Page 69 of Cash

"Yeah, I can run you out after we finish up," Conner said, taking a drink of his water.

"What are you going to do?" Sasha asked.

Cash shrugged. "What is there to do? I mean, hopefully she'll stop being pissed soon and we can talk about it."

"That's a surprisingly mature way to think about it," said Conner.

"Fuck you, dude,” Cash said with little malice.

"No offense. I didn't know you were that serious about her."

"Dude. I fucking golfed with her family and her ex-boyfriend."

"Yeah, I'm surprised," said Conner.

" I'm just at a loss," Cash said with a sigh. "This is new territory for me."

Sasha kindly patted his shoulder before pulling her hand away in disgust. "A lot of girls dream about being surrounded by shirtless professional athletes, but no one tells you how sweaty and stinky it is."

They both laughed at that and finished their breakfast.

"Thanks for breakfast," Cash said standing to leave. "I'm gonna go shower then can you run me back to my car?"

"Yep."

27

EVIE

It was Tuesday and Evie was still holed up in her house with her blinds drawn ignoring her phone. She had left her house to go to the rink for coaching, but that was it. She was home laying on her couch, eating ramen, and watching old movies. Her mother had been texting her and calling her constantly, but Evie wouldn't talk to her. She was why things had gotten so messed up with Cash. Her sister was also calling and texting, but she just couldn't bring herself to care about a wedding right now.

Then there was Cash. Was he reaching out? Probably, but she didn't know because she had blocked him. Was it the most mature way of dealing with this? No. She knew that, but it’s how she was handling it. She knew the insecurity she felt was on her. He had never once made her feel bad about her body. And shedidn'tfeel bad about her body. She didn't have a problem with all the women he had been with before her. And when she thought about it, she did trust him to be honest with her. And she even fucking knew when she asked him that question the bar she was putting him a no-win situation, but she couldn't seem to help herself. Whether it was her pride or jealousy or just plain stubbornness, she had really fucked things up with him, and there was nothing to do now but hide. Hide and eat noodles and watchBreakfast at Tiffany'sin her dark house.

There was a loud knock at her door. Evie sank down on her couch and pulled her blanket over her head hoping whoever it was at her door would go away, because she was pretty sure it was her mother. But the knocking sounded again, and Evie groaned but didn't move from the couch.

"Evie,” her sister yelled, “I know you're home and I'm coming in."

Even as she heard her sister unlocking her door, she made no move to get off her couch or uncover her head. Her sister entered the space and Evie heard her curtains open. Next thing she knew her sister was yanking her blanket off and bright light blinded her.

"Okay, you won't talk to anyone, so I'm here. What is going on with you?" she said with a concerned look on her face. "I mean look at all this," she said, gesturing to the mess covering her coffee table, the clothes strewn all over the floor, and the side table full of teacups and tissues. "This isn't like you, Evie. What's going on?"

Finally, Evie sat up with a sigh. "I don't know."

"Does this have anything to do with Cash?"

Evie looked at her hands and played with the blanket that had just been helping her hide.

"Okay, so it does. What happened?"

"We got into a fight at the bar."

"Does this have anything to do with Bryan?"

"Kind of, but not really...I don't know, it's all just so messed up."

"What happened?" Ellie asked as she sat down next to her.

"I'm not sure if you know his reputation or not, but he has a reputation as a player."

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