Page 27 of Hung Up on the Hacker

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Almost as soon as they returned from Johnson City, Hadley crashed. The whole ordeal had taken a lot out of her. Cash was grateful for the reprieve. Maintaining utter neutrality was sapping his own reserves. He’d meant everything he’d said to her. This was her choice. He’d accept it. He was sticking by her, no matter what.

But seeing their baby on that screen? Damn, he hadn’t known that would hit him so hard. It was one thing to talk in the abstract about the idea of kids someday. It was a whole other ballgame, knowing they’d started one. Realizing that, if she went through with this, in less than a year, he’d be holding that child.

He wanted that.

More, he wanted her to want that.

But he’d never guilt her into it. In an ideal world, a child should be wanted by both its parents. No kid ought to feel like a burden or a problem or a mistake. She’d never intentionally do that to a child, but if she wasn’t really all in to do this, it could very well be expressed in subtle ways. Kids were a hell of a lot more perceptive than adults ever gave them credit for. No, better not to risk it.

If they didn’t keep this baby, he’d grieve. But it didn’t mean they couldn’t have another in the future, when she was more comfortable with the idea. But for that to be a possibility, he had to secure that future, and that meant talking to Holt. There was no more waiting for the perfect time, the perfect spin. He simply had to get it done. Before tonight, in case he took it badly, so Cash had time to do damage control. Holt had said this morning that he’d be staying late prepping cakes for events, so Cash left Hadley sleeping and headed for the bakery.

As it was after two, the front door for customers was locked. He followed the wrap-around porch to the side door leading into the kitchen. Faint strains of—was that The Greatest Showman?—sounded from the other side. Cash pulled it open and stepped in, pausing only long enough to verify that Holt had seen him before barking, “Outside. Now,” and turning back around.

If this went sideways, no reason for blood to be shed in his workspace. That’d probably be a health code violation. Cash rolled his shoulders, loosening his muscles for a fight, even though he didn’t intend to put one up.

A few moments later, Holt strode out, his brows drawn together. “What the hell’s going on? What’s wrong?”

Knowing this could be the end of his relationship with his friend, his brother, Cash hesitated only a moment. Nothing was more important than Hadley. No matter what decision she made, she was it for him. That was the only thing crystal clear to him.

“Hit me.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Hit me, and get it out. Get it over with,” Cash urged.

Concern shifted to bafflement. “Why would I be hitting you?”

“Because I want to marry your sister.”

If ever there’d been a record scratch moment…

Holt’s jaw dropped. “Excuse me?”

“I’m in love with Hadley, and I want to marry her.”

When his friend continued to stare in absolute shock, Cash filled in the silence. “I’ve been trying to find the right way, the right time, to tell you for days. Clearly that’s not going to happen. I don’t have time to wait anymore. So hit me. Let’s get it over with so I can get on with my life.”

Clearly a little slow on the uptake, Holt shook his head. “I thought you looked at her as a sister.”

“I did for a long time. Until I didn’t. We’ve been friends all our lives. We’ve always had a connection. But we reconnected this year, and it was different.”

The bafflement morphed into realization. “You’ve been dating my sister.” Not a question.

Figuring he deserved it, Cash braced himself for a punch. “Yes.”

Holt didn’t move. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“She didn’t want to.” Maybe that was chicken shit, blaming her. But it was the truth.

“Why?”

“I’m reasonably sure it involved her being convinced your reaction was going to fall somewhere between planting a fist in my face and burying me in a shallow grave.”

Holt angled his head, though whether it was in concession of the point or merely an “Ah,” Cash couldn’t have said. “So both of you being down here at the same time isn’t an accident.”

“Yes, and no. I came down to tell you. She followed me, hoping to mitigate the damage. We’ve both been circling around you for days.”

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