Page 55 of Cash

"What is that supposed to mean?" he said trying not to let the defensiveness he felt creep into his voice.

" Let's just say I wouldn't help Tony LaMonte properly celebrate his game winning goal and the name stuck. Being a figure skater from a wealthy family who wouldn't give celebratory blow jobs quickly becomes the ice queen. But really, if I did give celebratory blow jobs, I'm sure I would have gotten a different nickname."

"Tony LaMonte...I'll kick his ass,” he said in a playful snarl.

"Come on...you know you would have been calling me ice queen right along with the rest of them," she said, batting at his chest.

He grabbed her hand and held it to him. "Do you really think I would do that?"

"Not grown-up Cash, but come on, high school hockey star Cash wouldn't have gone with the team?"

His brow furrowed and he found himself getting a little more than defensive. "Really?"

"Cash, it's fine."

"No, it's not fine. I wouldn't do that now and I wouldn't do that then."

She turned slightly to look at him.

"I didn't mean anything by it...I just figured your player reputation came from somewhere,” she said trying to soothe him, but tension still radiated off him.

"It came because I like to have sex. Consensual casual sex. Emphasis on consensual. I would never EVER make fun of someone for not wanting to participate or shame the women who do...then or now."

"Hey," she said and turned to face him fully. "I'm sorry if I insinuated anything like that. I guess I was just making the point that high school boys are the worst, but you're right, not all of them. And knowing the man you are now I shouldn’t have assumed that."

He nodded, but he didn't feel very soothed. Being misunderstood wasn’t something he was used to. He was very clear and upfront with people about what he wanted. He had been with Evie too, but she kept assuming the worst in him, and it was getting to him.

They settled back into the movie, but he couldn't shake the feeling. He questioned whether she was too good for him, and when she said things like that it made him fear she might agree with him.

He picked up his phone, he needed to check in with River.

Cash - Are you back at the house?

River - Yes, dad, we’re just messing around in the music room. Can I play the Fender?

Cash - Don't touch the Fender

River - the Gibson?

Cash - fine, but not the Fender

River - k

When he put his phone down, he noticed Evie was looking at him.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I was just checking in with River."

"Everything's good?"

"As long as he doesn't touch my Fender."

Her face scrunched in confusion. "Your Fender?"

"I have a couple guitars. The Fender is my favorite."

"I want to hear you play," she said, smiling up at him.

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