Page 122 of Smooth Moves
Reid answered, “When I told her you’d had some unsettling information over the weekend concerning our mom, she asked me about Smith. I think she sensed a connection there. But she never said anything because she knew it bothered you.” Reid paused then twisted the knife. “Apparently she thinks you should handle your personal business. She stayed out of it.”
Cash groaned. “Hell. I know I fucked up.”
“Yep.” Evan crossed his arms over his chest. “So fix it. That woman is amazing. You know it; we know it. She puts Mariah to shame, and she’s nice. We like her.”
“Huh?”
“Yeah.” Reid smiled. “Evan and I like her. We’re cool with her becoming family.”
“Wait. Family?” Cash glanced at Evan again, a pang of depression that Evan no longer belonged to him.
“Oh stop.” Evan sighed. “Cash, you’re so obvious. I’ve always considered you more like a brother than a cousin. I still do. And when Mom hears about this, she’ll be thrilled. She never liked Uncle Charles. And to be honest, neither did Dad, and Charles was his brother.”
“Ha. I wondered.” Reid grinned. “Good old Aunt Jane.”
“She used to talk about trying to adopt you guys all the time. She mentioned it to your mom once. That was the only time your mom put her foot down. Aunt Angela said you were her kids and for my mom to butt out of your lives.”
“She did?” Reid frowned. “That’s surprising.”
“Yeah.” Evan paused and said to Cash, “You know, I can ask my mom if you want. But I don’t think she ever knew for sure you weren’t Uncle Charles’s. Like I said, she and I don’t care either way. You’re family. As pathetic as you and Reid are—”
“Hey.” Reid frowned.
“You’re family.” Evan turned to Reid. “So him being broken moves up my timeline. I’ll give my notice immediately, do some work from home, and I can help fill in for the hardhead for a while.”
Reid looked relieved. “I have a few standbys we can use until Cash is back too. But with you filling in, we shouldn’t be hurting. I can pull some time as well to cover moves. My wrist is just about healed up.” From a break not too long ago. Reid’s cast had come off just last week.
Evan shook his head. “Sure it is, hard head. I’ll do it. You save your hands for typing and answering phones.”
Cash realized what his cousin had said. “Wait. So you’re seriously quitting your job? For me?”
“Well, quittingearlierfor you. But I’m actually quitting for me. I’m done with the accounting firm. I want to be my own boss for a while.” Evan smiled, looking pleased. “Just saying that makes me happy.”
“Just remember to pay yourself for your time. It’s not much, but you’ll earn it,” Reid insisted.
“Seeing as I’m our bookkeeper, I know exactly how much we can afford,” Evan reminded him then laughed. “I’m giving myself a raise.”
“Ha ha.” Cash’s mind was on Jordan and how to make things right. “Ah, since I’m no use here, I think I should go home, think, and rest.”
“Or just rest. Thinking doesn’t seem to be your strong suit lately,” Evan not-so-helpfully pointed out.
Cash shot him the finger. “How’s that for thinking?”
Evan laughed.
Dan knocked on the doorway. “Sorry to interrupt, but there’s a cop out here waiting to take a statement about some kind of domestic dispute? Something about a woman abusing one of ours?”
Cash groaned. “Oh, for fuck’s sake. I was kidding.”
“Huh?” Dan pushed back his ball cap to scratch his head. “Oh, and you owe me twenty bucks for the sandwiches. And three for the Tums. You guys are giving me ulcers.”
* * *
Once Cash had dealt with the officer, who took his “misinterpreted” story about an “abusive” Jordan in good humor and left, Cash went home. With Reid for real moving in with Naomi soon, Cash needed to get the mess of his life together. And first on that list was talking to Jordan… Just as soon as he took a nap because he could barely hold two thoughts together.
He woke to feel someone watching him. Praying it was Jordan, he slowly opened his eyes, thinking carefully about what to say.
Except when he opened his eyes, he saw Rafi standing in the corner of his room.
