I nod. Swiping my beer from the table, I take a hearty sip.
“I don’t buy it.”
“It’s true.”
Noah punches me in the shoulder.
“Dude. I’ve already taken enough hits tonight.”
“Sorry.” He holds up his hands. “But I saw the two of you together. My sister loves you. And you love her, if you wearing that ugly sweater has anything to say about it.”
I swirl the beer in my glass, watching the foam on top fizzle out. “I do. I love her. I didn’t want it to happen, but I do.”
“Then fucking fight for her, man. She’s dated nothing but losers and douches-”
“Literally,” I laugh, interrupting him.
“Are you going to let Duncan win? Because I for one don’t want to put up with your mopey ass for the rest of the season. And hers.”
“You’ve seen her?” I perk up at that.
“I talked to her on the phone for five minutes and she told me she was fine about twenty times.”
“Sounds like her.”
“Then what are you going to do, Cash? Fight for her, or give up and let Duncan win?”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
PIPER
Today was easy. Well, easier. With the team being on the road, it made it easier to breathe. But I know they got back this afternoon. I was able to sneak away early and get home before the emotions started to take over under the ruse of working on my final project.
Shouldering my way into my apartment, I’m met with a sight I never expected.
Cash standing in my living room.
“What in the world are you doing here?”
Under his eyes, it looks like he has purple thumbprints. The team was only on a three-game road trip on the west coast before coming back. He shouldn’t look this tired.
I hate that he is this way.
Cash flashes the spare key my brother has in case of emergency. “You and I need to have a conversation.”
“Cash, I don’t think we do.” I shut my door and drop my purse onto the entry table. So much for trying to keep everything in check tonight.
“Sorry, Princess, you don’t get a say in this.”
“I don’t?” I turn to face him. He’s moved into the kitchen.
He’s still in his away-game attire, sans tie. The tattoos on his chest peek out from where his shirt is unbuttoned.
Cash shakes his head, holding a hand out to me. “See, I couldn’t figure out why you would break things off between us.”
I take his hand and he pulls me into him. He’s a solid wall of mass that I’ve missed way too much in the last two weeks.
“I did?—”
