BEAU

"Why are you here?" Beck asks, not moving any closer. I smirk, remembering almost putting him through the wall in my hotel room. Part of me wants to do it again. That's all this piece of shit apartment is missing anyways, a big hole in the wall.

I turn to Zoey. She's the one lying to him. I don't care what he knows. Her eyes widen at me and she licks her lips nervously, grabbing her son from his carrier before she approaches Beck.

"Beau got our invitation to Jack's party," She murmurs, the lie effortless on her tongue. "He wanted to stop by, I told him you'd be home later." She looks between the two of us, practically begging me to go along with it. "You're home early,"

"Yeah." Beck squints at me, before looking down at Zoey, bouncing frantically to lull the kid back to sleep. "Forgot my lunch."

"So you're working now?" I let some of my taunting come through in my tone. To see the golden boy exactly where our father vowed I'd be someday... Almost as satisfying as whiskey used to be.

Pushing blond strands from his forehead, Beck puckers his lips and I know he heard the dig.

"At an autobody shop." He grabs Jack from Zoey's arms, gently placing a kiss atop the baby's head. "What's it to you?"

I shrug casually, bored expression on my face. "Guess it means you can give me my money back, then, no?"

Beck's eyes widen and he opens and closes his mouth like a fish out of water. Zoey crinkles her brows at me, frown pulling her lips down. Again, I feel a sliver of contentment knowing I'm making them uncomfortable. Beck in particular.

"Kidding." I mumble, imagining Emma scolding me for my attitude. "I'm all set."

After a moment, Beck relaxes, sort of rocking uncomfortably back and forth as the baby begins to fuss. "It's a long ride just to RSVP," Beck eyes Zoey and me suspiciously, holding the baby close to his chest.

"It is," I agree, feeling Zoey's concerned stare before I continue. "But actually, I'm not here to RSVP."

Zoey's eyes are intent on my face, her forehead creased anxiously. Lazily, I peer around the apartment, noting the lack of space and abundance of clutter. How are they throwing a party here, anyways?

"I'm not sure I'll be able to make it." I step forward, using my index finger to barely touch the baby's hand. Beck takes a step back but instantly, Jack wraps his chubby fingers around mine and I still, staring down at the little guy in wonder.

Will Emma have a boy?

I shake my head, removing the sticky little fingers from my hand and shrug again. "I thought I'd stop in to meet him, since I won't be at the party."

"Oh," Beck hands the baby to Zoey again before wandering into the kitchen. While Beck sounds indifferent, Zoey almost looks... disappointed?

That can't be right.

Beck returns, a deli-meat sandwich in his hand, mouth stuffed with cheap, white bread. "Probably for the best since..."

As if thinking better of it, Beck shoves more food into his mouth, eyes flitting to everything in his view, except for me. Zoey closes her eyes, appearing almost grateful when Jack starts to cry.

Excusing herself quickly, she rushes to the back room, I'm assuming to change the kids diaper. It smells even worse than when I first arrived, I notice, scrunching my nose at the odor.

"For the best?" I repeat, suspicion piqued even more at their sketchy little mood changes. "Why's that?"

"Just, you know," Beck swallows audibly. "I know you don't like crowds."

"Hm." I mutter, completely unconvinced. "How considerate of you."

"Yeah." Beck shifts from foot to foot and while I'm happy to make him so uncomfortable, knowing that he's keeping something from me is pissing me off. I'm not in the mood to be jerked around by the two of them again.

"Want anything to drink?" Beck drops his head, perhaps remembering who he's speaking to. "Or to, um, eat?"

"No." I shake my head quickly, mind still running to figure out what he's lying about. What they're both lying about - the fact that Zoey hasn't returned is not lost on me. "I've got to head out, actually."

"Oh," Beck follows me to the doorway, obviously relieved. "Well, thanks for coming by. I meant what I said before - I want Jack to know his uncle, so... Stop by anytime, I guess."

I nod, not believing him for a second. He wants the kid to know his uncle, or to know his uncle's wallet? I'm not so sure. Our interaction feels wrong, somehow, even more so than usual. It's always awkward between us, years with no communication will do that, but before, it was always me pushing him out the door. For Beck to be so standoffish... It makes me wonder.

Even as I step through the door to leave, I can't place what it might be.

Right as I'm about to turn my back, I hear Zoey shouting from the stairs. "You're going already?"

Is that more disappointment I hear?

I face her again, a tight lipped grin on my face. "I've got plans with Emma." And our baby. But for some reason, I don't want either of them to know that part. Not yet. Maybe not ever, if I can swing it. I don't need them, people from my past, interfering with my kid.

Who cares if I don't have actual plans tonight? They're both lying right now anyways.

"Oh." Zoey's smile falls noticeably. The only one who doesn't seem to notice is Beck. "Well, remember, if you and Emma change your mind, we'd love to have you at Jack's party."

"Sounds good." I nod, knowing I definitely will not be changing my mind. As for Emma? She doesn't even need to know that we were invited. With one last wave, I notice the purpose in Zoey's final look and understand completely.

We'll be in touch about Max. As far as Zoey's concerned, the conversation is far from over.

With one last wave, I return to my mustang, all thoughts of Zoey, Beck, and the clusterfuck that is our past, fading as I turn up the music and make plans for my future with Emma.

***

Back at my apartment, I take in all of the trash and dirty clothes covering my floor and counter space. It doesn't look much better than Beck's apartment, if I'm honest. Swap out the clothes for baby toys and the trash for empty baby bottles, and they're basically the same.

I grimace at the realization and dig through a drawer in the kitchen until I find a pack of large, black garbage bags. Cranking up the volume to my 80's rock playlist, I get to work, swiping an entire counter top off into my first trash bag.

A couple hours and numerous curse words later, I collapse onto my lumpy sofa and wipe sweat from my forehead. There's more shit in here than I thought. Taking a break, I scroll through my phone, resisting the urge to tap on Emma's picture.

She's busy. With her friends. Probably having fun. But shit, I miss her. I miss being able to call her just to hear her voice.

With a selfish sigh, I dial her number and wait for her voicemail.

"Hello?" The real thing answers instead and I shoot up in the couch, heart beating faster already.

"Emma, it's me." I say lamely. Needing a reason for the call - since friends don't normally just chit chat randomly, right? - I glance around my apartment nervously. "Hey, do you have a washer and dryer I could use?"

Fuck. Me. I smack a hand to my face, shielding my vision from the pile of laundry basically mocking my embarrassing question.

"Um," Emma laughs, the sound light and airy and making me feel like less of a jackass. "Like for laundry?"

"Yes." I relax back against the sofa, turning the conversation around on her with a smug grin. "For laundry. What else?"

"I do have both, yes." Emma confirms. "I assume your apartment does not?"

I smile as she plays along easily. As usual, she's too good for me, too kind. I'm sure she can see right through me, and yet...

"Unfortunately, laundry isn't included here at Castle Lewis." I exhale, taking in the definitive difference in the shittiness level of my place, now that it's cleaner.

"And you have finally gotten around to washing your clothes instead of just buying new ones, I take it?" She's teasing me now.

"Honestly?" I laugh, my lie coming undone before me. "I'd also need a course in laundry-technique, so on second thought... forget I called." Emma laughs. Smiling at the sound, I let out a sigh. "I actually just wanted to hear your voice."

For a moment, it's so quiet on the other end that I think she might have hung up. I'm about to check when she finally exhales one simple word.

"Beau."

My chest tightens. I love the way she says my name, even if it sounds sad.

"I know." I say seriously, pushing grown out strands from my forehead. Trying to lighten the mood, I joke. "I don't have many friends, okay? I just got lonely. Don't get a big head or anything."

"You're one to warn others about getting a big head." Emma laughs before shouting something away from the phone. "Well, I've got to get back to Gemma,"

"Oh, right." The crazy little sidekick pops into my mind then. "Is she excited to be married?"

I personally never saw her as one to settle down. From our very first conversation, the way her eyes twinkled seductively and how she carried herself like she was the most desirable person in the room told me she'd never be permanently attached to one man. Her travel stories confirmed my assumptions.

Now she's getting married? Guess my instinct was wrong. Maybe I wasn't on my game, too distracted by the hot blonde being paid to date me publicly.

"So excited." Emma's voice brings me back to the present and I wonder if Emma would be as happy to get married as her friend is.

Is she someone who even thinks about marriage? I guess we never really talked about it.

"Hey, before you go," I look around another time at the cramped space of my apartment, trying to recall all the stuff Zoey had lying around for Jack. "Babies need a lot of stuff... right?"

"Right." She chuckles, unaware of the pit growing in my stomach. "Unlike some people, they can't live off rock music and take out food."

That's exactly what I was worried about. Brushing it off, I keep it casual. "Lame."

Picked up or not, this apartment isn't fit for a kid. Not my kid. I'm lost in frustration with myself when Emma speaks again, voice quiet and soft.

"Yeah." Then after a second, "Goodnight, Beau."

"Night, Em." I stare at my phone for a minute after we hang up, amazement filling me up.

How is she not scared? A baby on the way, a potential stalker outside her home, and me... probably more trouble than I'm worth. But she's always so... sure. So steady.

Pushing myself off the sofa and to the floor, I pull my guitar and notebook from the end table, newfound energy coursing through me. Strumming until my fingers are sore, taking breaks only to make notes on my pad, I play for hours, until every chord sounds perfect. Every line, every word smooth and deliberate, until the lyrics tell the exact story I want them to.

Then and only then, do I send a text to Zach, asking to meet up to go over my progress. He answers quickly despite the late hour, and once we've set a day, I drag myself to my feet and down the hall to my bed.

Stopping briefly in the kitchen, I bring my fingers to my lips before pressing them to the ultrasound stuck to my fridge with an exhausted grin.

"Night, Little Lewis."

Thanks for reading lovelies!
Beau 🥺
Thoughts on this chapter?! Why are Beck and Zoey so sketchy?
Baby Bemma content 😭❤️