Page 91 of Never Left You

“I haven’t…” I finally said. “I haven’t been on a date since Sylas.”

“That’s understandable.” Kyla shifted. “I mean, you loved him.”

“Love. I love him.” I corrected her, narrowing my eyes.

“But wouldn’t he want you to be happy? Wouldn’t he want you to go on dates?”

“Believe it or not, we never had the ‘if I die while riding bulls, I want you to date my best friend’ chat.” I took another breath, the air leaving my mouth. “Cash was Sylas’ best friend.”

“Does that sit funny with you?”

“I mean…kind of. But…no.” I shifted, moving to sitting cross-legged on the couch. “Cash was always there, and if I’m being honest…if Sylas knew, he would…approve?” I hunched my shoulders, furrowing my brow. “It doesn’t make any sense.”

“No, it does. It’s weird. Forbidden almost. Now, I’m not the best person to ask for advice here, because well…I didn’t know Sylas, but with the way Cash kissed you last night, in front of your entire family…” She touched my shoulder, squeezing slightly. “No one seems phased by the fact that he was connected to Sylas. He knows you, and he obviously has feelings for you. You need to decide if you can move on from it. Having that connection to Sylas may make your and Cash’s relationship all that stronger.”

“But isn’t it fast? I mean seven weeks ago, I was avoiding the man and was pissed he was here.”

Kyla let out a soft laugh. “I’m not one to talk to about timing either. I knew your brother for twelve days, and I married him, and here we are not even together for a year yet and we’re expecting our first baby. Life moves fast Abi; you have to decide if you wanna run with it or not.”

I chewed on my bottom lip, taking yet again another deep breath. “I like him. I like that he’s here.”

“But seven weeks ago…”

“I was mad, I resented him in a way.”

“Well yeah, you didn’t make the man a bologna sandwich.” Kyla chuckled.

I gave her a friendly glare. “But,” I continued, “we’ve talked. We…we want to try this.”

“This being…”

“Us.”

She smiled. “And you’re worried about a date…because?”

“And we’ve come full circle, I haven’t been on one since Sylas.”

Kyla stood and held out a hand. “Lucky for you, Rhett and I have been going on plenty of dates, and I have dresses that are starting to be a little to snug—”

“You are not showing yet.”

“In the chest area.” She pulled me off the couch, giving me a cheeky grin. “Let’s find you something amazing to wear so when he picks you up, he will melt and never want to leave your side again.”

“He said dress warm.”

“Good thing I have plenty of long sleeve dresses that will go perfect with your boots.”

Twenty-Eight

Cash

IremembermeetingCarolyn,and then showing up on our first date. Which was the exact opposite of what was happening now. My first date with Carolyn was at a bar, she was dressed in a skin-tight, red tube top, her breasts basically popping out, makeup caked over her already flawless skin, and she was holding a drink the entire time. It ended with us hooking up in the bathroom.

This was different. I was doing this right. I couldn’t mess it up. I found the perfect place to spend the evening with Abi, knowing it would give us the first date experience and that itwould end with a kiss on her porch when I dropped her off, asking for a second date. And a third. And a fourth.

I took each step up to the main house as if they were new, because they felt new; even though I had taken them plenty of times in my life—never with this purpose. My boots clunked against the wooden porch, and I breathed deep, raising my finger to the doorbell. I never rang the doorbell, but that’s what you did picking up your girl for a date. You rang the doorbell, and you talked to her parents. You agreed on a curfew and then went along your way. Granted, we were both adults, so a curfew wouldn’t make a difference...but I rang the doorbell anyway.

I was put off a bit when Wyatt answered the door. His face was blank, stoic as he looked me up and down.

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