Page 140 of Cash

She puts her hand over my heart. “But you also want to be around your family. Make them proud. Watch them start their own families.”

Christ, this is fucking agony. I can barely breathe around the tightness in my throat.

“Yes.”

Her eyes fill all over again as she nods her head. “I understand.”

“But I don’t wanna let you go.” I squeeze her hips harder. “Even just to go sign that paperwork. I can’t fuckin’ stand the thought of you sleeping somewhere else. I’m worried…”

She looks at me. “You’re worried about what?”

I glance down at my lap. “That you won’t come back to me.”

“I’m coming back, Cash.” She tips up my chin with her thumb. “But if you’re that worried, then you should come with me.”

“To Dallas?”

“Yes.” I see her wheels turning as she straightens. “It’d only be for a day or two. And I don’t like the idea of sleeping without you either. Although I’m apparently about to get my period.”

I hook my thumb into her belt loop. “You think that’ll keep me away?”

“Somehow, I knew it wouldn’t.”

It hits me that a month ago, I would’ve unequivocally turned down Mollie’s invitation. I hated her, for starters. And no way I could be gone an hour, much less a whole weekend. My brothers, Ella, the cowboys—everyone needed me, and I wasn’t going to let them down.

Now, though, I am going to accept the invitation. I’d be letting myself down if I didn’t. My brothers have proven they can hold their own while I’m gone. And I’m not gonna miss a chance to be with the girl who’s turned my world upside down in all the best ways.

I am done missing out on the good shit.

“I’ll come with you, sure.” I give the loop a tug. “But then what? I know we’re thinkin’ ten steps ahead…”

“But we have to,” she replies quietly, reading my thoughts. “It’s the right thing to do.”

It’s right, because we’re both in deep. We want to make this work long-term.

That confession, more than any others we’ve shared tonight, has my heart in a death grip.

It’s not like I planned on falling in love with Mollie. We all like to think we have control over who we want, but I’ve learned over the past month that’s not at all how it works.

I didn’t want to fall, but I did. Knowing full well Mollie comes from a world that’s totally different from mine.

I would’ve never opened myself up to that kind of slaughter if I could help it.

But now I have to figure out a way to keep Mollie in my life without either of us having to giving up everything else that we love.

Wehave to figure that out. I guess I begin by taking John B’s advice. I have fun with her. Make her laugh. Care for her.

And hope for the best.

Garrett, if you’re listening, please help me out.

Mollie bites her lip, eyes fixed on my mouth. “I don’t know what happens next, Cash. I think we take it one step at a time? Now we know how quickly things can change.” She chuckles. “Maybe…I mean, who knows what can happen? I just want to be with you for as long as I can.”

I glide my hand up her side and cup her nape in my palm. She’s soft here, delicate, and her eyes go hazy when I draw my thumb down the column of her throat. “I’m yours, honey.”

I do my best to prove that to her again and again that night.

Sweat drips into my eyes as I survey my work.

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