Page 34 of Unexpected Shot
“I don't know if there's anything you can help me with,” I admit as I push my second loaf of sourdough to the side, letting it get in one more proof before the cheddar and jalapeno loaf goes into the oven. “Because there is no advice that can help when it comes to the SheDevil.”
“I find that hard to believe,” Maddox says as he turns on one of the stand mixers. “And I’m not saying that because I want you to tell us more. I truly want to help.”
“And you’re a little nosy,” Theo quips.
Maddox holds two fingers up, very close together. “Okay, fine. A little. But in my defense, I hear the other end of this from Gabi who talks to Shelby, so I’m very invested in this saga.”
Saga is the understatement of the year when it comes to describing whatever this is between me and Shelby.
“She's just so defensive,” I bark out. I guess I do need to get some of this off my chest.
“Explain,” Theo says. “I need full context for my best advice to be given.”
If I gave Theo full context, he’d miss most of spring training,so I give him the most pressing issues. “It’s everything I do. Nothing is right. I’m not saying I’m right all the time, but it’s like she can’t ever admit that I may be right about some things. I try to help her, she pushes me away. I try to make a suggestion, she tells me where to go and how to get there. Which then leads to us calling each other names and bickering about random things, and by the time we’re done, I forget what started the fight. It’s exhausting!”
I try and catch my breath, because apparently just talking about Shelby gets me more worked up than I’d like to admit.Damn. I don’t have enough dough for a third loaf.
“I hate asking this, because I hate the guy, but have you talked to Chad? He works with her every day. Maybe he can help you crack the Shelby code?”
I shoot a look at Theo, and he immediately holds his hands up in defense. “It was just a suggestion. I’ve met the man once, and I think he’s a douche. But, in your situation, I had to bring him up. Apologies.”
“It’s fine. But talking to Chad is not an option.”
My voice has an unexpected growl to it, but that makes sense to me. Because the more I’ve thought about Chad and how he’s been acting toward Shelby, the more I’ve become enraged. Sure, there’s the fucked up swing and grip that he refuses to admit is making her worse. But more than that, I can’t shake the image of him with his hand on her leg.
When I saw that, my blood spiked to a temperature I haven’t felt in a very long time. And never over a woman. I know Shelby isn’t interested in him. But how dare he blur professional lines? Sure, they’ve known each other almost as long as we have. Yes, they dated a million years ago. But he’s her coach. He should be professional. At all times.
Then again, he should be giving her good advice and solid techniques to work with, but that isn’t happening either.
“Okay, we need to know!”
I’ve never heard Asher raise his voice. Considering I jumpedout of my seat, Theo fell off his stool, and Maddox just tossed flour into the air, I think this is a first for all of us.
“Know what?” I ask.
“You. Shelby. What’s the deal? For months we’ve been dealing with theShelby-Beau: are they going to fight or fucktension,” Asher says. “We need to know why you two hate each other. Once and for all.”
I let out a sigh. “It’s complicated. And before I start, I need to say that to this day, I still maintain my innocence in the entire thing.”
“We’ll be the judge of that,” Theo says. “Now begin.”
“Vanderbilt, huh? Don’t want to play for the home state Tigers?”
I do the fake laugh I’ve perfected over the years of coming to this country club. “No, sir. Though LSU is a great school, I couldn’t say no to the business school at Vanderbilt. Need to have that back-up plan in case the golf thing doesn’t work out.”
He laughs like I just told the funniest joke in the world, adding a slap to my back. “Oh nonsense, Beau. You’re the finest golfer we’ve ever had here at Willowmere. We can’t wait for the day we see you walking the fairways at Augusta.”
“Thank you, sir.”
That is the goal—to one day play at the most prestigious course in the country. It’s what I’ve been working for my whole life. But what this member doesn’t know—what most people don’t know—is that I want more than just golf.
What that is, I’m not sure yet. But I know I’m not going to get it if I stay in this small town. Or go an hour away to LSU.
I want more. I want big cities. Bright lights. I want to be known. A who’s who. If that happens from golf, so be it, but I…I don’t know. As graduation came and went, I realized I want more than to just be a golfer.
“What’s taking them so long?” I hear Chad say as he steps up next to me. “Is it time to go yet?”
“No. Shelby hasn’t gotten her trophy yet.”
