Page 81 of Never Left You

“Just tell me,” I sighed, wanting to hear his words.

“Carolyn.” Cash looked out to the lake. “She knew my passwords to my phone in case something happened. She carried it while I rode…she…I bet she…”

“You think she blocked me? Why just me? Why not Lachlan and Rhett and Wyatt and…” I let out a long sigh, allowing the dots to make sense. “Did she really hate me that much?”

“Abs…” Cash exasperated. “She really did. It could have been her.”

I shrugged a shoulder. “There’s no use in pointing fingers. It’s not like she’s here to defend herself, but…” But what? What did I want to say? It made sense, and I could once again overreact her or… “I just don’t think I care.”

Cash pinched his brow and turned to me. “What?”

“I don’t care. If you say you didn’t block me, then I believe you. It happened and it’s over and…” I shifted, reaching for my phone. I pulled up his name and typed out a quick text.

Me

It doesn’t matter.

His phone dinged, and his eyebrows raised. “Did you just text me?”

I smirked. “Maybe.”

He pulled out his phone and read the message, looking up at me once the three words hit him.

“It doesn’t matter.” I shrugged a shoulder. “Does it hurt? Sure. Do I want to punch you a little bit? Yes.”

“Ouch,” he muttered.

I scooted closer to him. “But it really, truly doesn’t matter. We need to go forward, right? I could be mad and scream and throw a brush at you, but if we want this”—I waved my hand between us—“what would that do other than take us back to five years ago? There’s absolutely no point in letting this linger. I want to move forward, don’t you?” I reached out and gently touched his cheek, cupping his face in my palm. “Do you want this?”

A moment passed before he nodded. “I can’t get you out of my head, Abi. I want this. I want you.”

He rested his forehead on mine, his dark eyes pulling me to him. As much as I hated to admit it…I couldn’t get him out of mine either. I swallowed my pride and ran my thumb along his jawline. Lifting my head from his, I gave him a soft smile.

“Don’t let this get to your head.” I grinned. “I can’t seem to get you out of mine either.”

His lips met mine in a sweet, soft kiss, one that barely felt like a whisper against me. His thumb traced the path his lips had touched, the sparks his lips caused only amplified by the calloused pad of his thumb.

“Call me, text me…every day,” he muttered. “I will answer. I will come to you.”

I silenced him with another kiss.

“You’re going to get sick of me,” I whispered into him.

“Impossible.”

Me

Stetson is demanding you come to dinner.

Cash

I’m with Quinn. Tell him I will be there as soon as I can.

Me

He won’t like that answer.

Cash

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