Beau gave a quiet huff. This time I felt his eyes on me as he answered, “My father’s the most winnin’ coach in Mobile County’s history. He’s a varsity coach. I’ve been playin’ football since I was three years old. I’ve done rec teams, select teams, and school teams. It’s been a year-round deal for me.”
The puzzle pieces slipped into place. “I bet your father wasn’t happy that you decided not to play.”
He laughed a dark sound that I interpreted to mean I was dead-on. We fell into silence again as the questions bounced around my head.
“So you’re completely done with football? Chae said the guys want you to play for the local high school.”
“No offense,” he said. “It’s all anyone asks me about and I don’t wanna talk about it. It’s personal.”
“Sure, no problem.” The invisible walls surrounding Beau were firmly back in place. I understood better where the pain I sensed in Beau came from. I managed to stay silent for maybeas long as thirty seconds. I had a problem; I liked to talk and needed him to tell me everything. “Am I headed in the right direction?”
It took a second, but he finally let go of his direct stare outside the passenger window and looked around. “No, sorry. I live the other way. Do you know where Sea Springs Bed & Breakfast is?”
“I’ve barely left the resort.”
“Right. The resort. It’s why I ended up at the party tonight. The local group fightin’ your dad had a meetin’ tonight. I can’t listen to another second of how badly they don’t want your father’s company here.” He glanced at me. His arms crossed over his chest. Sincere frustration laced his tone.
Finally, a breakthrough. I loved my family’s influence in this town even more now.
“Yeah, my dad’s out for blood. I don’t think he’s ever had this much resistance in business before.” He grinned as he considered his father’s exasperation. “The twenty-four-hour picket line was genius. They never stop coming.”
“From what my grandmother says, it sounds like your dad’s only goal is to put them all out of business,” he said and turned away again. “My grandparents can’t stay operational if it continues like it has.”
Oh, no. We were taking a conversational turn in the wrong direction. I had to find some way to salvage it.
“Who’s the guy that’s been all over the news? They’ve been all over him for the last couple of days. They want to kneecap him,” Beau said. I felt his eyes continue to stay on me. “Their words, not mine.”
How did I answer? I wanted to use anything to help my cause, but I liked my kneecaps.
“It’s you, isn’t it?” he asked at my pause. “Nah, that doesn’t make sense. He’s a lifeguard and saved a kid from drowning.From what my nana says, the media keeps covering it, making him out to be a hero to Sea Springs or something like that.”
I barked out a laugh.
“It is you,” he accused.
“I think so,” I admitted. “But I didn’t save anyone. It was by chance that my picture was taken while your grandparents’ group was picketing. It’s the first positive thing said about the resort. My dad’s publicity team got a hold of it and blew it up.”
Seconds passed as Beau continued to stare at me. I couldn’t read his expression.
“What?” I asked when nothing more was said.
“You have a Ferrari and your parents own the resort. Your dad’s like a trillionaire...”
“Yeah, I guess. Not a trillionaire.”
I exited the highway and took the turn to go the other direction.
“The truth is my dad didn’t set out to put anyone out of business. This area has had a surge in vacationers over the last ten years. Many of those years, the growth doubled. If it wasn’t my dad, it’d be someone else, maybe far worse.” Beau nodded and settled back into the seat.
What did that mean?
“Are you quiet or are you angry?”
“I’m not anything.” He shrugged. “Mobile’s grown crazy like that too. This whole deal between the resort and the locals has gotten way too mean and there’s no going back from here. They should’ve found a way to work with your dad. Her group was never gonna win. And now they’re out of money.”
“I agree with what you’re saying. My dad’s lost his mind too, and I’m not sure he’ll ever recoup all the money he’s had to spend.”
And here we were again. Beau silent, his focus turned to the road in front of us, staring out into the dark night.
