Page 52 of Cash

We enter the house, and I have to smother a laugh. Cash doesn’t bother attempting to, and it gains everyone’s attention. Sitting at the table are Lars, Terry and the Aunts. Lola is obviously wearing one of Cash’s t-shirts, and it’s hanging nearly to her knees. Lottie’s wearing a blue bandana tied gangbanger style on her head. Lars is shuffling a deck of cards, and Terry’s busy loudly accusing Lola of cheating. I assume it’s because most of the poker chips are piled up in front of her.

Looking around, I find Snots sleeping under the table. He’s on his back, mouth hanging open, snoring to beat hell. Lottie’s using her foot to rub his belly, and I know he’s having happy puppy dreams at the moment.

“How’s Liam?” Cash rumbles out.

“Sleeping. After his bath, Lottie rocked him to sleep and put him in his crib. Your kid’s a bigger mess maker than you were, Cash. I’ll take two,” Lola says while knocking her fist on the table and scooping up the two cards dealt to her.

“Do I wanna know why you two ladies raided my dresser?” Cash asks, and I can hear the smile in his voice.

“Projectile vomiting. Your kid has wicked aim. I had to wash my hair, and Lola’s blouse is drying in your bathroom. Don’t worry, Liam’s fine. Babies vomit. Fact of life,” Lottie informs Cash without looking up from her cards.

“I’m going to check on him. Be right back,” Cash says to me as he turns and walks down the hall.

“How was your dinner?” Lars asks.

“Nice. Met a couple of Cash’s club members,” I answer as I peek over Terry’s shoulder to see his cards.

“Which ones?” Lola inquires.

“Trigger, Pigeon and Horse Nuts.”

“Trigger’s a sexy beast,” Lottie gushes while fanning herself with one hand. “Was Tammy with him?”

“No, he said she was busy.”

“Hmm. Maybe a crack in their foundation,” Lola states while she and Lottie look at one another.

“Jesus, you two! Couples don’t have to spend every second together. Nothing wrong with having an evening apart,” Lars says while shaking his head.

“Quiet, Lars. We’re allowed to fantasize, and you’re not allowed to ruin that for us,” Lottie insists.

Cash walks back into the room, grasps my hand and pulls me to the couch. When I take a seat, he lays stretched out, head in my lap. We’re talking quietly, while the poker game continues to rage on when I notice Cash’s voice is fading. I look closely at his face, and I can see the exhaustion there. I lay one arm across his chest and use my free hand to run my fingers through his short hair. Cash turns his face toward my body and groans softly. I watch him give into sleep as I continue sliding my fingers through his hair.

I don’t know how long it’s been before the poker game ends with a loud “Whoop! In your faces, bitches!” from Lola and a few choice swear words from Terry. Lars glides to a stop next to the couch, and I smile at him. I can clearly see the love he has for his son in his eyes, and it melts me. Good men raise good sons, and Lars did his job well.

“He’s too stubborn to ask for help. Must have got that from his mom’s side of the family,” Lars says quietly but with a big grin.

“Bullshit, Lars. He got that from you,” Lola disagrees as she walks past and down the hallway.

“Damn bat ears,” Lars mumbles.

“It’s getting late, Lars. You ready to go?” Terry asks.

“Cash needs to get some sleep tonight. Maybe I’ll stay here and take care of Liam so he can do that,” Lars answers.

“I can stay,” I offer without thought.

“Works for me. Let’s go, Terry,” Lars says immediately and says it with a wicked grin. I just got outsmarted.

“We’re out of here too. No more babies, Livi. Cash isn’t ready for another so no glove, no love. Got it?” Lottie asks as she and Lola stop in front of the couch.

“Got it.”

Terry wakes Snots and takes him outside before he and Lars leave. Lola and Lottie give me a rundown of the baby information I need and set the baby monitor on the end table. Surprising me to hell and back, both drop a light kiss on Cash’s head and my cheek before locking the doors and leaving.

Resting the back of my head on the couch, I relax and settle in while waiting for Cash to wake. He doesn’t, and I finally doze off. Sometime later, I awaken to happy baby sounds. Cash hasn’t moved a muscle, and his deep breathing tells me he’s out cold. Carefully, I shift around until I’m out from under him, and I place a throw pillow where my body used to be. Taking the monitor with me, I walk down the hall to Liam’s room.

Stopping next to the crib, I watch Liam wiggling his arms and legs with eyes wide open. I can’t resist running the back of my fingers across his baby soft head. His hair is so blond, he doesn’t appear to have any, but he actually has quite a bit. He seems content for the moment, so I head to the kitchen to retrieve a bottle.

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