Page 48 of Cash

Cash - I feel like I should tell your mother you threatened to nut punch me.

Evie - Do that and you'll get a nut punch

He laughed again. This was a new side to her, and he was here for it.

Cash - Noted. In an effort to protect my nuts, I'm going to go ahead and say good night.

Evie - Good idea

Cash - Good night baby girl

Evie - Good night Cash

19

EVIE

The next morning, Evie was at the country club for brunch with her mother and sister. At least her mother was off her back about who she was bringing, her focus now on other wedding matters. Ellie and their mother were discussing the details and Evie knew she should be paying more attention, but she just couldn't seem to make herself care.

"So, the bachelor and bachelorette parties are next weekend. Then the following week is the wedding," Evie nodded and pulled out her phone to check it again.

She had been waiting for another text from Cash, but nothing since last night. Their night together kept playing in her memory. She’d had sex before, but this was different. Cash woke up a whole other side of her. It almost scared her because it brought out a desperate, needy side of her. She wanted to be with him all the time, to feel his beard rough against her neck as he kissed her. She wanted to feel the beard rough against her inner thighs as he...

"Evie," her mother said curtly. "Are you paying attention?"

"I'm sorry. I spaced out for a minute there. I didn't sleep very well last night."

"Tell Cassius to be at the club at two for tee time and at the restaurant at eight for the party," her mother said.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"The bachelor party. He's going right? The golf outing and bachelor/bachelorette party?"

"Ummmm... I didn't think he would go to that," Evie said, panic starting to sink in. Why had she done this?

"And why not? I emailed him the itinerary."

"You did what?" Evie spat out at her mother.

"Emailed him the itinerary.”

Her mother’s unflappable, perfect nature was pissing her off. She was not in the mood for Elizabeth Masterson today. And what business did she have emailing Cash?

"How did you get his email?"

"I called Owen over at the rink, and he gave it to me."

"You called my boss for my date’s email. Do you hear how crazy that sounds?" Evie’s head was about to explode. This was a lot, even for her mother.

"Lower your voice, Evelyn," her mother said, her eyes darting around the room. "I needed to find out his menu choice."

"I replied with that on the RSVP,” Evie protested.

"Not for the rehearsal dinner."

"Mother!" She was there gaping at her mother. She could not believe she would do that…actually, she could, and that made it even worse.

"Guys, can we please just move on? If Cash can't make it next weekend it's fine. I'm sure he's a busy man," said Ellie, trying to smooth it all over.

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