Page 42 of Cash

“Have you met someone?”

I snorted and turned back to the window. I couldn’t look her in the eye and lie to her, so I just didn’t answer.

“Can I ask you a question without you storming out?”

“You can ask. I can’t promise I’ll answer.”

“Why are you so angry at Rachel?”

I turned, and my mouth dropped open. “You really have to ask?”

“I do. I’m not sure I understand the reason. To be honest, I’m not sure you do either.”

“Then tell me why I’m so angry,” I snarked, throwing my arms out wide. “I’m all fucking ears, Doc.”

She took a deep breath and said, “Cash, my job is to help you understand why you feel the way you do. In order to do that, I need you to tell me why you’re angry.”

“Because she fucking lied to me! Our whole goddamn relationship she lied about being sick. She never once told me anything was wrong.”

“If she had told you about her condition at the beginning, would you have treated her differently?”

“Of course I fucking would!” I shouted.

I never would have put her on the back of my bike if I’d known what was going on inside her head.

She knew that.

Haizley stayed silent. Her knowing gaze told me she could read my thoughts. I hadn’t let her read the letter, but Rachel had been right. I never would have taken a chance with her life had I known.

I would have treated her like china. Afraid she would break with any minor movement.

“What if I was too rough with her? What if she banged her head on the fucking headboard while we were having sex and I killed her? She had no goddamn right keeping that shit from me.”

“Where are you going?” Haizley called as I stormed out the door. “Cash! Goddammit!”

Maybe one of these sessions I would make it the full hour. But not today. I jumped on my bike and tore out of herdriveway. Without thinking, my bike turned in the direction of the mountain.

I got to the top and sat on my bike. I told Rose three o’clock. That was forty-five minutes away, but I heard the sound of her bike riding up the trail.

Her handlebars shook when she saw me, but she corrected quickly. She came to a stop and shut off her bike. We sat facing each other, staring at one another, willing the other to move first. Look away, get off the bike. Ride back down the path. It didn’t matter. Neither of us moved.

“Why are you here?”

She blinked at my rough bark. “You told me to come.”

I shook my head, trying to wipe away the innocent look on her face. I swung my leg over, taking quick steps until I was right in front of her. “Why are you in Diamond Creek? Who are you here for?”

Her eyes widened at my question. Her hand went to the key still in the ignition and she turned it, as she flipped her kick stand up. I reached over and turned it off, before pulling the keys from the bike and putting them in my pocket.

“What the fuck? Give me the key!”

“Answer my fucking question.”

I was taking my anger out on her. It was a dick move, but she was here. She was the reason I asked about grief. She was the reason the conversation came up at all. I wanted to leave Rachel in the ground where she was.

But this sexy little pixie was stirring up shit I wasn’t ready to face.

“Who are you here for? Amber?”