Page 14 of Never Left You

I looked out the window, catching Cash mid laugh. Whatever was said must have been funny, because it even earned a smirk and head shake from Lachlan. Lachlan never smiled.

I blinked. “It’s a long story,” I muttered under my breath. “He’s just here to board his horses.”

“That’s good, right?” Kyla moved, taking a seat on the stool at the island, reaching over to gather all of the sandwich fixing. “The ranch needs the money, at least that’s what Rhett’s told me.”

“It does, so this is a good thing. Just,” I heaved a sigh and closed my eyes. “There’s a history.”

“Abi, there wasn’t anything…” Kyla blinked as she leaned forward, lowering her voice. “…romantic between you two was there?”

“What?” I spat, almost dropping the butter knife in shock. “No. Kyla why on Earth would you ask that!?”

“You just seem—"

“No.” I cut her off, fire boiling that she’d even suggest that. I hadn’t known her long, but she knew I loved Sylas more than anything. She was the one I opened up to with ease when she simply asked about Sylas, and now I couldn’t even bring myself to open up here. “It’s just…” Dropping my shoulders, the clang of the knife hitting the marble island rang through the kitchen. “A really long story.”

“What happened?” she asked quietly.

I inhaled. I wasn’t ready to crack open that chest yet. I had locked it a long time ago, and only Wyatt really knew what wassitting there, but we didn’t talk about it. Cash was Sylas’s friend. He used to be mine. But then he was gone. I could feel the tears welling up. That stinging vibration that pushed and pushed until the tears fell. But like always…I stopped them and went back to my task.

“I’d rather not go there right now,” I mumbled.

Kyla raised an eyebrow.

“Rhett will tell you everything.”

Well…everything heknew.

Kyla’s eyebrow raised higher.

“Oh, don’t pretend like he won’t.”

“He won’t. Because I won’t bring it up. That’s your story to tell.” She hit the island and lifted herself off the chair. “You gave me time to tell you my story, just know that I’m here when you want to talk about it.”

She came around the counter and wrapped her arm around my shoulder, pulling me in for a side hug. I welcomed her warmth and leaned into her slightly, the small smile forming on my lips as she squeezed me tighter.

“Do we like him?” she whispered.

Sighing, I leaned my back to look at her. “Unfortunately, he’s a good guy, so don’t let me not making him a sandwich sway your decision on whether or not you like him.”

“You’re not making him a sandwich? There’s a lot of sandwiches here.” Kyla pulled away and looked at the now nine sandwiches sitting on the island.

“We have a lot of ranch hands…”

The sliding back door opened, and the three men came stomping inside, tearing off their winter coats before making their way into the kitchen. Kyla’s arm dropped from my shoulder as she made her way to her husband. Lachlan walked over to the counter, removing his hat and placing it top down before grabbing a sandwich, and Cash…

Cash made his way over next to Lachlan, fitting right in as if he had been here every single day. He took his hat off, his hair still flat against his scalp, a bit of cropped curl trying to escape. His hair had always changed. One minute it would be tight and short, the next, the curls I knew were there would want to break free. I had always asked to see a picture of him in his teenage years—he once claimed he had an afro. But now…now it looked the same as the last time I saw him. Sleek and trimmed to perfection. That was Cash.

Carolyn, his wife, always made him keep it perfect. She didn’t care for the hat hair that Lachlan would don after a ride. To her, the shorter Cash’s hair was, the better.

I cleared my throat as I watched him reach for a sandwich. I bit backthat’s not for you.Instead, I met Lachlan’s gaze and tried to come up with something sensible to say.

“How long are you going to be here?” I snapped, clearing my throat again to break out my tone. Big girl pants, Abi. Big. Girl. Pants.

Cash lifted his chin, chewing that first bite of sandwich. One single eyebrow raised as his dark eyes focused on me. He swallowed, and a corner of his lips tipped up.

“Quinn’s healing for about ten weeks.”

“Lachlan told me we were boarding your horses for eight.” I glared at my cousin, but I could still feel Cash’s gaze heavy on me.

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