Page 76 of Captivated

“You live your life, Cash. You do what you did before she was here.” Birdie ladles two heaping bowls of soup and then takes a seat next to me at the counter.

“My life was boring before her. I never realized how boring until I had her to spend time with. I wanted to spend every moment I could with her.” It’s crazy to me that just over three months ago, my life consisted of work, the gym, and finding a woman to quench my sexual thirst at night. But once I learned what it’s like having the same woman on your radar, everything changed. It’s been three weeks since we’ve spoken, and yet it feels like a lifetime—because time is passing so slowly without her here.

I blow on my spoonful of steamy goodness, waiting for it to cool before taking a bite. I haven’t had much of an appetite in the past month or so, but I’ll never pass up Birdie’s homemade chicken noodle soup.

“That’s how you know you found your person. The person you fall in love with shouldn’t just be because of their looks, even though Piper is very beautiful.” I nod in agreement. “That person should be the brightest part of your life, the one person you can’t wait to share all the good and bad and everything in-between with. I had that with Preston and was lucky enough to find it again with Samuel. Those men were and are my best friends. That’s the best part about love—finding your partner in crime,” she smiles, highlighting every hard-earned wrinkle around her eyes and mouth.

“You and Samuel better not be committing any crimes, because then I’d have to arrest you.”

“Don’t worry, Deputy. We’re law-abiding citizens. But you get what I mean.”

“Yeah. You just want to experience everything with them.”

“Yup. The woman I always told you would knock you off your feet finally has, and it’s like you’re locked together in life, forming a bond that cannot be broken.” Birdie’s words bring up the memory of finding the lock fence with Piper on our date, how her face lit up at the thought of declaring your commitment to another person for everyone to see.

“I feel so connected to her still, even though we’re thousands of miles apart.”

“Then that says something. Just be patient, Cash. She’ll come back to you. Have faith.”

We continue to eat in silence, and then Birdie suggests a Scrabble game to take my mind off of things.

“Serendipity, huh?” I ask, as she lays down the same word she did the night I first met Piper.

“I thought it seemed appropriate,” she winks, bringing a little bit of life back to me while I struggle to keep out the dark.

On my way home, I can’t get Birdie’s words out of my head, so I make a pit-stop, picking up a few items that I know I’ll need to make it through this obstacle course, hoping I survive long enough to cross the finish line.

Chapter 31

Cash

Another Three Weeks Later

“Man, baby girl. You are just the prettiest girl at the party.” I’m gonna take the spit bubble that leave her lips as her thank you. “Seriously, Evelyn… you are gonna break hearts when you’re older.” I think about the beautiful woman who’s broken my heart, still anxious about hopefully seeing her again one day, knowing that Evelyn will shatter some young man’s heart in the future as well.

“Don’t remind me,” Kane comes up beside me, dressed in his black tux, reaching for his daughter.

“Uh, uh… I’m on baby duty so you can enjoy your night with your wife. Now go,” I wave him away, turning with Evelyn in my arms so he can’t reach her.

“I swear, Williams. If you weren’t nursing a broken heart right now, I’d pummel you a bit for keeping my daughter away from me.” He kisses her chubby cheek and then turns to find Olivia, who looks breathtaking in her ivory wedding dress.

It’s New Year’s Eve, and Kane and Olivia just got married as they planned to a few months ago. Even though they opted for a small ceremony at their home, Olivia still went all out with a designer gown and Kane rented a tux. They filled their living room with flowers and hired a caterer, doubling the wedding as a New Year’s Eve party as well. To keep things simple, they opted not to have a wedding party, but just asked everyone to dress up for the occasion and celebrate with them. As I look around the room, I’m in awe of how classy everyone looks, only to be reminded that Piper should have been my date this evening, looking fucking sexy in a ball gown as well.

But I’m over here wallowing in my own company because I don’t want to bring the party down. The only thing keeping a smile on my face right now is the beautiful baby girl I get to hold and play with all night. Olivia called me to ask if I would be willing to watch her throughout the evening so her parents could enjoy themselves since they usually would watch her for events like this, and it was the first thing that brought a spark back to my dull world in weeks. I’m so tired of watching my phone, waiting for a phone call or text message from Piper, telling me she’s ready to talk. I feel pathetic, a sliver of the confident man I’ve always been when it comes to women—because the one woman that I want is not here—and it fucking sucks.

As I spin Evelyn around in my arms, I take in everyone coupled off together around the open living room of Kane and Olivia’s home, their modern log-cabin-style home in the woods outside of Emerson Falls. Olivia and Cooper’s parents are dancing on the dance floor set up in the enclosed patio, holding each other and completely immersed in one another. It’s rare to see people who’ve been married that long appreciate the other person still after all those years. Lord knows that wasn’t the example I had growing up. And though I never thought that was something I wanted, I’m grateful to know that it can happen.

Cooper and Clara are off to the side in the kitchen around the island covered in food, Clara waiting for the caterer to finish cooking something for her. Her nausea from the pregnancy has finally subsided, so she’s been taking full advantage of consuming as much food as possible tonight.

“How’s my baby girl?” Olivia comes up to me now, cooing in Evelyn’s face. Her smile is blinding, clearly the happiest woman tonight now that she’s finally Mrs. Garrison.

“She’s having the best time with Uncle Cash. Now go, enjoy your night.”

“I’m sorry she’s not here,” Olivia whispers, giving me a look that tells me exactly who she’s talking about without uttering her name.

“Me too, Liv. Now go,” I throw my head to the side, signaling for her to join the party. But just as she turns, Kane comes up behind her and grips her waist. He then takes Olivia’s hand and ushers her down the hall to their room, closing the door behind them. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what’s about to go down in there.

And yet here I am, single and not even close to being ready to mingle, still pining after the woman that came into our small town and turned my life upside down.

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