Page 69 of Cold Foot Cash

Cash continued. “Now, you’ve done all the things, done all the hurt, set up house with your girlfriend, embarrassed Harley, shamed her, slandered her reputation, and you still aren’t happy like you were supposed to be, am I right?”

Lance’s lips pursed into a thin line.

“And now you’re dealing with the man you’ve become, the man you are, and you know deep down you’re weak. You have to look at yourself in the mirror every day and know you are hurting a woman you know damn-well doesn’t deserve it.”

“I’m not weak,” Lance snapped.

“You are, and you know it.”

Lance couldn’t hold his gaze for long. “I know what you are. You’re one of those shifters. You’re all liars who just convince people of stuff that isn’t true. You compel humans.”

Cash let off a sigh and clenched his fists. He freaking hated this guy. “No Lance, because again, you’re thinking of vampires. I can’t compel anyone. I’m telling the truth and you know it. And yeah, you’re going to be defensive right now because again, weak, and you don’t like being called out, but later you’re going to think about it and it’s going to feel accurate. I’m right. You have the choice to stop being cruel to the woman you hurt, and that’s by letting her go. Let her heal, man. Let her get over the disappointment, and the confusion you’ve created in her life. Let her be happy again, because you and I both know she’s a good woman and she deserves happiness. Stop being weak, Lance. Show up on Tuesday. Sign the papers. Take the money you’ve manipulated out of Harley, and go figure out what’s missing inside of you. I promise, torturing Harley isn’t going to make anything better for you. It just says who you are as a man. You weren’t always like this. I know you weren’t. Harley wouldn’t fall for a man like you are now.”

“Does she ever talk about me?” Lance asked, his voice cracking on the last part.

“Not in a good way. You’ve done too much damage. I don’t think she can see the good parts of what you had because of what you’ve done to her here at the end. She’s still in it, stuck, you know? It’s like mud on her life and she can’t get clean, and you just keep her there on purpose. No woman is going to think good thoughts about a man who does that to them. You lost her a long time ago.”

“She’s going to fall in love with you, isn’t she?” Lance asked.

Cash thought about it, and nodded. “Yes,” he answered honestly. “After she heals from this, yes. I’m not pushing her, but you and I both know she’s been alone for a while. She’s been single for a while. You moved on a long time ago. She will be ready someday too.”

Lance released a trembling breath and said, “I want you to leave now.”

“Are you going to show up on Tuesday?”

“I’m going to talk to my lawyers and ask their advice. I want the money from the car,” but there was a lie in Lance’s tone. He was just saying stuff now. He didn’t care about the money, and his care for the control was slipping now too. “Are you planning on going to be there with Harley on Tuesday?” Lance asked.

“Is Alissa going with you?”

He shrugged. “She just goes anywhere she thinks Harley will be. She’s obsessed with her. She thinks I’m going to go back with her.”

“You know why? A couple of reasons. One, Alissa knows down to her bones that Harley is better in every way than her. It creates insecurity inside of a woman. Two, because you want Harley back. That part of your rocky foundation is on you, man. Figure it out. I’ll go to court if Harley wants me there. Sheshouldn’t be alone during all of this. It’s hard stuff. You’ve been supported all the way, but she hasn’t had that. How is that fair?”

“Why does it have to be you,” Lance ground out, giving him a dirty look.

“Because a woman like Harley upgrades when she gets hurt.”

“I made a mistake,” he said suddenly.

Cash snorted. “Yeah everyone knows that.” He stood. “I’m glad you did though. You gave someone else a chance to do it better.”

“Yeah, but you’re just friends, right?” he gritted out again. Damn, he really had an issue with letting her go. Spoiled brat.

“See you soon, Lance,” Cash said as he headed back to his truck. He turned as he opened his door. “Stop being a weak man.”

Cash climbed inside and drove away. As he checked his rearview, Lance was still sitting there just watching him leave.

Oh, he would be doing some soul-searching today. He likely wouldn’t show up on Tuesday still, but bright side, at least he would be thinking about it.

Double bright side—Cash hadn’t even punched him.

Chapter Eighteen

Abigail was watching the front doors, but Harley already knew what was happening.

The court room for their session was already open, and time was ticking away.

He hadn’t shown up again. Lance really hadn’t come.

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