Page 63 of That Time I Kissed The Groomsman Grump
We’re on the cart path that runs alongside the fairway on our way to the next green. The pro shop and clubhouse are in the distance, out of the range of any bad drives. My dad and Mr. Slater are in the cart behind us. They stop so Mr. Slater can chip his ball out of a sand trap. My dad has already hit at least two balls into the pond across the fairway.
They’re going to be a while.
“Between Chicago, Boston, or Atlanta?” I reach up to rub my shoulder, then rotate my arm to loosen the joint. As it turns out,notplaying golf is the condition my body prefers. I’m already stiff. Or maybe I’m sore from sitting on a couch overnight, snuggled up with Natalie.
Don’t think about Nat, man. Be here and present with Beau.
“I mean, they’re all big cities,” I say, pointing out the obvious. “But that’s about the only thing they’ve got in common. You’re talking about the Midwest, versus New England, versus the South. Pretty different places.”
“But they’re all great options, right?”
I twist my upper body to crack my back. “Sure. Yeah. Options for what?”
“Kase and I have been debating the next city for us to land.”
My chest goes tighter than my shoulder. “I thought you two were looking for a place near Kasey’s old apartment.”Near Natalie. “You’re planning to leave Los Angeles?”
“Not immediately.” Tap, tap, tap. Now his drumbeats hurt my head. “But within a year—yeah. Probably. Almost definitely.” He pulls the cart up to his ball in the rough just off the path. My lie is closer to the green, thanks to a monster swing off the tee that felt like I was punishing the sport of golf.
I shift in my seat, palms on my knees. Uncomfortable in the extreme. Beau must not realize just how excited Nat is to live close to him and Kasey. He couldn’t, or else he wouldn’t be so casual about leaving her.
“Why?” I manage to ask.
Beau hops out of the cart, then circles around the back to pick out a club. “You know Kasey’s been doing travel pieces for a while now, and taking on freelance articles too.” He slides a fairway wood from the bag. “Her boss atThe Chronicleloves the diversity for her byline. But Kasey’s already got a ton of contacts in LA. And the managing editor’s been hinting around that an eventual change of scenery might be good for her resume. Beef up her bio, you know? Give her more street cred, without the actual street.”
“Ah.” I join him at the back of the cart with a heavy heart. Like, lead-balloon-level heavy. Natalie’s making this huge move and took on a new job to live near her brother. His bailing on California would be a total blindside. And not in ten years. Or even five. I need to be sure she knows about this. Not for selfish reasons.
For her.
“So.” I pull out a pitching wedge. “Which city did Nat pick when you brought the subject up?” I clear my throat. “I’d put money on her saying you should move to Atlanta.”
“I didn’t ask her.” Beau walks over to his ball. “Maybe Kasey asked, though.”
“Hmm.” I squint over at the green.
Beau looks back at me over his shoulder. “What makes you think she’d say Atlanta?”
“Just a guess. Maybe for the sunshine.” I shrug and avert my eyes. “I don’t really know herthatwell.”
“Sure you do.” Beau scoffs. “You’ve known her as long as you’ve known me.”
“You have a point. But you’re saying Nat has no idea you’re thinking about a move?”
“Not yet.” Beau turns to address the ball, easing into his stance, adjusting his grip. “Kase and I only just started talking about it,” he says. “Nothing specific is in the works yet.” He gets quiet, and I let him concentrate. Golf etiquette takes precedence in the moment. But hopefully I’ve already planted the seed that Beau needs to fill Natalie in on his plan.
He takes a swing, and the ball’s arc is perfect, landing squarely on the green. “Here comes a birdie.” Beau pumps his fist.
“That’ll be a one-putt for sure.”
We walk to my ball, and I line up my shot, acting nonchalant. Shifting my weight, I take the chip and fall short of the flat of the green. My ball rolls back down the rise and to the left.
Beau lets out a groan. “Sorry, man.”
That’s what distraction gets me. I’ve got to bring the conversation back around to Beau leaving Natalie in the lurch. A bird soars overhead, its shadow swooping over the fairway. The smell of freshly cut grass stirs my resolve.
“Natwouldwant to know you’re not going to stick around long-term, wouldn’t she?”
“I guess.” Beau meets my gaze. “But she understands Kasey and I are adventurous. She can’t expect us to be stuck in one place forever, right? And Sloane is great. The apartment’s in a prime location. Nat’s job at St. Joe’s is solid. She’s gonna love LA, with or without us.”
