Page 37 of Not that Sea-Rious

Beau

A s Beau pulled into the apartment complex, he noted Megan’s car was in the spot.

Either she didn’t get his message, or she didn’t care.

Either was typical of her. As he parked in a visitor’s space, he turned off the engine and closed his eyes.

Squeezing the steering wheel, he prepared himself for whatever shitstorm he was about to walk in on.

It couldn’t be worse than witnessing Jordan’s bare ass as he banged Megan. Everything else paled in comparison. He’d get in and get out. No conversation was necessary.

Would she be pissed? Apologetic? Maybe she’d ignore him like she had his message. That would honestly be the best situation, considering she couldn’t see fit to give him privacy. Did she think he would steal something? She had to know him better than that. He wasn’t petty. Megan, on the other hand…

Shaking his head, he climbed out of the car. Beau wouldn’t screw her over. It didn’t matter what she did to him. He only wanted to get out of this and not look back.

Standing at the door, he held his key to the knob and inhaled deeply. He wasn’t sure what waited for him on the other side, but it didn’t matter. In an hour, this chapter of his life would be behind him. This life, this mistake, everything would be over once he collected what he needed.

Shit, he should’ve brought boxes. He didn’t have that much stuff. Did he? No. He was fine. Garbage bags were fine. Anything that was worth taking with him he’d already stowed in the trunk of his car. It would be fine. He could do this.

Sticking the key in the lock, he turned and entered the apartment. Glancing around, he found the space dark and quiet.

Too quiet.

“Megan?” he called as he went deeper into the small living area.

Nothing.

Maybe she had gotten his message. Nice. Strangely accommodating of her, but he’d take it. For once in their relationship—or the lack thereof—she’d done something he’d asked of her.

He ducked into the kitchen and grabbed three garbage bags. That should be enough. Walking past the small table, he headed for the bedroom. To his surprise, several boxes were stacked there with his name on them.

Suspicion crawled up his spine. This wasn’t like Megan. She wasn’t organized enough to do something like this. This had Jordan written all over it.

Examining the box, he noted it was her handwriting, though. Flipping the top open, he dug through, and sure enough, everything inside was his. Clothes, books, hats, shoes, and pictures. Why did he have a weird feeling about this?

Megan had done something nice. She made his life easier with this gesture.

He should be happy. Shaking off his unease, he reached for the first box, lifted it, and carried it out of the apartment.

Beau would go through everything before he left the apartment with it.

He didn’t want any sort of problems later that he took something he shouldn’t have.

After inspecting everything, it seemed Megan had, in fact, packed the items that he would have wanted and some things he didn’t. This unusually kind act from her was quite a change and made his life incredibly simple.

Why were the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end? He wanted a clean break. She’d given him just that. The drama was behind them.

After he crammed the last box into his car, ensuring he wouldn’t be able to see out of the back window, he did a last sweep of the apartment to make sure he had missed nothing.

While in the bathroom, he heard the door open. To be fair, he’d been there a while, and he’d asked her for an hour. It was her place, and she had been more than gracious in giving him the opportunity to clear out in private.

It was time to go.

“Oh.” Startled, he stepped back once he entered the living room. He had nearly collided with Jordan.

Behind him, he spotted Megan closing the front door.

“I’m glad we caught you,” Jordan said as he scrubbed at the back of his neck.

Beau raised a brow. “Why?”

Turning, Jordan gestured for Megan. “Do you have it?”

She nodded and approached them while she searched through her large purse.

An uneasy sensation rolled around in Beau’s gut. Why did he feel like he was about to be kicked in the nuts? The last time he’d walked in on these two hadn’t been pleasant, and he doubted this occasion would be any better.

From her bag, Megan produced two manila envelopes. Flipping back forth between them, she handed him the top one.

Reluctantly, Beau took it. “What is this?”

“We talked to the landlord,” Megan explained. “This is the last bit of paperwork to transfer the lease out of your name and into Jordan’s.”

Part of Beau wanted to laugh. Of course, Megan needed Jordan to move in with her. She couldn’t afford this place on her own. Smirking to himself, he scanned the paperwork.

“All you have to do is sign,” she added.

Jordan offered Beau a pen. Honestly, this was the best possible outcome. That was one more thing off Beau’s plate.

Accepting the Bic, Beau walked to the couch, sat down, and leaned over the coffee table to scribble his signature on the paperwork. He skimmed the document again and made sure he’d signed everywhere before extending it back to them.

“There.” One step closer to freedom. He rose, ready to put this life behind him.

Jordan took it before offering the other envelope.

“What’s that?” Beau asked as he stared at the new paperwork as though it were a snake seeking to bite him.

“I’m buying you out,” Jordan announced.

“What?” Beau balked.

“We’re separating. Either you can put up the money for the business, or I will. We won’t be working together anymore,” Jordan declared matter-of-factly.

Blinking, doing his best to process this information, Beau stared at his former friend. He fought the urge to repeat the word “what.”

Instead, he settled for, “How?”

“You don’t have to worry about that,” Jordan said.

Smug bastard took his fiancée and now his business. Beau sure as shit wanted to know how the hell he’d pulled that off. “You can’t afford it.”

The anger burned in his chest as his brain caught up to the events unfolding in front of him.

“The offer is in the paperwork.” Jordan jutted the packet at him again. “Feel free to have your lawyer review it. It’s not personal. Just business.”

Where the hell did he find the audacity?

“The hell it isn’t,” Beau scoffed.

Jordan cocked his head. “This has nothing to do with Megan.”

Beau’s muscles were so tight he vibrated. He was a volcano on the verge of eruption. “My ass it doesn’t.”

Beau had the idea to start the firm. The majority of the capital they used to establish the business had been Beau’s. Jordan barely brought anything to the table. Now he wanted to steal it from Beau.

“We built this company together,” Jordan said. “And I think we’ve taken it as far as we can under our current structure. We want to go different routes.”

“What are you even saying? I started this. You—”

Jordan lowered the papers. “Yes, in a way you did, but I’m finishing it. Without me and my connections, you never would’ve gotten it off the ground.”

Beau huffed. Jordan’s connections ? He had an uncle with a single franchise that got them through the door. Beau fought the urge to choke the man. His fingers itched with desire.

“Listen, I know it sucks.” Jordan took a step toward him.

Brave man, considering the rage surging through Beau.

“But it’s what’s best for both of us. You can’t believe otherwise?” He extended the envelope again. “Just review the offer. If you can match it, or do better, I’ll gladly take my new partner elsewhere.”

“Partner?” Beau repeated. “Who is that?”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve been more than fair.”

Beau couldn’t look at him another minute without punching him in the face. Assault charges weren’t high on his priority list. He needed no more complications. Snatching the envelope from Jordan’s hand, Beau marched past the two of them and left the apartment.

He thought his world crumbled around him when he walked in on Jordan and Megan fucking. Beau couldn’t have been more wrong.