I work all the time and sometimes late at night.”
“But…”
“No.”
“Pets are wonderful. They greet you at the door with affection and they don’t care if you’re late. They’re just glad to see you. They lick your hands, your face and steal your heart with their unconditional love.”
“No.” He remained strong.
“Beau, you love my pets and you’d be crazy about one of your own.”
Now was the time to tell her his plans. He was moving and wouldn’t have time for a pet. Driving into his driveway, he turned off the engine. “Could we talk for a minute?”
“No.” She opened the door and got out. “You’re not convincing me you don’t have time for a pet. It’s a waste of your breath and my time. Talk to you later.” Closing the door, she ran to her condo.
Damn! He hit the steering wheel with his hand. On a scale of one to ten, his day was hovering at a one. He’d try again tonight—that’s all he could do.
Later he saw her drive away. She hadn’t even rested. Her mind and energy was now on the baby and Delia. He wasn’t even on her radar screen of interests.
BEAU ANSWERED his messages then thought of calling Tuck to see if he wanted to go out for a beer tonight. Tuck lived outside of Austin and they usually met halfway, but he had to talk to Macy. He couldn’t concentrate on anything else.
He grabbed a can of beer out of the refrigerator and found a bag of peanuts in the cabinet. As he opened the can, he saw the box of bacon-flavored dog biscuits. He kept treats for Macy’s animals. Their lives were as entwined as married people, except they weren’t together. And he couldn’t keep going on as if they were.
Clicking on the TV, he found a basketball game, sat down to enjoy his beer, and forced himself not to think about Macy. He was so engrossed in the game that the sound of the doorbell startled him. Hitting the mute button, he went to answer it.
Macy stood there with her arms full of shopping bags. She charged in and deposited her load onto the sofa, her animals following her. “I had to show you what I found,” she said, her cheeks flushed with excitement. “Once I started shopping, I couldn’t stop. And Delia’s going to need all of this.” She pulled a tiny pink outfit out of a bag. “I bought this to take Zoë home in. Look, it has lacy ruffles on the back. Isn’t that cute?” She didn’t give him time to answer. “It has booties, a cap and a blanket to match. I got sleepers, bibs, bottles, a diaper bag and several cases of diapers, just about everything a baby will need.” She kept pulling items out of the bags.
Bored, Lucky and Lefty trotted into the kitchen and reared up on the cabinet, whining. Beau gave them a treat.
“I bought a bassinet, but I have to put it together. I was hoping you’d help.”
He walked back into the living room. He had to do it now. “Sure, but I’d like to talk to you first.”
“I know I’m getting too involved, but I can’t help it.” She folded the pink outfit very carefully and he wondered if she ever thought of having children of her own. He was getting sidetracked.
“This isn’t about Delia and the baby.”
“It isn’t?” She folded a sleeper.
“No.” He took a moment. “I wanted to tell you before you found out from anyone else. My Dallas trip was about a job offer—a very good offer. I’m thinking of taking it.”
Her head jerked up. “What?”
“It’s a senior partnership, a salary to match and a corner office with a view of the city. The perks are unbelievable.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re moving to Dallas?”
“I have to let them know by the end of the week.”
“But your life and your family are here.”
“It’s not an easy decision to make.”
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and he noticed her hand shook slightly—the only sign that his leaving bothered her. His pulse skipped a beat.
She stuffed the clothes back into the bags, the neatly folded ones jumbled together. “You’re my best friend. I depend on you for so many things. I whine on your shoulder and tell you my secrets.”
This was it. He had to say out loud what he’d been avoiding for years. She had to know how he felt. He swallowed, never realizing how hard this would be. “Have you ever thought that we could be more than friends?” He waited, and his breath lodged in his throat like sawdust.
Macy didn’t answer. She just kept stuffing the baby items into the bags. That made him angry. He deserved an answer.
“Macy, did you hear me?”
“Beau, please, I…ah…” She didn’t look at him and that fueled his anger and his frustration.
“I don’t want to be just your friend. I want more. I want to have a life with you in every way that counts—a home and a family.”
She picked up the bags and her blue eyes met his. “I realize you’ve worked hard for this advancement.”
He frowned. “Is that all you can say? I just told you that…”
“I’ll miss you,” she muttered.
It took a few seconds for him to catch his breath. “I’ll miss you, too.” He sighed, waiting for a miracle he knew wasn’t going to happen. This was it. The final goodbye.
“I better get this stuff to my place and find room for it.” She moved toward the door and glanced back.
They stared at each other. Beau wanted to say so much but for a man who was used to talking, words suddenly seemed useless.
“Will you be leaving soon?” she asked.
“I have to let them know by the end of the week, but it will probably be a month before I leave Waco.”
“You’ll let me know.”
He didn’t answer. He didn’t feel he needed to.
They kept staring at each other. Years of friendship hung in the balance. Those years melted away into a moment of intense pain. Without another word, she turned and headed to her condo.
Beau flopped onto the sofa and buried his face in his hands. His leaving was about Macy, just like his mother had said. But he already knew that. He’d tried to take their friendship to another level, but she made it abundantly clear that wasn’t happening. He was never going to have a life with her, share her bed, her hopes, her dreams and her future.
It was over.
And the truth of that hurt more than he ever thought possible.
MACY PACED in her living room, Lucky and Lefty matching every step. Beau was leaving.
