Page 80 of Cash

"Because I have eyes. You could have cooked an egg on the heat you two radiated during that camp."

"Well, whatever, yes, we’re together. I'm actually going to a wedding with her this weekend."

"Really?"

"Yeah, she's in her sister's wedding."

"Oh yeah? meeting the family already, that's big."

Cash winced. He was actually jealous of Wes in this department. If only the Masterson's were anything like the McPhee's. They were amazing, every last one of them. He would have to prove he wasn't a playboy, but it wouldn't be the tension of Evie's family. They wouldn’t think less of him because he played a sport or because he didn't grow up with money. He couldn't think like that though. Evie was worth it.

He didn't know when he got quite so sure of that. It could have been that first night when he had the dream, but that was just a hunch. Everything since then had proven to him that she is the one for him. Even though she pushed him away in the beginning, even though her family was a lot, there was something about her he couldn't get enough of. He was all rough edges and brute, and she was soft and elegant, but still so tough. They were a match in every way that mattered, and he knew she was it for him.

"I've met them before. I had to play golf with them on Saturday. If I survived that, I can survive anything" he said with a rough laugh.

"That bad huh?" asked Wes.

"Yeah, but she's worth it."

“What’s this I hear?” said Sven Olssen. He was a winger for the team and one of their top scorers after Wes and Conner. He was also Cash’s wing man at the bars. Conner was never one for casual sex, and Taylor hated bars. Sven on the other hand was a good time.

“Tell me the notorious Cash Hawthorn isn’t settling down,” he said throwing an arm around his shoulder and patting him on the chest.

“Looks like things took a turn,” said Cash. “Yeah, I’m with someone.”

“She must be incredible to take you off the market.”

The way he was talking was irritating him, but he knew he was right.

“Are you passing on the proverbial black book?”

“Fuck off,” he said stepping away from him. “Who the fuck has a black book anymore?”

“I’m just saying…”

“Well go ‘just say’ somewhere else.”

Sven smiled at him and gave him a small punch to the shoulder before taking off to talk to some of the new draftees. Things were going to be different this year, but he was excited for it. He was excited to see where this thing with Evie would take them.

The rest of the team and coach started filtering in by the time food was done. This team had been everything to Cash over his stay in Glendale. It was the best team and organization he had ever been a part of. He knew this would be his home until he was done, but it felt different now. Things felt more settled. This was his home and so was she. That was not a thought he'd had before, but he was sure of it nonetheless. Now all he had to do was make sure she was on the same page.

The next day he showed up at her house ready for the weekend, but he would be lying if he wasn't a little nervous. Evie's mother didn't seem super supportive and at every turn tried to get Evie and Bryan back together. Cash had his guard up. Not because he didn't trust Evie, but because she didn't deserve to be put in uncomfortable situations and he would make damn sure she wasn't. And even though Evie had told his sister to take him off the guest list, he knew her mother didn't seem to respect boundaries, so the odds of her respecting a guest list were slim to none. If he was right about that, he would be there for Evie in any way she needed him, even if it was just a supportive buffer. He would fight his growing urge to punch that guy in his face. But the urge was there, and it was growing.

He got out of his truck and knocked on her door. As she opened the door he was once more blown away by how beautiful she was. She was wearing a navy wrap dress with a deep v showing off her amazing tits. Her hair was twisted up and she had beautiful teardrop earrings.

"You look amazing," he said trying to fight the awe he felt from just looking at her. He took the overnight bag from her hand and the hanging back she had hanging by the hall closet. "Anything else?"

"Nope that's it," she said as she got her purse and slipped on some sparkly heels.

"First things first," he said as he set the bag down and pulled her in for a proper kiss.

The drive was quick, and they were soon getting checked in at the hotel. He had been kind of nervous about leaving River, but he had to trust him...that and he had Conner keeping an eye on the house to watch for signs of a party. But he did actually trust River. He's only been there for a couple weeks but they seemed to be settling into a nice rhythm. It might be nice to have him there next year if that all worked out. If Meadow was okay with it, River could stay with him. He could keep playing with Mateo and maybe attend the university here in Glendale. He thought his sister might agree to that.

Cash sat at a table in the hotel while they walked through the rehearsal. Bryan wasn’t there, so it was a plus. And Evie's mother seemed to be preoccupied by the wedding and she was leaving both him and Evie alone, another plus.

"Are you Cash Hawthorn?" asked one of the other bridesmaids' boyfriends.

"Yeah, it's nice to meet you," he said, reaching out to shake the man's hand.

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