My heart begins to beat faster as I think about the unexpectedly sweet biker who’d taken the time to truly see me. All of those tender things he’d said to me, and I couldn’t even work up the courage to say anything back.
I swallow hard, tears suddenly springing to my eyes.
“What should I do?” I sigh, looking down into Chanel’s beautiful, dark eyes. Her tiny nose twitches one way and then the other as George ducks his head and barks like he’d understood exactly what my predicament was.
“You’re right!” I say.
Setting the animals down, I leap to my feet.
I’d already pushed myself far outside my usual comfort zone by hosting that G&G live. Now it’s time I do something even crazier.
I have to track Cash down before he leaves LA and tell him exactly how I feel.
Life is too short to hide my emotions and thoughts anymore. I’m turning over a new leaf, and it’s one where I wear my heart on my sleeve for all to see.
I only hope it isn’t too late.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Lush palm trees and golden sands fly by in a blur as I drive toward Franco’s Burgers. When I spot the restaurant in the distance, I push the pedal to the metal a little more. I don’t know what I’ll do if I don’t get this last chance to spill my feelings for Cash before he leaves. He might be going away, but I still want to take this opportunity to be courageous. I’ve spent so much of my life hiding how I feel that right now, I’m about to burst at the seams.
Careening into the parking lot, I throw the car into park and leap out. People turn curiously to look at me, some of them gasping in surprise, eyes going wide as I run headlong into the restaurant. Some of the people sitting at the tables snap pictures on their phones and start whispering, and it’s only then that I realize they realize that I’m one of the G&G boss babes. This is the first time that I’ve been recognized on my own without Kali or Sutton by my side.
“We’ve got a star in the house, everybody!” a tall, buff middle-aged man at the counter announces. Franco grins at me as I hurry closer, his dark eyes gleaming.
Nearby, a table was stuffed with leather-clad bikers cheering and whistling.
“We’ve been watching your feed all morning,” Franco explains jovially. Dark haired, he has a full beard and mustache to match. “By the way, I’m thrilled about how you, Kali, and Sutton have been handling this business venture, Liv. You’re topnotch business owners.”
I blush and wave at the crowded tables where everyone is applauding before turning back to Franco.
“Thanks, Franco. We’re just as elated about how it’s turning out, I promise.” I stop and take a deep breath. “Is Cash around? I really need to speak with him. It’s urgent.”
Franco tilts his head and one dark brow lifts up toward his hairline. “Sorry, Liv. My boy has flown the coop.”
My heart plummets.
“He’s gone?” I echo feebly.
“Yep. Left a little while ago. Can I give you some vegan chili cheese fries instead?” he offers sympathetically as soon as he notices the shock contorting my face.
Shaking my head, I stumble back and head toward the front door of the restaurant. Instead of making my way to my car when I get outside, I find myself standing there staring down the road instead, like if I look hard enough I can somehow magically teleport the hunky green-eyed biker back.
After finally working up the courage to say what’s in my heart, it’s too late. Cash has left LA and who knows when—or if—he’ll ever be back.
Frustrated tears sting the corners of my eyes. I wipe hard at my face, sniffling once, before I remember that I’ve got his number. I wanted to be able to talk to him face to face, but this will have to do.
I slide my phone from my pocket and quickly pull up Cash’s number in my contacts. I barely lift it to my ear when the line clicks.
“Hey!” he says, sounding surprised. Wind crackles through the line, distorting his speech. “Sorry, I’m on Bluetooth so it might be noisy. Everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine—great actually—except that you’re not here,” I babble before I can help it. I feel myself blush bright red, but I don’t let myself fall into embarrassed silence. “I’m at your dad’s restaurant. I came out here to catch you before you left LA.”
For several throbbing heartbeats, the bike-riding bad-boy is completely quiet. I start to think I’m going to have to suffer the shame of repeating myself but when he finally says something.
“You did?”
“Yes, I did. Listen, Cash, I’ve never been good with words or speaking my mind. Even when it comes to G&G, I always let Kali and Sutton call the shots because I can’t ever convince myself to speak up, but I’m tired of that. I’m tired of being quiet. And I’m tired of being complacent. I have feelings and they deserve to be spoken aloud and heard. I get that now, and I get it because I met you.”
