Page 63 of Cash

"Did my mother send you here?" she shot at him.

He started to sputter as Cash came up and put his arm around her. "I was wondering where you got off to, baby. Come dance with me," he said, pulling her out to the dance floor.

She was so grateful for him at that moment. She didn’t want to be dealing with Bryan. But when she looked up at him, she didn't like the look on Cash’s face.

"What is he doing here?" he said harshly in her ear.

"You guess is as good as mine, and if your guess is my mother, then I think we’re both onto something."

"This is unbelievable."

"I know. I'm sorry. Let's just dance and forget he's here."

He pulled her close and they danced. She tried to forget it all, but she couldn't. Why did things have to be so complicated? When they were alone it wasn't. When it was just the two of them it was blissfully simple. Whether it was skeeball and a drive-in, or fancy dinners and incredible sex, it was easy. They fit. But here, with his past beautifully and irritatingly lurking around every corner and her mother sending her flying monkey after them, it was not simple.

She tried to dance with him and push it all away and reclaim her buzz and their simple connection, but her buzz was turning into being drunk and the simplicity between them was gone as another woman tried to dance with Cash and Bryan slid in to dance with their group. Through all of it Cash's hand never left her hip and she tried to find solace in that, but it was hard. It was all starting to get to her.

"I'm going to the bathroom," she said to Cash as she turned out of his grip. He looked at her with concerned eyes, but she couldn't do this right now. Everything just felt wrong.

She finished in the bathroom and splashed some water on her face. Hopefully it would be time to get out of here soon. She should be celebrating with her sister, but her mom was ruining it from afar.

Instead of going back to the dance floor she walked outside and got some air. The air was hot and humid, not quite the refresher she was hoping for, but at least it was a little bit quieter, and she could hear her own thoughts. Yes, she was pissed at her mother for sending Bryan, but Cash had to deal with her ex all day and now he was here. She needed to see if he was alright. She turned to go find him, but as she did, she ran smack dab into Bryan.

"Bryan, excuse me," she said, trying to move past him, but he had gripped her by the arm. She tried to bat away his hand.

"Please let me go. I need to go talk to Cash."

"Can you just give me a second? One second and I'll go away and be done, I promise."

She stopped and looked at him, both of his hands were on her shoulders, and he was leaning into a whisper in her ear. As she pushed him off, she noticed he was smirking at something in the distance. She turned to see what he was looking at, but he turned her face back to his. When he did, she pushed him away and stepped out of his grasp.

"Fine. What do you want?"

"I just wanted to say that it is okay with me if you still want to be a figure skating coach."

She just looked at him with confusion. "I don't need your permission to do my job."

"I just wanted to let you know. I know when we broke up that was a major cause. I know I wanted you to be a stay-at-home wife and mother, but if that's not what you want, we can talk about it. I think it's time we got back together."

Her mouth fell open and she just looked up at him. "Are you kidding me right now?"

"No, Evelyn, I'm not. I think it is time we both stopped playing this game."

"In case you haven't noticed I'm here with someone else."

"Right...that hockey player. We both know that isn't anything lasting. He made that much clear earlier today."

"What are you talking about?" The spiral that Evie had been keeping at bay since she saw him talking to the girl in the bar threatened to overtake her. She pushed it away. Cash was trustworthy, she reminded herself.

"It's nothing,” he said as he let his hand run down her arm. “It’s just that he has a reputation."

Shrugging off his arm she said, "I know all about his reputation and I'm fine with it. He hasn't been with anyone since we've been together."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes." Was she? Yes, she was. Although he had never said anything to that end, he had alluded to it.

“Can I show you something?” he asked.

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