Page 67 of Small Town Firsts

I’m not trying to be funny, but she cracks up at my question. “Oh, babe. I wish I knew. I’ve known him my whole life, and I’d crushed on him since we were kids. He used to be so sweet, andI guess over the years, I’d put him on a pedestal, and when he finally gave me the time of day, I was so excited. I thought he was ready to admit he felt the same way when he just wanted to drag me along and brag to his friends. I was nothing more than a game to him . . . and our game ended with me getting one hell of a prize, huh?”

“That baby in your belly is for sure a prize—the only good thing that deadbeat will ever make. Too bad for him, he’ll never know him. Not if I have anything to say about it.”

“Wh–what do you mean, Cash?”

“What I mean . . .” I take a deep breath, praying with all my might that this doesn’t send her running for the hills. “Is that, if you’ll allow me the honor, I’d like to raise this baby with you. It’d mean the goddamn world to be his dad.”

Her eyes well with tears, and they drop one after another. And this time, when she goes to pull her hands from mine, I let her. She bolts from the couch and starts pacing.

Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.

After what feels like an eternity of pacing and tears, I stand, causing her to run smack into my chest on her return trip. However, instead of pushing me away, she wraps her arms around my neck and burrows her head into my chest. “Y–you mean that?”

“With all my heart, darlin’. I can’t think of a thing on this earth that would mean more to me.”

“You realize you’re one of a kind, Cash Carson?” she sniffles and wipes her tears on my sleeve. “A dream come true.”

“As long as I have you, I don’t need to dream, because you’re more than I could ever ask for.” Bending low, I scoop her into my arms. “Which way to your room?”

She directs me, and I set off up the stairs. I push open her door and set her down. “Get undressed, Myla.”

“Undressed?”

“Yup,” I tell her, popping the ‘P’ as I make my way into her bathroom.

I set to work drawing her a bath but come to a dead stop when she steps into the room. She’s completely bare and completely breathtaking.Goddamn.This may not be the first time I’ve seen her body, but with it constantly growing and changing, every time is like the first time, and I fucking love it . . . her.

Wordlessly, she makes her way to me, and I help her step into the tub. “You relax, darlin’, and I’ll start dinner, yeah?”

“Yeah, babe. No way am I gonna argue with that.” I step out of the bathroom and rifle through her clothes for her phone. Finding it, I bring it to her. “What’s that for?” she asks with a sweet smile.

“Just thought you might wanna tell Azalea the news.”

“Well, you’ve just thought of everything, huh?”

She laughs but takes her phone from me, and not even two seconds later, it trills out her text tone. Her gaze grows hazy and distant as it beeps again. And again.

“Everything okay?”

“Uh . . . yeah, yes. Everything is f–fine.” I can tell she’s lying from the wobble in her voice, but I don’t call her on it. We’ve both had an emotional day, and with all the resolve I’m capable of, I turn and head out to the kitchen to whip us up some dinner.

Even if it kills me, I have to trust that if those texts were important, she’d tell me. Especially after today.

CHAPTER 36

MYLA ROSE

I should be relaxing.

I should be over the moon giddy.

All my dreams just became reality, but with a handful of text messages, it feels like the walls are closing in on me.

When my phone flashed with a text from an unknown number, I figured it was a new client or a referral. But as soon as my eyes scanned those cruel words, I knew it was Taylor.

In my heart, I know I need to tell Cash about the texts. And in my heart, I know he’s who he says he is and that he’s in this for the long haul. I know we aren’t just playing house, but what if this proves to be too much? I know he says he wants my heart and that he can handle my baggage, but what if this breaks us?

It’s one thing to say he wants to raise this sweet baby with me, but it’s totally another to go toe-to-toe with Taylor and all of his family’s resources and connections.

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