Page 82 of The Trophy

I take a deep breath to keep my temper in check. “What makes you think that it would be a dealbreaker?” If anything, what I’m having a real issue with is that he didn’t trust me enough to tell me all of this before. Maybe not at first, but he should have told me last night.

I’m about to challenge him about that, but what he says next explains his reasoning.

“Because it wouldn’t be the first time I get dumped because of it. My high school girlfriend was supportive at first and we planned to stay together during college.”

That sounds kinda familiar. “Did you have to be long distance?”

Cash still isn’t looking at me. “Not too much. She goes to Bridgeport U, it’s only three hours away. But the distance had nothing to do with it. Emma wasn’t happy with all the time I had to dedicate to my family. It started with a few small fights our senior year when I had to turn down a party or a day at the beach to watch the twins when Mom was at work. It became exponentially worse once college started and I had to cancel visits to Bridgeport or had to ask her to stay in and babysit when she came home. She broke it off with me when I told her there was no way I could go to Fort Lauderdale with her for Spring break.”

I grab his hand, tightening my grip when he tries to pull away. “I’m not Emma,” I say, instantly hating his ex’s name. “The fact that you’re there for your family, makes me like you more, not less.”

Cash still doesn’t sound convinced. “Really? Look Lake, I get it if this is too much. Remember how mad you were after our first date, when I had to be here to help when Mom couldn’t walk? I?—”

The temper I’ve been keeping in check until now bubbles to the surface. “It wasn’t that you had to be here, Cash,” I snap. “It was that you didn’t tell me why. Now that I know, I can accept it.”

There’s hope in his eyes but he’s still hesitant. “Are you sure? Think about last night. What if something like that happens again and I have to bail on you in the middle of a date?”

I cup his jaw, forcing him to look at me. “I would understand. And I would hope that you’d allow me to come with you and help too.”

There’s a flicker of hope in the gray depths of his eyes. “Really?”

I nod. “Really. When I say that I care about you, I mean it. That includes any baggage.”

“Baby,” he murmurs.

“Wait,” I silence him with a finger on his soft lips. “I was furious when I got here earlier. First I thought you had a wife and kids and then after I realized that wasn’t the case, I was hurt because you didn’t trust me enough to tell me about your family situation.”

He hangs his had. “Lake, I?—”

“Let me finish,” I interrupt him. “But now I understand why you were hesitant to tell me. You were dumped because your ex didn’t understand that sometimes your family had to come first. I can understand that.”

“Are you sure?” he asks.

“Yeah. You forgave the way I barged in here to talk to your ‘wife.’ You understood that it wasn’t that I didn’t trust you, but it was hard not to think the worst when you weren’t telling me what was going on. Especially after the way I had been lied to and cheated on by my ex. Cash, I understand why you were afraid to tell me and why you assumed it would be a deal breaker. You were dumped because of it. I’d say we’re even.”

“Really?”

That barely there smile threatens to erupt from Cash’s soft lips.

“Really. But Cash, no more secrets. Whatever is happening in our lives, we can handle it together from now on. Deal?”

“Fuck, yeah.”

He crashes my lips with his and I finally get lost in his kiss.

The way his tongue slides against mine, skilled and daring, makes my body come alive.

I squirm on his lap and he chuckles against my lips, teasing and nipping in a way that does nothing to help me calm down.

“Oh my God,” I moan when Cash’s huge hand cups one of my breasts.

My nipples immediately harden, straining against the fabric of my bra, desperate for contact with the slightly rough skin of his palms.

His other hand lifts the hem of my lightweight zip up hoodie, teasing the sliver of skin it exposes.

I kiss him again, dying for more, totally forgetting where we are.

“Cash! Cash!”

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