“Last time I checked,” Cash lowers his voice and leans forward, “I didn't ask for your opinion,Ingrid.”
“No, you never do,” I retort, lifting my chin in defiance. “Must be an Allred thing.”
Cash briefly closes his eyes before plastering a smile on his face. “Welcome to Vance's Handyman Shop. Is there anything I can help you find today?”
“Doorknob with a lock,” I voice at the same time Wilder says, “Your dignity.”
I hide a smile as Cash pinches the bridge of his nose with his forefinger and thumb. “This way.”
Wilder lets my hand go and wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me flush against him. I have a sneaky hunch he's going to use me to piss off Cash. Normally, I would condone such behavior. But today, I'm choosing violence.
“Have I told you how beautiful you are?” Wilder grins down at me.
Guess we are pissing Cash off today. After the wake-up call I got, I’m game.
“Only every other five minutes,” I sweetly reply as I reach up and caress his cheek.
Wilder holds back a laugh as Cash's shoulders tense.
“This aisle,” Cash curtly says.
“So,” I clear my throat, “I'm looking specifically for an interior doorknob with a lock and key.”
Cash abruptly stops walking. “Why?”
“Because,” I say with a smirk. “Wilder and I need our privacy.”
When Cash makes eye contact with me, I don't miss the hurt that fills his blue eyes. I crossed the line. I crossed it way too hard.
Guilt floods my chest.
Cash left for Europe to help me. He'd been living with Fanny's manipulation tactics for so long that I don't think he could even think straight.
Still, he left without saying goodbye to Wilder.
Using my relationship with Wilder to punish him isn’t any better than his snide comments.
I should say I'm sorry, but the moment passes, and Cash points to a wall of doorknobs.
“You should be able to find one here,” he grumbles before he leaves us.
I drop my head into my hands. “I'm an asshole.”
“No,” Wilder says, rubbing his hands up and down my arms. “You are human and Cash keeps pushing us.”
I lift my head and see Wilder's hazel-green eyes. It's the flecks of gold in them I like best. “I took it too far. I should have... I should have known better.”
Wilder nods. “I think you forget we're still young.”
“And?”
“And we're not even allowed to legally drink yet,” he smiles at me. “We have another year to go. We're still kids in the grand scheme of things. Don't be so hard on yourself, okay?”
“You always let me off the hook too easily,” I chastise him.
“You do the same for me,” he replies. “We're in love, Blondie. That's what people in love do.”
“Cash never...” I don't even bother finishing that sentence. “I'm still getting used to it.”
