Page 13 of Cash

They had just finished watchingDirty Dancing,when Sasha said, “I think Conner looks like Patrick Swayze in the movie.” There was a slight slur to her words.

“Oddly enough I can actually see it, a red headed Patrick Swayze,” Evie agreed.

“Right! We will have to go as them for Halloween,” she said as she finished her drink. Evie had lost count of how many she’d had, but isn’t that what today was about? Sasha got off the couch and meandered her way into the kitchen.

After a moment she heard a loud gasp.

“Ya okay in there?” Evie called.

“I just had the best idea,” Sasha said, rounding the corner and sloshing her freshly refilled drink. “You and Cash should pick out a famous couple from a 90’s movie and we can go out together. How much fun would that be?!”

How could an idea make your heart sing and fill you with dread at the same time? Because that was exactly what was happening right now. She loved the idea of a couple costume with Cash, but they weren’t together and would not be together.

“That would be fun, but Cash and I just hooked up. That’s it.”

“Then why did he leave you his number?”

Evie wished she knew. That new information had been throwing her all day.

“You’ll be together by then. I know it. Ooh Let’s watchPretty Woman!”

And just like that Sasha was pulling up another movie.

That conversation kept playing around in her head. Why was Sasha so sure they would be together? Evie sure wasn’t. In fact, until a few hours ago, she had completely written him off. It was probably for the best that he stayed that way.

Evie went to the kitchen and got a glass of water. Her head was so muddled with thoughts of Cash and Sasha seeming so certain there was something there, she was ready to stop drinking.

It wasn't until Evie had completely sobered up that she realized Sasha was wasted. But she needed to blow off steam today and if dancing around an NHL player's kitchen to Snoop Dog was what she wanted to do, Evie was more than happy to do it with her.

After a few songs the garage door opened, and moments later Conner walked in. The confused look on his face morphed into a smile as he watched Sasha dance. The look on his face stirred some jealous feeling in Evie. He simply adored Sasha and it was written all over her face. She wanted that. She wanted something simple and easy, but whatever was happening with Cash was anything but. Pulling herself together, she smiled and said goodbye. She needed to get back to the rink for an evening class.

Soon she was back on the road with Cash Hawthorn on her brain. Maybe she would text him.

That night when she was getting ready to go to bed she kept running over the events of the day. It was then she remembered that morning when she went to leave and had to pick up the scattered contents of her clutch. She went and got it out of her closet and opened it up and dumped it on her bed. Lip stick. Hair tie. Band-Aids. Safety pins. The card from the gala. All what she expected, but there in all the contents of her clutch was a piece of paper from the hotel notepad. She picked it up.

I had to run but I would love to see you again. Call me and let me take you out on a real date. – Cash

And there atthe bottom he had written his number.

She stared at the note and read it too many times to count. He had told the truth this morning. Maybe she should text him. But she was still finding it hard to trust him. Even with this new information, she couldn’t get over the feeling she’d had when she thought he had left in the night. Cash was dangerous. He threw her off balance too easily. She needed to be careful where he was concerned.

7

CASH

It had been over a week since he had run into Evie on his way to work. He was surprised that she had missed his note, but he was even more surprised that she hadn't texted him yet. They'd had such a connection. He thought for sure that she would text him.

He didn't have too much time to focus on that right now. Right now, they were in a playoff run and that had all his focus. He was home trying to get to bed early for an early flight to Florida in the morning. They were in a tied-up series and things were tense since they had cost them their best player when Blake Kelly took out Wes for the season. They'd had a real shot at the playoffs until that happened.

Cash had just gotten out of his shower when his phone rang. He stupid heart jumped every time it rang hoping it was her, but it never was. This time it was his sister.

"Hey Meadow, what’s up?" he asked as he wrapped a towel around his waist.

Yes, her name was Meadow. They had been raised by a hippie mother who kept them on the road living in a camper van for most of his young childhood. Cash was happy when they settled down and got to go to school, but his sister was a free spirit like his mother. He adored both of them, but they were very different people. It had just been the three of them most of the time. His dad was a touring guitarist for a band. He was around from time to time, but never stayed.

Although all of that seemed to change after Meadow had her son. In the seventeen years since she’d had River, she had gone from this free-spirit, Coachella-going, whirlwind of a person to getting her degree and working as a dental hygienist. Cash didn’t care what she did as long as she and River were happy, and they both seemed to be. That was until River turned seventeen himself and got a bit of a rebellious streak.

"Just checking in,” she said. “I caught your game the other night. You had some great hits.”

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