was working on goes flying across the kitchen, missing Beau by less than an inch.
“Next time it’s going to make contact,” Theo says. “I don't know how many times I need to tell you that we're just friends.”
“You need to keep telling yourself that.”
“I will. Just like you keep telling yourself that you’re not feeling some sort of way about Shelby LeBlanc moving next door to you.”
The two stare each other down and I don’t know where to look as I lean in to whisper to Asher. “I know I thought this was my welcome home party, but this is so much more entertaining than any party.”
“Wait till you've been here a little longer,” Asher says as he starts loading sticks of butter into a stand mixer. “I’ve heard this fight more times than I can count. Frankly, I'm a little tired of it.”
Tired of it? I don't know how anybody could get tired of this. It’s a stare down. A fuck-off off. It’s who’s going to admit first that they’re secretly in love with people that they refuse to admit their feelings for. I live for this shit.
“Why would you think I'm happy that Shelby’s here?” Beau asks. "I hate her. She hates me. That’s how it’s been our entire lives.”
"Do you though?” Theo asks. “Because every time you two are together, I always have to question whether or not you're gonna fight or fuck.”
“My bet is that they fight then fuck,” Asher adds. “Makes more sense.”
I’ve never seen Beau’s face as red as it is right now. “I will never—emphasis on never—fuck Shelby LeBlanc.”
“I'll take that action,” I chime in, making every face turn to look at me. “What? He said never. I believe in never say never. So I’ll put down a few bucks.”
I take my wallet out of my back pocket, and I just so happen to have a hundred-dollar bill at the ready that I dramatically set on the table.
“I like where the kid’s head is at,” Asher says, taking out his own bill. “I’m in.”
“What the fuck?” Beau says, rubbing his hand down his jaw. “I’m not going to fuck her. If anything, y’all need to make sure I don’t murder her.”
“With your dick,” Theo says, adding to the pile. “The odds aren’t in your favor, old man.”
“Fuck you all,” Beau says, bringing out his wallet. “Want to know how sure I am that nothing is ever going to happen between me and Shelby? I’m going to see each of your bets. The way I see it, this will be the easiest double-my-money situation ever.”
Beau walks over and slams his three hundred dollars on the table before turning to me. “I liked it better when you were scared of me.”
I wave him off. “Nah. This is more fun for everyone.”
Beau shakes his head as he walks back to the oven and pulls out his preheated dutch oven. “Weren't we supposed to be talking about you and training camp? Or maybe my future nephew? Or the new house? How did this conversation turn to me?”
“Because somehow as the guy about to start a season and welcome a new baby, I’m leading the boring life,” I say. “Now spill. What I want to know, and what the rest of the room wants to know, is why you and Shelby hate each other?”
"The room doesn't want to know this," Beau points over to Asher. "He definitely doesn't want to know it."
