Page 71 of Cold Foot Cash

She inhaled deeply as the swinging doors closed, and then followed Abigail into the side room.

This was happening.

The time had finally come.

Zero days.

****

Cash cracked his knuckles, and then stood and paced to the end of the hallway, and back. He made his way to a trio of paintings of past judges, and then ran his hand through his hair and sat on the bench again, directly across from the doors to the courtroom. This had been the longest hour of his life. What if Lance pulled some shit on Harley last minute? What if he was badgering Harley into something she didn’t want to do?

No. Abigail had her back. He’d talked to her a few times this week when Harley had meetings with her. That woman truly cared for Harley.

Cash tapped the toe of his new shoe against the tile floor. He would have to go back to his life in Darby tomorrow morning. Back to the Cold Foot Crew. Back to his job.

Harley’s life and job and home were here in Bozeman, and he’d been trying not to think about it, but he was dreading the long drive home without her.

Everything happened for a reason though, right? She probably needed space from everyone while she figured out which way was up. Maybe he was supposed to be far away so she could figure out who she was on her own, without him hovering. He didn’t know. Mostly he was just trying to find a reason for all of this. To find meaning. To figure out what the universe’s plans were for him and Harley.

There were no phones allowed in this part of the courthouse, and his sat in a locked bin up front along with Harley’s purse. He wished he could message the Crew group text right now. He could use the distraction. No, it was more than that. He could use the support. Never had he felt like he’d needed that from anyone, but lately he liked it from the Crew. They’d probably been texting this whole time, wondering what was going on. The girls were worried about Harley.

He gave a private smile, and studied the pattern in the tile under his shiny shoes. They liked her. Wreck had been right. She did fit in well with the Cold Foot Crew.

The doors opened, and Cash stood in a rush.

Lance and Bronson exited first. Lance looked up at him, and nodded, then went directly to the exit.

Cash could see into the courtroom, and Harley was there behind a desk on the right-hand side, hugging Abigail so tight. Abigail was saying something to her, and Harley’s full eyeswere looking up toward the ceiling. She looked so relieved. So beautiful.

Her eyes were full of happy tears as she turned to face him and began walking his way.It’s done, she mouthed.

And fuck, what that did to his heart. She was free. She was free.

He didn’t give a shit about his own selfish reasons for wanting her to be free. He was just so damn happy for her.

She wore a fitted black pantsuit, and her fancy forty-dollar heels that clacked against the tile as she made a beeline right for him.

She ran the last few steps and he caught her in a hug and lifted her feet off the ground. “Congratulations,” he murmured against her ear.

“He didn’t take my money,” she said thickly. “He’s selling the house and giving me half of the proceeds. He’s taking his name off my car, and we just parted fifty-fifty on everything. I get to keep my savings.”

He hugged her tighter, swaying her gently. “As you deserve to.”

“What did you do to him, Cashew?”

He chuckled at the nickname and settled her back on her feet, looked down at her. Harley’s eyes were so clear and her expression was so vulnerable. God, she was beautiful.

“I didn’t even punch him,” he assured her. “I talked to him man-to-man.”

“When? When did you see him?”

“That day after you poured your heart out to me. I went to his house before I picked up food.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I didn’t want to get your hopes up.”

She just stared at him with this baffled smile. “You’re amazing, do you know that? You fixed everything.”

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