Page 99 of Never Left You

“To rodeos? Even though I’m not riding?”

I nodded. “Just to be with you, travel, see the things I wanted to see with Sylas. But instead…see them with you. I know it’s not far from here. Maybe just for the weekend? I can come and we can spend some time together. I can be the support groupie for Quinn.”

“Groupie?” He raised a brow and gave me a smirk.

“Well, she doesn’t want buckle bunnies hyping her up so…”

He laughed, and his hands found my belt loop, pulling me close as I spoke. “I think a groupie will be better, don’t you think?”

The soft chuckle still lingering in the air, Cash spoke. “I’d love to have you on the road with me Abs, but…” He lowered his chin, his perfect straight hair line coming into my view before he raised his gaze to me again. His tawny skin had a tint of blush to his cheeks, and his dark eyes moved as he searched for the words to say. “I don’t want to replace a moment with Sylas…”

“You’re not.” I slid my arms around his waist and pulled him to me, his arms opening up for me. I loved the way his body felt against mine. “Last night, Kyla asked me what I wanted, and I could only think of one thing. Time with you.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You’re serious?”

“Absolutely. I don’t get to think of things I want…but I know I want this.” I tugged him closer. “I just need to make sure to handle one thing…well two…”

“Stetson?”

“I’m going to ask Rhett and Kyla if they can watch him for the weekend. Quinn only has a few rides, right? We’ll be home…”

“Tuesday.”

“I’m sure Stetson would love to be with Kyla for four days straight.”

“The other night, he complained about you leaving for a few hours.” He reminded me.

“Well, to be fair, that was because he was going to be with Wyatt. Wyatt’s fun for horse lessons, but his idea of babysitting is scrolling on his phone while Stetson watches a movie. If he were with Kyla, he would have jumped on that and shoved us out the door. You asked Rhett about the ring right?”

He raised an eyebrow in confusion. I let out a small laugh, taking it he didn’t ask Rhett about Stetson’s little proposal.

“Anyway, that’s beside the point. I want time with you,” I reiterated. “Let me come with you.”

Using his thumb, he lifted my chin to him, giving me a whisper of a kiss, but it was enough to make me melt. His arm tightened around my waist.

He let out a soft chuckle. “I just had to save you from melting, again.”

I relaxed into him, simply not caring what his answer was. I was content in his arms like this all day.

“Come with me. I would love to have you there for every moment.”

“Every single moment?” I asked.

He nodded. “Every one.”

I hummed and gave him a soft smile, but then my mind went back to the sketchbook that was now resting on my back. I twisted my arm and miraculously grabbed a hold of it, slipping it from his hands.

“Hey…” he protested.

“You’ll get it back.” I gave him a sly smile, stepping away from him and clutching the book to my own chest. “Maybe.”

Still a little melty after my brief yet perfect moment with Cash, I floated into my dad’s office, giving one soft knock before I came into the room.

“Abi. Hi, sweetheart.”

“Hi, Dad.” I took a few steps into the office and stopped right before his desk. I shoved my hands in my jean pockets, my thumbs tapping on my belt. “I um…” I stammered. “I have a favor.”

“Sure.”

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