Page 61 of The Plus One Professional

“Did you talk to Mom yet?”

I’d texted Sara earlier, but only to find out how everyone was doing.

“I told you I’d talk to her when I got home.”

“When are you getting home?” she demanded.

“Sunday.”

“Oh my god! That’s still two days away.”

“I thought you said that you had till next week.”

“I do, but Riley and Michelle keep asking if I’m going to be able to join.”

“And the best chance of that answer being a yes is if I talk to your mom when I get home Sunday.”

If I brought it up with Sara while I was here, she’d be upset that I wasn’t enjoying myself and even less likely to let me pay for it, which I’d decided I was going to do. Carly’s life hadn’t been the easiest. She lost her dad, her mom was sick, and she had to help with the twins way more than she should be expected to. Even though I knew Sara felt the same way about Carly, my sister would not want me spending that kind of money and sacrificing that much for cheer.

But I was going to do it because my niece deserved it.

“Fine,” Carly said with a sigh.

“Love you, Carlito’s Way.”

“Loveyoutoo,” she mumbled, scrunching all the words together.

I put the phone back in my pocket and took a deep breath to prepare myself to go into the shark-infested waters I was about to enter. I said a silent thank you to Arthur as I walked the thirty yards or so to the pro shop. Without his wardrobe, I wouldn’t have had anything appropriate to wear. I’d have had to rock up to the golf course in jeans and a T-shirt. Thanks to him, I had a polo shirt and khaki slacks, and not only that—I also had golf shoes.

I made a mental note to take him out for dinner when I got home. He truly was the VIP.

When I walked inside the shop, I was instructed by a young woman that my party was already out on the green. After grabbing my clubs, I headed outside. Before I got to the end of the path that led to the course, I could hear the group I was joining chanting chug it. The men embodied the stereotypical frat boys from every early 2000s movie. They could have easily been slotted in as Bradley Cooper’s groomsmen inWedding Crashers.

“Crawford!” several of the men shouted as I approached.

I raised my hand in a wave as Simon approached me. The night before, I hadn’t quite been able to get a read on him, other than he was arrogant and still had feelings for Bailey. From my distant observations, I’d gleaned that he was reserved and intelligent. He seemed like a man who kept his cards close to his chest.

“Simon,” he introduced himself, stating his own name as he held out his hand. “Glad you could join us.”

“Cole. Thanks for having me.” His dad had been the one who insisted I show up today, but Simon didn’t seem shocked that I was there.

“So what do you do, Kale?”

“Cole,” I corrected him, even though I was about ninety-nine percent sure he’d called me the wrong name on purpose. “I work in construction.”

“Ah, that’s a young man’s game. How old are you? If you don’t mind me asking?”

I did mind him asking, but I decided not to be a dick. I wasn’t going to do anything that would upset Bailey.

“Twenty-four.”

His jaw tensed, and I could see that he was not happy with that answer.

“So, you and Bay, huh?”

I grinned through the physical discomfort caused by hearing Simon call Bailey by a nickname, even a common nickname. It was like nails on a fucking chalkboard.

“How long have you two been together?” he asked.

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