shake Zoey’s. Beau and I share a look over their heads. “It’s nice to meet you, Zoey. You look like your mama.”
“We hear dat a wot. Unca Beau, you gotta show Mommy my new kitten!”
“Yes, ma’am.” Beau takes out his phone and opens it to the photos, showing me the pictures he took of Zoey with an adorable fluffy kitten and in the background is a smiling Richard Noosma. “That’s another part of the story. Seems like it’s been a day.”
“Isn’t that the truth.”
“So I take it neither of you are single,” Tyson remarks with a smirk.
He pockets his phone. “Correct,” Beau says gruffly.
I giggle and pick up Zoey, holding her on my hip. She’s too big to hold like this, but until she won’t allow it or I’m not strong enough, I’m going to keep holding her.
“Bummer for me but I’m happy for you two. I always thought you two belonged together. Happy to see it finally happened.”
Since Zoey doesn’t know that we’re together, I hope she’s not picking up on anything.
“Oh, and thanks for throwing me under the bus yesterday, man,” Tyson says to Beau.
“What do you mean?” Beau asks, chuckling.
“Like you don’t know.” He turns to me. “I got stuck talking to someone I didn’t really feel like talking to.”
“Lizzy,” Beau says quietly.
“Ahh. Lucky you.”
“Right. Not so much. Anyway, Beau, you have my number. Let’s get together soon, yeah? Sounds like we have a lot to catch up on.”
Beau drapes his arm over my shoulder and leans over to kiss me on the temple. “Sure thing.”
“Said it before but I’m saying it again, I’m happy for you both. Can’t think of two people who belong together more. Treat her right,” he says, shaking Beau’s hand.
“Count on it.”
I set down Zoey and give Tyson a completely platonic quick side hug goodbye.
“Nice to meet you, Zoey.”
He starts to walk away just as Lindley walks in, looking down at the iPad in her hands that we use for orders.
They bump into each other and Tyson catches her before she stumbles.
“Whoa. You okay?”
“So… sorry, I didn’t see you there,” Lindley says, startled when she looks up at Tyson.
They stare at each other for several seconds before I clear my throat.
“Lindley, this is Tyson, a friend from high school. Tyson, this is Lindley, my manager.”
“Hi,” Lindley says, still staring wide-eyed.
“Hey there. Nice to meet you.”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah.”
I clap and announce, “Okay, then! You two met. Now, I need to get back to work so we can take this one to the pool for a few hours.”
Even though I would rather stick a needle in my eye than go to the pool today. Maybe we can pray for a thunderstorm that will change our plans and we can stay home instead.
“Nice to meet you, Lindley.”
“You, too, Tyson.”
Neither seem to want to part but Beau doesn’t have a problem helping them do so. He pushes Tyson along and out the door, calling for Zoey to follow him and letting me know that they’ll pick up some sandwiches for lunch and see us at my place.
As soon as everyone is gone, Lindley turns to me. “Do you know who that is?”
“Uh, yeah. I introduced you, remember?”
“No, I mean. That’s Tyson Davis!”
“I know.”
“THE Tyson Davis, Addy! How could you not tell me you knew him?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. It was a long time ago. I never really think much of it, I guess. You mean, because he was in the major leagues?”
“Yes! Oh my gosh. I just met Tyson Davis and didn’t think to get an autograph or picture. My son is gonna kill me.”
“Just to say… the way Tyson was looking at you just now? I don’t think that’s the last time you’ll see him,” I singsong.
“Shut. Up. You are such a liar! He wasn’t looking at me.”
“Whatever you say.”
I drop the subject but the dreamy look in her eyes tells me she won’t be forgetting that meeting anytime soon.
Chapter Eighteen
Beau
“This is crazy,” I whisper into Addy’s ear as we sit on the edge of the shallow end of the pool, watching Zoey splash around with the other kids. She hasn’t asked us to go into the deeper part with her yet to help her learn to swim because she’s been too busy playing. Which is fine. As busy as it is here, I don’t see how either Addy or I could give her any sort of lessons. Addy decided it would be better to have her take official lessons so we gave Zoey limits on