Page 9 of Cash

"No. I don't. But I also wanted to tell you that she told me Bryan isn't dating anyone."

Here we go again. Her mother was always trying to get her back together with Bryan, but Evie was done with him. She had no interest in him, which was something her mother just couldn’t seem to understand.

"I don't really care," she said with a huff.

"Come on, Evelyn, I know you two broke up, but I think it is time to get back together. He has a good job and can take care of you."

"I'm not sure if you are aware of this, but I can take care of myself."

No matter how many times Evie had this conversation with her mother, she just didn't understand. Evie's main goal in life wasn't to get married to a rich man who would take care of her and move right into the country club lifestyle her mother had always envisioned for her. She was happy living on her own in her own little townhouse. She was happy teaching skating lessons and coaching some of the older skaters.

"I know you are 'capable'," her mother spit out. "But you have the life people dream of laid out on a platter for you. Do you know how many people dream of the life you have?"

" I know I’m lucky. I know you and daddy worked hard to provide a life for us. I am thankful, but I don't want it. I’m happy living my own way."

"Okay, well try not to get caught on any more walks of shame," she said in a mix of amusement and defeat.

"Noted. Now I need to run."

"I'll see you tonight for dinner?"

"It's Sunday. I’ll be there."

"See you later sweetheart."

"Bye mom."

Evie tossed her phone on the couch. Between her mother and all the complicated feelings she had about last night, she was a mess. Cash fucking Hawthorn. She didn't even follow hockey, but she knew he was a playboy. And yeah...it had been the best sex of her life. And yeah...she was drawn to him, but she was still mad for letting herself believe for even a second that it was anything other than what it was.

He had been up front with his expectations. She went into that hotel room knowing it was just a good time, but something changed for her in the middle of the night, and she thought it had for him too. Cocooning herself in blankets, she tried to let go of those feelings. He was a playboy and one who didn't even have the common courtesy of saying goodbye.

The fleeting feelings she had for him were over.

6

EVIE

Evie had moved through her normal routine without much change, but by Tuesday, she still couldn’t get Cash off her mind. Her dreams replayed their time together. Whenever she saw a tall, bearded man with tattoos she checked to make sure it wasn’t him, always slightly disappointed when it was just some random guy. Even when she was coaching, she was finding it difficult to give her skaters her full attention. She needed to do something to get Cash off her mind, only she wasn’t quite sure what.

She had just gotten home from the rink when her phone dinged. It was probably her mom or sister with more wedding nonsense, but she decided to check it anyway.

Sasha - Are you working tomorrow?

Evie - I have an early morning coaching session but after that I'm good. What's up?

Sasha - I'm just going to call you. It’ll be easier.

Then her phone rang.

"Hello."

"Hi Evie, I have a favor to ask you and it's kind of a long story."

Sasha sounded terrible. Evie hadn't known her long, but in the past month they had become friends and right now she sounded distressed.

"Are you okay?"

She took a long deep breath. "Not really."

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