Page 70 of Not that Sea-Rious
“Who’s this?”he asked, gesturing toward the young girl.
“Ava, this is Mommy’s friend Beau,” she introduced before turning her head to the man beside her staring Beau down.“Beau, this is my daughter, Ava, and my husband, Ted.Ted, this is Beau.”She paused and shifted her gaze back on Beau.“Marissa’s, uh—”
“Friend,” Beau offered as he stuck out his hand.
One of Ted’s brows rose as he accepted the brief handshake.
“The wedding isn’t for a few days.What are you doing here?”
Beau scrubbed the back of his neck as he considered his answer.
“Flowers,” the child said and reached for the bouquet he held.“Flower girl.”
Joyce frowned and shifted her daughter.“No, baby,” she said.“Not for you.”
Seeing an opportunity to perhaps get Joyce and her broody husband on his side, Beau plucked a particularly bright daisy from the bunch and offered it to the little girl.“If your mom and dad say it’s okay, you can have it.”
Joyce glanced at Ted before nodding with tight lips.
She might have only consented to him giving her daughter a flower, but he took it as a sign that Joyce was on his side.After he gave the plumage to the now giddy child, he turned his attention to her mother.
“I think Marissa and I had a bit of a miscommunication.”
Joyce arched a brow.“Interesting wording.”
“I didn’t want to end anything with her.”
Ted stepped forward.“I’ll take Ava.Why don’t you two get out of the middle of the parking lot and have your talk?”
Joyce passed the kid to her husband as the group strolled to the sidewalk and entrance to the hotel.After a quick but sweet kiss between the married couple, Ted escorted his daughter, who twirled her pink daisy, into the hotel and disappeared.
The woman focused on Beau and cocked her head to the side.“I don’t know what was said between the two of you, but the message was clear: you weren’t available.So why are you even here?”
Slumping his shoulders, Beau scrubbed at his face.“That’s not what I wanted her to take away from our talk.My life is in shambles.”
“Do I have to repeat my question?”Joyce asked, sounding like a teacher scolding her class.
He sighed and glanced out into the parking lot.“I don’t have a place to live.I’m in the process of being bought out of my own company.”He brought his attention back to Joyce.“I literally have nothing to bring to the table, but I still want to be there.Missing out on the opportunity of getting to know Marissa better would only be the cherry on top of my shit sundae.Yes, I’m limited on time, but that doesn’t change how I—”
Joyce’s expression softened when he cut himself off.
Struggling to find the correct word to end his sentence—one that would encompass what went on between them and what he wanted to continue to go on, he stood silent.Perhaps for too long.
“You feel?”Joyce offered as she placed her hand over his.
Swallowing hard, he nodded.“This weekend, being with her, hearing her laugh, meeting all of you, I—I can’t let what she and I have go just yet.I’ve lost a lot in this week but not this.There is potential for greatness, and I refuse to let my life circumstances prevent me from doing everything I can to make a relationship with Marissa happen.”
A smile spread on Joyce’s face, and she patted his hand.“I was right about you.You’re a decent guy.”
Beau couldn’t help but snort.“Thanks.”
“She’s not here,” she said and reached for the flowers.“Do you have a card with these?”
Allowing her to take them, Beau scanned the collection of blossoms.“Uh.I didn’t fill one out.”
“Hmm,” she hummed.“Yeah, there’s none in here.”
He ran his hand through his hair.“Should I have?”
