Page 19 of Theirs to Have

“How are you feeling about her running off to elope?” Cash asked.

Mercy shrugged, “At first I was pissed but now, I get it. She didn’t want anyone to make a fuss. Gram just wanted to marry the man that she loved and move on with her life. I can’t blame her.” Mercy took another bite of pancakes, “I’m just a little sad that I couldn’t be there for her.”

Cash pulled her from her chair to sit on his lap, “How about we throw her and Joe a little party when they get back?” Mercy’s eyes lit up at Cash’s suggestion. She vigorously nodded her head, making them both chuckle.

“Done,” Cash barked. “Callan and I will plan something at the bar, and you can help with the guest list and details but nothing too strenuous. Your only job right now is to take care of yourself and the baby.” Cash rubbed her belly, releasing her to sit back in her seat.

Mercy polished off the rest of her breakfast and stood, “Do I have time for a bath?” she asked. Callan cleared the dishes, liking the thought of her naked and soapy in the big bathtub that he and Cash had installed in the new master bath. It was big enough for the three of them and he could tell Cash was having the same thoughts.

“I’ll run the water, little one. You have two hours until we leave for the bar. I want to introduce both of you to an old friend and then we’ll go shopping.” Cash headed down the hall, to the master suite. Callan worried that he knew exactly what Cash was talking about since he shared that he called Slade to get a quote on remodeling the club. He just hoped for all their sakes that Slade was ready to forgive Cash. Callan didn’t want any trouble, especially with Mercy involved—she and the baby were his top priority, and he would do just about anything to keep them both safe.

Cash

Cash had to admit that he was a little nervous about introducing Slade to Callan and Mercy. He wasn’t sure how his old friend would react to his new little family. That’s exactly what they had become to him and Slade might not be as happy about his situation as he was.

They got to the bar early so Callan could get some work done. Mercy wasn’t feeling well and Cash got her settled in his office on his couch. He worried that they overdid it with her last night. He texted Emily asking her if she had time to check on Mercy later and she said she would be by after their shopping trip. He was looking forward to finally getting the nursery set up. Ever since he found out about the baby, he had this strange urge to buy a crib and some diapers. The pregnancy books called it “nesting," but they also said that it was something the new mom usually experienced. He chalked it up to wanting to be ready for the little guy—or girl.

Slade got to the bar by ten just as they had agreed, and he looked a little worse for wear. “Rough night?” Cash asked.

Slade laughed, “You could say that. I’ve been working on a project for the past six months and it’s just about finished. The last-minute changes are kicking my ass. I should be done in timeto work on your club though.” Cash smiled at his old friend. It felt right that they would build this club together. He knew that they had a long road ahead to reform their friendship, but he was willing to put in the time—Slade was worth it.

“Ready to take a look at the building?” Slade motioned to the door and Cash hesitated.

“I’d like to introduce you to my family, first. That is if you don’t mind.” Cash waited Slade out, giving him a minute to catch up to the fact that he had moved on and found someone after both of their lives went to hell when Jasmine died.

Slade nodded, “Sure, I’d like that, man.” He clapped Cash on the back, and he led the way back to his office to find Callan and Mercy.

Callan stood from behind Cash’s desk as Slade and he pushed into the office. “Guys, I have someone I’d like for you to meet. This is my old friend, Slade Kelly.” Slade froze in the doorway and Cash didn’t miss the look of disbelief on all their faces. Callan rounded the desk to shake Slade’s hand and the whole exchange felt awkward and forced. Maybe introducing his present to his past was a big mistake. His relationship with Mercy and Callan was so new that he worried that Slade returning to his life might be an issue.

“Good to meet you,” Callan said. Slade nodded and looked over to where Mercy was exerting way too much effort trying to get up off the sofa.

“Let me help you, little one.” Cash took her hands in his and gently tugged her from the couch.

“Thanks,” she said, rubbing her belly. “Once I get settled, I’m like a beached whale.” She giggled and held her hand out to Slade. His friend couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her belly and Cash knew that introducing Slade to Mercy might be a bad idea.

“I’m Mercy, it’s so nice to meet you, Slade.” She stood there, her hand extended and all Slade could do was stare at her, hismouth gaping open. He turned to leave Cash’s office and Mercy lowered her hand, defeated by his rejection. Cash pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead.

“What the fuck, man?” Callan growled. “What the hell is his problem?” Callan pulled Mercy from Cash’s arms and cuddled her against his body.

“I’m so sorry, little one. I guess I should have prepared him for the two of you. I was just so happy to have him back in my life again, I jumped the gun. Let me see if he’s all right and then I will come back to find you both.” Cash stormed out of his office, ready to give Slade a piece of his mind for hurting Mercy’s feelings the way he had. But his friend was nowhere to be found. He went outside to search the parking lot for Slade’s truck and found it still parked in front of the bar.

Cash had a hunch that he knew where Slade was, walking next door to the vacant building, he found his friend standing in what was going to be the reception area. Slade shot him a sideways glance and shook his head as if he was disgusted with Cash. Yeah well, he felt the same way but the two of them turning what was supposed to be a happy reunion into a fight wouldn’t help the situation either.

“I’m sorry, man. I just didn’t think you’d be able to move on so easily. Do you ever think of her, of us?” Slade’s whisper broke Cash’s heart. He never meant to hurt his best friend, and he’d do just about anything to help him find the happiness that he had. But he couldn’t do that for him.

“Of course I do Slade. Hell, Jasmine’s death weighed on me more than you will know. It cost me everything, it cost me your friendship, and that nearly killed me. But that was a long time ago. I think she would want us both to find happiness and not wallow in the past.” Cash didn’t want to push. He knew that Slade was in love with Jasmine, making her death so muchharder on him. For Cash, her death was a tragedy, a waste even. But, losing Slade and the guilt that he felt hurt him more.

“For so long, I just went through the motions finding women to hook up with and walking away before they got too attached. It was a lonely existence and one that I’m happy is in my past. I met Mercy and Callan, and we agreed to one night together—the three of us.” Cash laughed at how stupid that sounded. He knew that night that he wouldn’t want just one night with Mercy, but he was too much of a coward to admit that to himself.

“Mercy got pregnant, and Callan and I had some issues to work out, but we made it through, and they are my whole world now,” Cash whispered.

“Well, some of us haven’t been as lucky in love,” Slade said. “I haven’t been able to move on from her, man. And, fuck that’s killing me,” his voice cracked with emotion, and Cash couldn’t help but pull his old friend in for a hug. The two stood like that, in the middle of the partially demolished building. Slade pulled away and wiped his eyes.

“Well, that’s enough of that. Crying like a fucking baby isn’t going to bring her back,” Slade whispered.

Cash shook his head. “No, it won’t and if I could change it all, I would. Hell, I’d give anything for her still to be alive and the two of you to be happy together.”

“Cash, you can’t change what happened. And even though I blamed you, what Jasmine did wasn’t your fault. She chose to take all those pills and end her life. You were just being honest about the way you felt about her, about us. You did nothing wrong.” Cash nodded, unable to talk past the lump in his damn throat. He had waited so many years to hear Slade say those exact words to him and hearing them now gave him so much hope.

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