Page 53 of Cash

Instead, there was someone I needed to talk to.

I sat on my bike, watching the entrance to the cemetery. I hadn’t been here since the funeral, and I wasn’t sure I could walk in there now.

The longer I sat there, the more I wanted to leave until someone walked through the gate into the parking lot and headed directly toward me.

“Hi, Cash.”

“Hey, Beck.”

She rubbed her belly, and I tried not to let the jealousy slip in.

“Is this the first time you’ve been back?”

I nodded, afraid if I tried to speak, I would choke on the words.

“The first cut is the deepest.” I looked up at her, and she smiled. “Ryder tried to trick me into coming back the first time. I had a panic attack. It’s a little easier each time.”

“Blade’s not dead.”

“No. But I didn’t know that at the time.” She looked over her shoulder. “Want me to come with you?”

I inhaled deeply and then shook my head. “I gotta do this myself.” Looking around, I asked her, “Where’s your prospect?”

She rolled her lips between her teeth and looked down.

“Beck.”

“I ditched him. I wanted to talk to my best friend in private.”

Pulling out my phone, I called Blade.

“Your old lady is at the cemetery with no prospect.”

“Goddammit!” he cursed. “I’m on my way.”

“That wasn’t necessary.”

“It was. You know you can’t be out here alone. Not right now.”

Beck huffed. “Not ever.”

I stayed with her until Blade arrived.

“Woman,”

“Save it. You know I’ll do it again, so don’t bother.” Blade glared at his old lady, and I couldn’t help the smile.

“Next time I’ll call your fucking father.”

“Like I’ll listen to him any more than I listen to you.”

These two always seemed to be sniping at each other. But when his eyes softened as he reached out to the baby she carried, it was clear to see how much they loved each other. The bickering was some kind of fucked-up foreplay for them.

“Thanks for calling, man.”

He grabbed my hand and slapped me on the back. Beck wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me. “She’s waiting for you,” she whispered. “Don’t worry, she can’t talk back anymore.” She winked, and I laughed.

She was right. If there was one thing Rachel excelled at, it was talking back.