Betting on Beaumont: A Brooklyn Novel #3 (The Brooklyn Series) (23 page)

We all have our own crazy, hectic lives we’re living, but I love that we find time at least one weekend a month to all get together. I take in the faces of Savannah, Kayden, Braxton, Mya, Rebecca and Jax, and an overwhelming feeling of love fills my chest. I’m truly blessed to have these people in my life. I can’t wait to share my news with them.

“If it’s alright, I’d like to make an announcement since we have everyone together here tonight.”

Everyone’s eyes narrow in on me, and for a split second I see that look of
‘Oh shit! Is she pregnant?’
flash across their faces, but then they quickly shake that thought away since they watched me ride every single ride at the boardwalk tonight. Plus, I drank all afternoon at the boardwalk so that idea is completely off the table.

“My agent called me with some pretty big news. I wanted you all to be the first to know. I got the part as Priscilla Presley for the new Elvis movie they’re making, alongside none other than…
wait for it
…ASHTON RYKER!”

Mya’s mouth forms an O shape as she sets her drink down onto the polished wood table. “Oh my God! That is freaking awesome, Brooklyn! Congrats!”

The table fills with cheers and congratulations from everyone, followed by a huge hug from Savannah who I had already texted the news to the second I was off the phone with my agent.

“I cannot wait to go to the movie theaters and sit with a big bucket of popcorn and watch my best friend in her first major movie role! This is crazy, Brooklyn! I’m so excited for you.” Savannah raises her glass into the air and motions for all of us to do the same. “Alright, time for a toast people! To Brooklyn! And to getting to kiss Ashton Fuckin’ Ryker!”

Dixon clears his throat and yells over us, “No fuckin’ way am I toastin’ to that. I’m going to make Brooklyn eat raw onions before every love scene so that fucker can’t enjoy one single second of their lip-lockin’ moments.”

We all burst out laughing at Dixon, as we tap our glasses together and tip back our drinks.

Finishing off our drinks, we all slip off of our bar stools, and make our way over to the dance floor filled with people young and old line dancing to the end of “Watermelon Crawl”. I spot our friends, Amy and Cheryl, who are regulars here on the weekends. They are my go-to girls when it’s time to line dance because they hands down know every single freaking dance. They always rescue my ass when I get lost and have not a single clue what I am doing.

I’m a city girl trying to wing it in a country world. I need all the help I can get!

They spot us at the same time we spot them just as “Wobble Baby” starts playing. “Heyyyy, girlies! Ready to shake your money makers?” I ask as we run toward one another squealing.

“You can bet your ass we are. Kids are with the sitters, husbands are up at the bar drinking with their friends, and we’re ready to dance until our feet scream at us to stop.”

We all line up and start moving to the music just as we hear an announcer come out on stage announcing the special guests for tonight: The Houston Fire Department.

All the guys’ faces are priceless as the firefighters begin coming out on stage one after the other doing a striptease for the crowd. I bought a calendar when we first came in to Big Texas tonight. I didn’t miss Dixon rolling his eyes as I shoved it into my purse.

Hey. It’s for charity.

That’s exactly what I told Dixon, and what the girls told the rest of the guys too as they purchased there’s.

We’re helping the Burn Center with every single calendar we buy. All I gotta say is firefighter Charles is smokin’ hot. He’s on stage right now showing off his washboard abs and flashing the room his boy next door smile.

If I was single, I would so contemplate setting my house on fire just so his fine ass would come running to help put it out.

Leaving the dance floor, we join the crowd filling up by the stage, and spend the next half hour cheering on the firefighters as they come out and shake their booties for the crowd. It doesn’t take long for the guys to slip away to the bar for drinks, leaving us to our cat calls and ogling of Houston’s heroes.

Soon after the firefighter show ends, we head to the ladies’ room to touch up our makeup and then head back out to join the guys at the bar. As soon as I step up beside Dixon, he snakes his arm around my waist, and pulls me in between his thighs, trapping me against his body.

“God, you look so fuckin’ beautiful.” My cheeks flush red as his hands slide down to my ass, cupping my butt in his large, powerful hands. The sexiest smirk plays on his lips as we begin swaying to the sound of Chase Rice’s “Gonna Wanna Tonight” playing throughout the bar.

“You don’t look so bad yourself, hot stuff. Wanna dance?” I ask, backing away and reaching back to grab his hands.

Climbing off of the bar stool, he tugs my hands pulling me against his chest, causing an array of giggles to fly from my lips. “I was just fixin’ to ask ya that same question, darlin’, but ya beat me to it.”

I roll my eyes and blow air out from between my firmly pressed lips. “I bet you were,” I laugh, leading him toward the dance floor.

Stepping onto the dance floor, George Straights
“
Give it All We Got Tonight” begins playing. Dixon takes my right hand in his while I bring the other to rest on his shoulder, and we begin slowly dancing along to the music.

The entire bar fades away as I watch Dixon mouth the lyrics to me along with George’s voice as it fills the bar.

We’ve come a long way from where we were three years ago. If you would’ve asked me three years ago if I thought I’d be married to Dixon Beaumont, I would’ve told you that you were crazy. Now three years later, I can’t picture a life where he’s not in it, by my side, loving me and supporting me every step of the way in this crazy journey we call life.

February 2020

Los Angeles, California

-Dixon

“Mommy! Pretty!” Charlotte exclaims with excitement as she sits on my lap and watches as Brooklyn steps into the living room of her parents’ house. My breath catches in my chest, and I find it hard to breathe as I take in my wife. She’s stunning every day, but tonight she’s beyond stunning. There’s simply no words that can be said that would do justice for just how beautiful she looks.

We’re getting ready for the Oscars, and Brooklyn’s up for Best Leading Actress. She keeps saying she’s not nervous, but I know I sure as hell am. One thing for certain, is our daughter is excited enough for the two of us. She keeps calling Brooklyn a princess since the second she slipped into her gown for tonight. I’m dressed in a simple black tuxedo with a white dress shirt and black bowtie.

Brooklyn’s going to stop hearts when she steps onto the red carpet tonight. She’s wearing a custom dress designed by Anthony Franco, and I’m fighting with the idea of dragging her upstairs and tearing it off of her. Which I know I cannot do since she kind of needs to be at this event. Just the thought of other guys undressing her with their stares has my blood boiling, but it’s the price I have to pay when I’m married to the woman voted the sexiest actress in Hollywood by Envy Magazine.

Brooklyn bends down in front of Charlotte and runs her fingers through her tiny pig tails, wrapping her fingers around the tiny ringlets. “You like mommy’s dress?” she asks before standing upright and doing a small twirl for her.

Charlotte claps her chubby little fingers and cheers, “Yes, mama! Pretty princess!”

“Thank you, baby. You look like a pretty princess too in your sparkly princess dress.” Brooklyn takes her hands and helps her slide off of my lap. Charlotte insisted on wearing her pink Aurora dress and high heels to dress up since Brooklyn was too. We’ve had a makeup and hair team here for hours working on Brooklyn, getting her red carpet ready. I’m grateful it’s way easier for guys. I just had to slip into my suit and comb my hair.

Bam! Ready to roll.

Brooklyn’s mother, Karyn, is dabbing her eyes with a tissue as she tries to hold back her tears. She’s been crying off and on since the day she watched the Oscar nominations and heard Brooklyn’s name called. I don’t know what’ll happen when she wins tonight.

There’s no if she wins. She will win. My girl was amazing in the movie, Tempt My Heart. It’s the life story of rock star couple Brittan and Jordon Valentine. Brooklyn was amazing in the movie. Her acting has had people around the world blowing up social media with pictures of their stacks of tissues on their laps after they finish watching the movie. Brittan lost her fiancé when he was killed by a roadside bomb. The acting that went into those moments were the most challenging that Brooklyn has ever had to do.

Everyone on E! News and other news outlets are all buzzing about the Oscars and are saying the same thing I am. Today Brooklyn will be winning her first Oscar. It sure as hell won’t be her last.

“Let’s get a picture of you and Dixon together, one with Charlotte, and then alone,” Karyn says as she stands beside Brooklyn’s father and finishes snapping pictures of Brooklyn by herself.

Charlotte bounces across the floor over to the Brooklyn and eagerly takes her hand in hers and begins twirling around, making her princess dress flow out around her.

I stand for a moment, taking in this moment as I let it sink in. When I first met Brooklyn, I knew this woman was going to shake up my entire world. I just never imagined that she would not just shake it up, but in the process create this whole new world I never knew I’d ever want but now can’t imagine ever living without.

We had Charlotte September 14
th
2018, eight months after Savannah and Kayden had their little girl, Kaydence. I swear Brooklyn and Savannah did some weird ass ritual or something when we both started trying for a baby. Brooklyn had finished up filming the movie
Elvis
, so we agreed it was time to start trying for a family. Not long after we were invited to Savannah and Kayden’s for dinner and that’s when they announced they were expecting again.

As soon as those words came out of Savannah’s mouth, I noticed the silent conversation happening between my wife and her best friend. I knew right away that they must’ve been planning this. They have talked for years about how they need to have two girls so they can be best friends like they are.

Then wouldn’t you know it, Savannah and Kayden had their ultrasound and announced they were having a girl. Two months later Brooklyn found out we were pregnant.

I felt it deep in my stomach—we were having a girl. That very moment Kayden and Savannah told us they were—I knew we would be too. Wouldn’t you know it, when we went to the OB/GYN for the big ultrasound day, the nurse looked up at us with a wide grin and told us ‘congratulations, you’re having a baby girl!’

Kayden and I are lucky we are well stocked with guns and that Kayden has two boys four years older than our girls, because we’re going to be beating the guys off of our sweet little girls. They’re already stealing hearts everywhere we go and they’re only two!

Every day I wish I could freeze time because Charlotte Emmaline is already two and it feels like it was just yesterday we were rushing to the hospital to have her. Kayden and our parents’ both warned us that it goes by fast, but you never believe it until you actually experience it. It’s the same with Brooklyn and I. It feels like it was just yesterday she walked into Kayden’s backyard and knocked me flat on my ass with that smile of hers. This November marked seven years since we met.

“Come, Daddy. Memaw taking picture,” Charlotte yells to me as she waves her hand in the air, trying to get my attention.

She’s grinning up at me with her cute little smile and big sparkling amber eyes, just like her mother’s. She’s a mini version of Brooklyn. I still don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. We’ll find out once she gets bigger. At least for right now she’s Daddy’s little angel.

I completely spaced out for a moment there while watching my two girls. I’m the luckiest man in the world. I thank God every day for Brooklyn. Lord knows I don’t deserve her. I fucked up more times than I can count, will continue to from time to time because it’s just how I’m hardwired.

Walking up beside Brooklyn, we stand together with Charlotte twirling and posing in front of us for a few shots. Then Brooklyn’s father scoops her up and takes her outside to play with her dolls on the patio.

We pose for a few more pictures, and of course, I take that moment to steal a kiss from Brooklyn, making her scream out in panic about her lipstick. Her makeup artist and best friend, Rebecca— knowing me too well— made sure to use only the best, long lasting lipstick that is Dixon proof. I can kiss her all I want and that shit won’t budge from her lips.

A knock at the door pulls us all from our light chatter.

“The limo’s here!” Karyn screams from the foyer with a tad bit too much enthusiasm, causing all of us to practically jump out of our skin.

Saying our goodbyes, we quickly head to the limo. Brooklyn’s nerves set in as she rides quietly beside me. Her hands locked together tightly as they rest on her lap. She’s leaning against my shoulder, watching out the window as we make our way toward the venue through L.A. traffic.

She was nominated two years ago for her role as Priscilla but lost, so I understand that mentality of not wanting to get your hopes up. It helps you to not allow your heart to become shattered when it’s let down. But I feel it deep in my heart; she’s walking away from this award ceremony tonight with that gold trophy in her hands.

Her phone begins going off inside of her clutch, and quickly she pulls it out and sees it’s a FaceTime call from Savannah.

Answering the video chat, she holds the phone out and we both crack up laughing as we take in the sight of Savannah, Kayden, my sister Lila, her husband, and my niece along with my parents’. They’re all donned in gowns and tuxedos. Even the kids are all dressed up. Which Colton and Brayden do not look all too pleased about.

They’re definitely all boy…and sadly for Savannah, like wild, rough little versions of Kayden and I. Us Beaumont boys sure know how to drive our parents’ to drink. Beaumont boys have been keeping the wine industry in business for over three hundred years.

“What in the world?” Brooklyn says, shaking her head in awe and letting out a soft chuckle.

Savannah smiles back at her through the screen and waves her hand around the room which is filled with gold balloons and the television on E! News Red Carpet Coverage. “We’re having an Oscars party to celebrate your nomination. We were bummed that we couldn’t be there with you guys, so we decided to bring the Oscars to us. Plus, it’s a fun excuse to get all dressed up.”

“We’re going to be here cheering you on as you walk up onto that stage tonight and accept your award. Just remember to thank your favorite sister-in-law while doing so.” Lila makes everyone crack up with that one.

We talk with everyone for the remainder of the car ride over, and I’m forever grateful to everyone for that video call. Thanks to those twenty minutes, Brooklyn arrived at the red carpet relaxed and wearing the biggest smile on her face. She glowed as we walked down the red carpet, stopping to pose for numerous photographs and to be interviewed.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, we’re ushered inside to our seats.

The second the jumbo screen pops up, Brooklyn’s face along with the other women up for nomination along with her for their category, she laces her fingers with mine and squeezes my hand for support. They play short clips from each nominated movie as they announce each nominee and the role they’ve been nominated for. The room is completely silent as the nominees are listed off and they begin tearing open the envelope to reveal the winner.

My hearts pounding so hard that it’s all I can hear as we wait for them to read off the name.

“The winner for
Actress in a Lead Role
is…” The announcer lifts her eyes along with the actor beside her helping present the award, and in unison they shout into the microphone, “Brooklyn Beaumont! For her role as Brittan McKenna-Valentine, in the movie
Tempt My Heart
. This is her first Oscar.” They begin playing clips of Brooklyn in the movie. The reality of what is happening hits me like a freight train. I can only imagine how this feels for her. This is every actor’s dream. Some go years with a more than stellar acting career and never win an Oscar.

The second the screen zeroes in on Brooklyn’s face, which is completely stunned by her win, my heart freezes in my chest. This moment is really happening. Her dreams are coming true and I’m right here alongside her to help celebrate this moment she’ll carry with her forever.

She really won!

Holy shit! She won!

“Oh my God, Dixon!” she screams as she cups her hands over her mouth and climbs out of her seat. I shoot up out of my seat and pull her in for a hug.

“Congratulations, baby,” I whisper in her ear before cupping her face and giving her a quick kiss. “Now go—accept your award!” I whisper to her as my smile begins to cause my cheeks to ache.

Her eyes are misted with tears as she grabs the skirt of her dress and quickly makes her way out of our row and down the aisle toward the stairs. She climbs them with shaky legs— doing her best to not fall in her sky-high heels— before making her way across the stage. The entire room fills with the sound of clapping as she grips her Oscar in her hand and steps up to the microphone.

With shaky fingers she pulls out a written speech from her clutch and takes a deep breath before reading it.

“Wow, I cannot believe this is happening,” she says in awe as her eyes take in the sea of people filling the room. We’re surrounded by movie legends. People she’s admired and looked up to, and people she’s dreamed of being like. Now she’s standing on the stage, holding the award that many dream of winning but only a few extremely talented and well-deserved people ever get to receive.

“I know I only have a few moments, so I’ll make this quick. First and foremost, I need to thank God. Because of him I’m on this earth living my dream every single day of my life. Secondly my husband, Dixon.” She blows me a kiss as the screen changes from her to me sitting in shock in my seat. I press my hand against my heart which is our secret signal during events like this to tell each other ‘I love you’. “Without your undying support and love, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I need to especially thank Brittan and Jordon. They were amazing and worked so hard to help me accurately portray her in this movie. It was a huge role to tackle, but like they always say: the most challenging of roles are also the most rewarding. I never knew that to be more true until this role. Lastly, thank you to my family, my friends, and especially my fans. Thank you!”