Page 5

Chapter Five

Beau

“Her not remembering throws a bit of a monkey wrench in things, doesn’t it?” Mike chuckles. I start walking down the stairwell. Missing my flight would be the icing on the cake after the events of the last twelve hours. “It can also give you an easy out if that’s what you want.”

“I don’t know.” Is that what I want? I mean, getting married was idiotic. I don’t know Kit anymore, but apparently, I still have feelings. “At this point, it’s moot. I don’t even know where she lives.”

“But you have her number? Maybe you can call her. Have an honest conversation about why you married her. Actually talk to her this time.”

Running my hand through my hair, I mull over what Mike just said. I could do that. Get to know her again? Would she let me? Memories from the past resurface. Kit was completely unapproachable before. I did everything I could to get her to talk to me. I pushed it to the point where I started to feel like a stalker.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“This sounds awfully familiar, Beau. But hey…it’s your life.” I can imagine Mike shrugging his shoulders. It’s what he always does whenever he doesn’t want to influence a decision that’s mine to make. I hate it. I hate what he says next even more. “The decision is ultimately yours. Hopefully, it’s not one you regret…again.”

Could he be any more dramatic? Leaving the hallway behind, I walk into the hotel lobby and make my way toward my team, waiting by the entryway for the bus to the airport.

“BD! Where’s the wifey?” Karate Kid yells, high-fiving Noah.

“I gotta go,” I mumble, squeezing the back of my neck. Heat creeping up my body. “Thanks, Mike. I’ll think about everything you said.”

“Anytime,” he responds, then playfully says, “Enjoy your flight home.”

His chuckle rings in my ear as I brace myself for more of my teammates' needling.

“Where’s the ‘Mrs’?” Noah teases, then winks. “You two were awfully comfortable last night. A match made in heaven…or Graceland.”

I scrub my face.

Was that meant to be an Elvis joke?

Groaning, I roll my eyes and plop in the seat next to Jackson. “What about you? Wanna get your hits in, too?”

“Nah.” He shrugs. “I think everyone else has it covered for today…I’ll get you next time I see you.”

I glance over at him and am overwhelmed with gratitude for the reprieve. Even if it’s only temporary. The wink and dancing eyes let me know he’s dying to say something but is restraining himself.

I nod.

“Besides, after what I witnessed last night,” Jackson waggles his eyebrows and nudges me with his elbow, “You have some serious thinking to do.”

Pressing my hand against my forehead, I mutter. “I’m not so sure.” I can’t think clearly right now. My head is pounding, and I hate the way I left things with Kit. My life is spinning out of control, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.

“Trust me,” Jackson snickers. “You do.”

I turn toward him right before he sticks his head back in whatever book he’s reading at the moment. He always has his head in a book, it’s how he got his nickname ‘bookworm’, or ‘worm’ for short.

“Worm, can you do me a favor?” Jackson lifts his head and shoots a raised eyebrow in my direction. “Would you ask the guys to keep this quiet for now? Kit is—”

“Gotcha covered, BD,” he leans in and whispers. “The group of us had a meeting this morning. We’ll keep it low-key outside of the locker room.”

“Thanks, man.” Immediately, the tension that’s been gripping my shoulders eases. His next words bring it back in full force.

“Though once you decide to stay married, you’re never going to hear the end of it.”

Covering my face with my hand, I grumble.

“Time to go, boys,” Max Taylor, the Ironclad Marauders assistant coach, yells out. “Let’s go home.”

Grabbing my bag, I head over and follow behind my rowdy teammates, envying their ability to bounce back after the night we had.

While I’m certain they’ll be entertaining each other, I, on the other hand, have every intention of sleeping the entire flight back.

The bus ride to the airport blurs, my thoughts a tangled mess.

Throwing my bag in the overhead bin, I settle into my seat and put my headphones in. Just as I go to pull up the audiobook I’m listening to, my phone buzzes.

A wry smile curves my lips, and my gut twists at the name appearing on my phone.

My Wife:

Thanks for the reminder. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if you didn’t introduce yourself.

I snort, my heart doing all kinds of backflips.

Did she just give me an opening?

“I’m pretty sure I was in love with you, but you also drove me insane. Why didn’t you make me listen to you?” The intensity in her gaze when she told me what she wanted that summer had my blood soaring like an eagle. “All I wanted was for you to tell me I was the one for you. That there wasn’t anyone else. But you didn’t.”

She’s right; I didn’t because I was afraid to. I’m not going to be afraid anymore. “Marry me,” I said.

“Beau! Are you crazy?” Her eyes begged me to say yes. But they also begged me to mean what I was asking. At that moment, I knew only one thing mattered, and I wasn’t letting her go this time.

“About you. Come on, Kit.”I grabbed her hands and held them in mine. Staring into her hazel eyes, I raised my hand to cup her cheek. “Marry me,” I whispered.

Mike’s words about regret play in my head. Without hesitating, I respond.

Beau:

I thought it was the least I could do. wink emoji

Everything is up in the air right now, but that text proves that Kit hasn’t shut me out.

She’s leaving a door open.

And I’m walking in.

The flight home was relatively joke-free, and I got in a solid hour or two of shut-eye. But I’m still exhausted.

When I get home, I plan to hydrate and then head to bed early. Tomorrow, when I have a clear head, I can strategize a plan of action for my marriage.

Crossing the town line into my hometown, a smile blooms across my face.

When the Ironclad Marauders moved from Wilmington to Charlotte it allowed me to move back to Starhaven. The move was sudden and for reasons not quite known to all of us players. I’ve only been in this house on Cherry Street for a few weeks, and the majority of that time was spent getting settled at the new stadium and preparing for pre-season.

Feeling nostalgic, I take a left instead of the right I usually make once I get off the highway and drive through the center of town. A trip down memory lane is just what the doctor ordered.

Opening my window, I breathe in the warm spring air filled with the light perfume scent of blooming dogwoods.

Main Street is lined with gorgeous white oak trees. The vibrant green leaves have my throat tightening as a pair of hazel eyes rimmed with the same lush color fill my thoughts.

When I drive by the Harris Teeter where Kit worked senior summer, I snort. I still can’t believe the amount of time I spent there praying for just one chance to explain what really happened with Luna.

My cheeks pull up as I remember Ross, her manager, asking me if I’d like to be paid for all the hours I was spending there.

I forgot how head over heels I was for Kit. That time in my life seems like forever ago, and yet, after last night, it seems like yesterday.

How can two contradictory sentiments live with each other at the same time?

I make a right onto the next street. A sign that says Starlight Vet Haven catches my eye just as a dark sedan pulls up.

I slow down to watch the vehicle. A man in a suit gets out of the driver’s side, while a woman with long, curly auburn hair gets out of the passenger side. I see the curve of her face, and I pull over onto the side of the road.

Doing a double take, I glance in the rearview mirror, confirming who I thought I saw. A slow smirk slides across my face, and I shake my head quietly, chuckling at the way things seem to be unfolding.

If that’s who I think it is, then her veterinary clinic is right around the corner from where I live.

I put the car in park. When I’m positive the woman I’m watching is Kit, I get out and call her name.

She’s too absorbed in her conversation with the driver and she doesn’t hear me. I pick up my pace and start lightly jogging toward her.

The smile on her face as she chuckles at something the driver says makes my gut knot and my insides twist.

He gets into the car and drives off. As she walks up the stairs, I call out again, louder this time. “Kit! Hey, wait up!”

Her forehead pulls together as she turns around, trying to find where the voice is coming from.

“Over here,” I shout, waving at her from the same side of the street she’s on.

When her eyes finally find mine, my breath is dragged from my lungs. And for a moment, I can’t breathe.

I’m not letting her go this time.