“There’s someone else,” I say, reliving that moment in the stairwell. I’ve done my best to put it behind me, but I can’t stop seeing that woman or that kid.
One last time, rip the band aid off. The weight of the secret drags me down, not only because I still see how much the kid looks like Cash, but also the small nugget of hope that he’s innocent of all crimes.
“Two someones, actually. He has a kid.”
We could have been in a graveyard and the room wouldn’t have been this silent. Whatever the girls were expecting it wasn’t this. At least I’m not alone in this shocker.
Cassie’s the first one to break. “I’m gonna fucking kill him.”
“He has a what?” Ruby says. “Whatever is left when you’re done with him, Cassie, is mine.”
“I’ve got plenty of ideas where to hide whatever’s left,” Shelby adds.
Avery is the one to be more circumspect about the whole situation. She drums her freshly manicured nails against her wine glass. The others are already off planning abductions and murder, but I’m stuck on Avery.
“As much as I’m ready to strangle the asshole—Cash isn’t stupid. A manwhore, definitely, but he goes the extra mile to make sure he doesn’t have kids.”
“He fed me a stupid line about his father and a past. It was almost too good to be true.”
“Cassie, what does Ryder say about Cash? And don’t be fickle here. I know you’ve asked Mr. Ryder Cole to tell you all about the guy your bestie is sleeping, with so spill.”
Cassie takes a deep breath and looks at me.
“Ryder’d stick by him through anything,” Cassie admits through gritted teeth. “And trust me, I grilled him about Cash, but he won’t divulge anything,” Cassie says.
“Don’t you think I want to believe this isn’t true?” I say. Cassie’s my best friend, and her doubts have only cracked the hard knot of hate that’s keeping me together.
“I know this may be sacrilegious today, but have you thought maybe he was telling you the truth?” Cassie says.
“Whose side are you on?” Shelby says, “Look, you want to beat him silly, name a place and time. The baseball bats are on me.”
“Where would I even start with him?” I confess, pulling my knees up and resting my head on them. I know I stepped in it with Cash. But everything came flooding back. All of the memories from Tanner just came right back to the front.
After Tanner, I didn’t hope that I’d find someone else again, but I did. I thought Cash might have been the final hurdle in my dating life. Then he had to go and lie. It got between us. It’s a part of him that he didn’t think I could handle.
“Can I ask you something?” Cassie asks. She sets her mostly full glass of wine aside.
“Shoot, I’m just tipsy enough to answer anything you like.”
“Have you thought about asking him for the truth?” Cassie says.
“What if he lies to me again? What if he can’t tell it to me? He’s been living this lie since he met the boys, what makes me any different?” Had I ever been anything more than someone to get between the sheets with?
“He told you more than he told my brother or the boys. Trust me, they know everything about each other. If he trusted you with that I think—and I can’t believe I’m going to say this today—you should hear him out. Cash may be thick-headed, but he’s definitely not a dick.”
“Would you let Sebastian back into your life?”
“That was below the belt,” Cassie says. She holds her hand up, staying out of this one. “The difference between Cash and Sebastian is that Cash is actually a good person. He deserves to be heard.”
Going through my stuff at home, I search high and low for the contracts for Misty Singh. I had them in my brief case last night... Last night.
Shit. Fuck. Damn. This is not what I signed up for. Those are sensitive documents, and as much as I want to say I’ll just get Rob to make another copy, I can’t leave it unattended any longer in Cash’s apartment.
I pick up my phone and dial Altitude. My finger hovers over the red dot ready to hang up if a certain bartender answers the phone. There will be no time to grovel, your asshole-ness.
“Altitude, this Ryder.”
Small victory.
“Hey Ryder, it’s Savannah. I’m calling in my favor.”
A few pointed and detailed questions later, I learn that Cash is not at the bar and won’t be for at least the next hour or so. I hang up the phone and grab my keys. It will be just a quick in and out. Get the briefcase and leave as fast as possible. Maybe I’ll stop off at the office on the way home, grab the newest set of contracts, and lock myself away for a couple of hours.