He closes his eyes, shaking his head. “I’ll be okay.”
“Cash.” My voice is firm. “Let me help you. What do you need?”
“Did you have fun at the game with Angie?”
“Changing the subject, I see.”
I stroke my fingers through his hair. His eyes close at my touch. I can see his eyelids fluttering as I brush through the silky strands.
With the low light from the TV, Cash looks soft. Beautiful even. I don’t know how, but he takes my breath away.
“I told you, I’m fine.”
“And you don’t need anything. Got it.”
I settle my other hand on his stomach, letting the warmth seep into me. If he wants to be stubborn, fine. But that doesn’t mean I can’t try and help him in my own way.
“Can I confess something?”
“Is it bad?” Cash asks, turning into my touch.
“I got nervous. Coming here tonight without you.”
“Why?”
“I guess I’m still scarred from finding Duncan screwing Ava. Not that you were,” I hurry to finish. “But I guess it did a little more trauma than I realized.”
Cash’s eyes open, a fierce expression on his face. “Thatwill never happen, Piper. Never. Fake relationship or not, I would never do that to you. Or any woman.”
“I know.” I squeeze the strands of his hair in my fist, letting him know I understand him. “It’s just hard to not think that once it’s happened.”
“You deserved better than him.”
“Someone like you?”
“Better than me.”
Cash’s eyes drift shut and I go back to rubbing his head. I want to tell him that there isn’t a better man than him. I don’t know if he would believe me.
He doesn’t let people in, but I’ve seen the real him.
“I want your voice.”
“You want to steal it like a wicked sea creature?” I laugh.
Cash peeks one eye open at me as I continue scraping my hand through his hair.
“No. Listening to you talk helps.”
“Oh.” I try not to blush. I don’t think anyone has ever said anything like that to me before. “What do you want to hear about?”
“Anything. Nothing. You decide.” He sighs. “Just don’t stop.”
I trace my fingers up and down his bare chest as I move my other hand to rub his temples. He leans into my touch.
“Test was good. Should know how I did in a few days, but I know I aced it.”
Between the internship, Cash, and studying, it’s hard to make time for much else. But I want to prove to people that I deserve my spot with my team. Even if my brother helped me get it.
