Page 34 of Cash

"Well, that was excessively rude. I was just talking to the young man," she said, pulling her arm out of Evie’s grasp.

"You’re ridiculous. He’s a grown man, I'm not sure why you are speaking to him like he’s the help. That was humiliating."

"I can't understand why. He’ll be there for all the events, correct?"

Evie groaned and rolled her eyes. "Mom, I have work to do. I’ll call you later."

"Okay, I still need his name."

"No, you don't, just write plus one."

"Evelyn, why are you being so difficult? What is his name?"

"Cassius Hawthorn," she heard a deep voice say behind her.

"Thank you, Mr. Hawthorn, I look forward to officially meeting you at the rehearsal dinner," she said with a smile. "Was that so difficult?" she said to Evie.

"Goodbye mother," she said with an icy glare.

"Goodbye, Evelyn. It was a pleasure, Mr. Hawthorn," she said.

And she watched in a dream state as he gave mother a polite nod, "The pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Masterson."

She gave her daughter an approving look and turned and left. She closed her eyes, and she could feel Cash's eyes on her. Maybe if she just left, she could just pretend that this all had been a terrible nightmare. She turned to leave.

"Not so fast," Cash said, putting his hands on her shoulders, turning her to face him. "Care to let me in on what is going on? I'm here for shenanigans, but I do like to be clued in first."

"I'm sorry about that...that was my mom," she said, still unable to meet his eyes.

"I figured out that much."

"And you totally don't have to go to the wedding with me. She just surprised me and was demanding to know who I was bringing...and I don't know what I was thinking but seriously, don't worry –"

"I'll go with you."

"What?" she finally looked at him.

"I'll be your date," he said like it was the easiest choice he ever had to make.

"It's fine. My family is.... a lot."

"Evie. Stop. I'll go with you to the wedding. When is it?"

"Cash, it's fine. I can find someone else to go with." Her heart stupidly leapt as he grimaced at the idea.

"No. I’ll take you. That's final. I was only asking because of the hoodlum up there, if it's out of town I’ll find someone to keep an eye on him."

"That's your nephew?" she asked. He nodded. "All the more reason not to do this then."

"Evie...what's going on?"

"They are all just going to have so many questions and I know they’ll think we’re together–"

"Let them."

"Let them?" she gawked at him.

"Yeah, let them think whatever the fuck they want to think. They will anyway."

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