Page 24 of Resting Beach Face
“You’d be surprised how many people say that before they meet me,” Cash said with a grin.
I couldn’t hold back a snort. “So modest.”
Cash’s gaze landed on me.Finally.“That’s me,” he said. “Always a cocky bastard.”
“With good reason,” Felix said.
Cash picked up the pitcher and returned to his table. I finished my beer and ordered a second, valiantly trying to ignore the group of friends a few feet away.
I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but even in the din of noise, I could pick out Cash’s exact tone—and the moment it went silent.
There was a smattering of sudden applause and catcalls. Felix’s eyes widened. “Oh, boy.”
I spun in my seat and there they were—Sawyer and Cash.
Locked in a kiss in the middle of the damn pub.
A lump formed in my throat as I watched the way Sawyer’s hands cupped Cash’s face, the way they leaned in toward each other.
My heart tumbled into my stomach. Cash hadn’t changed at all, had he? He’d gone from flirting with the bartender to making out with his friend.
And probably fucking someone else later. This is who he is. You know this.
I tossed a few bills on the bar and headed for the door. I couldn’t stay and watch any more of this display.
CHAPTER FIVE
Cash
Sawyer was in big-time denial.Our friend group had gathered at The Rusty Hook to find out how he was handling working with his nemesis. Turned out, he waskissinghim and calling it anger management.
I called him on that shit because he needed to face the truth.
“You’ve kissed this guy more than once. You liked it or you wouldn’t have kept doing it. Be real about what’s happening here.”
Sawyer chewed his bottom lip, looking conflicted. “Just because I like kissing him doesn’t mean Ilikehim.”
“Maybe not, but it means you’re not straight,” I said. “Can you acknowledge that, at least?”
“Don’t rush him,” Brooks said. “Everyone has to define their own sexuality. You know that.”
I huffed. “Maybe I’m tired of waiting on other people to figure their shit out. Maybe I just want to kiss a guy and have him know what the fuck he wants.”
Okay, maybe I was projecting a little. Not two minutes ago, I’d seen Declan watching me. Then when I went to the bar, he’d seemed annoyed I was there. It was always this push-and-pull with him. Like the night I tried to kiss him. He’d swayed right into that kiss only to stumble back out of it.
He obviously didn’t know what the fuck he wanted. Just like Sawyer.
“Maybe I want to kiss a guy and know what the fuck I want too, man,” Sawyer protested. “It’s not that easy.”
“Sure it is, Sawyer. If I kissed you right now, you’d know.”
“No, I wouldn’t.”
“No?” I raised an eyebrow in challenge. “Then kiss me, bro. Kiss me and find out.”
Our friends were chiming in, but I wasn’t listening. I stared Sawyer down, daring him to admit the truth. He wanted to kiss Ash. He didn’t want to kiss me.
Come on, Sawyer. Tell me you don’t want to kiss me because you want him.
