Page 71 of Long Hard Fall

Sissy talked excitedly about the information the recruiter had given her, and Cash was content to listen. Residual sadness lingered, but he supposed he had to get used to missing Abbi.

On the flip side, his house was cleaner than it’d ever been. Since he didn’t go out as much, just to bullshit with the boys, he’d had some extra nights free. He’d even finished painting all the bedrooms and had a list compiled for the lumberyard and hardware store.

A knock on the door cut off all conversation.

His parents were used to not living here anymore and Cash was the only one that rose.

He opened the front door to Dillon, Brock, Aaron, and Travis.

Oh. Yeah. He’d just walked out on Christmas dinner. Hadn’t even congratulated his best friend on his engagement.

“Sorry, guys, I—”

“Back up, we’re coming in,” Dillon said as he stepped forward.

Okay. Cash internally prepped for confrontation number two. He moved out of the way as his cousins filed in. His parents and Sissy stood at the entrance into the living room but hung back as if they sensed the other guys’ intent.

“Look, Dillon, I’m sorry I left. Congratulations, man. I’m happy for you.” The sincerity was easier for Cash to get out than when he’d tried earlier. Abbi had ripped a gaping hole in his heart, but Dillon’s future was important to him.

“Thanks, but we’re here about you.” Dillon crossed his arms. He and the others stood on the welcome mat, boots dripping melted snow into the fabric. None of them had worn coats. Cash glanced outside. Aaron’s black and gray pickup was parked in the driveway.

“What about me?” They hadn’t asked Sissy or his parents for privacy. Whatever it was, everyone was going to hear.

Aaron crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re not much better than a ghost. We have to figure out how to get Abbi back.”

So…that’s why they were here. A quick little trip to rally his morale and win the love of his life back.

“Sorry, guys. I tried. She wouldn’t speak to me.”

Brock spoke. “But she never said she wouldn’t take you back, right?”

Cash narrowed his eyes at him and shook his head.

Travis scratched his jaw. “That’s the loophole. And here we thought we were going to start at ground zero.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

Dillon answered. “When you left, we had a little brainstorming session. It’s been almost two months and you haven’t rebounded, you haven’t moved on. Hell, I can’t even say whether you’re in stasis or not. You’re like a ranching zombie.”

Aaron’s head bobbed. “You’re sad, dude.”

Hope rustled in his chest, but he brushed it aside. He’d called. He’d texted. Abbi hadn’t answered.

Cash pinched the bridge of his nose. Getting Abbi to listen to him was only the first hurdle. Expecting her to take another chance on him, but risk estranging herself from her parents, wasn’t fair.

Aaron clapped his shoulder. “I’m sure if you show up on her doorstep, she’ll at least listen. She was crazy about you.”

Cash was crazy about her, too, but two months had passed. Was she still? Would it matter? “It’s not just us. It’s her parents. They, uh…they’ve heard about me, and that was after they felt like I insulted them and their son’s memory. They think I as good as killed him.”

Silence.

Anticipation died in their expressions.

“That’s heavy,” Dillon said.

“Yeah.” And that was it. Operation Win Back Abbi was over before it had started.

“May I intervene as a parent?” Mom came forward. “I can’t put myself in Abbi’s parents’ place; I can only imagine how hurt and devastated they are. And to go through it a second time… Well, I don’t think an apology and an explanation is ever the wrong move. They’ve already lost their son. But offering them your sincere feelings about their son and how much he meant to you might help them realize he wasn’t alone in his last days, even if he felt alone.”

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