Page 24

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Cash

Skylar hovered next to the front desk when Katelyn and I entered the resort lobby. A part-timer, Leo, was covering the phones, so I knew Skylar was there to meet me.

Brooks emerged from the direction of the bar with his adorable grandma. The deep grooves in his forehead gave away his concern.

“Either Grandma Kitty told Brooks she’s dating Chester or he’s worried I’m about to steal you away,” I joked. “He looks like he’s about to pop a blood vessel.”

Skylar didn’t laugh. “We’re worried about you. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, we’re fine.” I nudged my quiet sister. “Right, Kit-Kat?”

She nodded, smiling faintly, and lifted the shimmery turquoise two-piece bathing suit in her hands. “Cash said I could use the pool. If that’s all right?”

“Anytime,” Skylar said as Brooks and Grandma Kitty reached us. “We’ve got a couple of rooms too, if you need?—”

“We’re all set,” I said quickly. Katelyn might want to take him up on it, but I wasn’t turning down Declan’s direct invitation to continue sleeping in his bed. “We’re going to stay at the B&B.”

Brooks arched an eyebrow. “Really? There’s plenty of space here, and you wouldn’t be an imposition.”

Grandma Kitty clucked. “He means to say we’d love to have you.” She held open her arms. “Give Grandma a hug.”

I leaned in, letting her squeeze me. Comfort washed through me, the kind I hadn’t found anywhere other than Declan’s arms. I wished I could go cling to him for a few hours and forget that my family was falling apart, but that would hardly reassure Katelyn that everything was okay.

I pulled out of Grandma’s arms, forcing a smile. “Thanks, Grandma Kitty. You give the best hugs.”

Grandma Kitty smiled. “You come get one anytime you need.” She turned to my sister. “You get over here. Grandma’s not done.”

My sister rushed into her arms so quickly I worried she’d knock poor Kitty right off her feet. Kitty was sturdier than she looked, thankfully. She wrapped Kat in a tight hug, rocking from side to side.

“We’ve got plenty of rooms,” Skylar said tentatively.

I shook my head. “I’m working over at the B&B every day, anyway. It makes sense to stay there.”

Katelyn pulled out of Grandma Kitty’s arms and smirked. “Yeah, that’s why we’re staying there. It has nothing to do with you sleeping in Declan’s bed.”

I elbowed her in the side. “Shut your piehole.”

She stumbled a couple of steps to the side, giggling. “Declan and Cash sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s?—”

“Okay, I should get to work,” I said loudly, speaking over her song. I patted the duffel bag over my shoulder. “I’ve got a change of clothes in my bag. I’ll just hit the bathroom and get clocked in. Sorry I’m a little late today.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Skylar said. “If you need to take the day off, we can work something out.”

I shook my head. “I’m good. Kat’s going to hit the pool for a while. Declan is bringing Gray over for work this afternoon, so he’ll take her back to the B&B if she’s ready to go home before my shift ends.”

“All right, if you’re sure,” Skylar said.

“I am.”

Grandma Kitty wrapped an arm around Katelyn. “You can get changed in my room. Maybe I’ll even join you out by the pool, if you don’t mind an old lady cramping your style?”

Katelyn looked pleased. “I don’t mind.”

“Good.”

I smiled as Kitty led my sister down the hall. “You’re so lucky, Brooks. I wish I had a grandma like that.”

“You do,” Brooks said. “Anytime you need a grandma, she’s right here, and she loves you.”

My heart twisted in my chest. “Yeah,” I said around the lump in my throat. “That’s really… I appreciate you sharing.”

He clapped my shoulder. “Anytime. And don’t think we’re not talking about this whole sleeping with Declan business. That’s a big deal.”

My instinct was to deny it. I didn’t know what Declan would want me to say to anyone about our relationship, such as it was. But these were my closest friends, and I needed someone to talk with, so I nodded agreement.

“I guess it is a big deal. I just don’t know yet how big of a deal. Not with his plans to sell the B&B.”

“Let’s grab a dinner on your break later,” Skylar suggested. “We can all talk. I know everyone’s worried. We’ll get the whole gang here.”

“So another friendervention, huh?”

“Nah, more of a friend love fest.”

“Well, I do enjoy a good love fest,” I said lightly, doing my best to ignore the burn behind my eyes.

My home life might be in the shitter right now, but I had a group of friends who rallied around me, ready to support me through any storm. They were the family I could always count on.

I got clocked in before Skylar and Brooks could make me cry—just barely— and spent the next few hours trying not to think about anything but room bookings, guest questions, and fielding complaints about housekeeping.

“No one brought towels, and I specifically requested more. The room hasn’t even been picked up once since we arrived,” a woman in Room 203 told me over the phone.

She was understandably frustrated. I was just puzzled. Skylar subcontracted with the housekeeping company where my mom worked. There was no reason for the room to be neglected.

I assured her I’d have towels sent up, then called Skylar in his office to explain the situation.

“What on earth…” Skylar huffed. “This isn’t the first complaint I’ve gotten. I’ll put in a call to Cove Cleaners. It might be time for a change.”

“My mom works for them. I could try to ask her…”

“I don’t want to put you in that position right now,” Skylar said. “You’ve got bigger fish to fry. Besides, she’s not in charge of the company. I don’t doubt she does great work.”

“Yeah,” I said quietly. “She works hard.”

“I know. I’ve chatted with her a few times. She’s always friendly, but quick to get back to her work.”

“You think you’ll fire the company?”

“Maybe,” Skylar said. “Will that hurt your mother?”

I hesitated. She subcontracted through them, and it wasn’t like the resort was her only job, but she needed every job she could get. I settled on the only answer I could give. “I don’t know, but you can’t make your decision based on that.”

“No, that’s true,” Skylar said. “Well, for now, it’s just a conversation. We’ll go from there.”

“Okay. I’ll get towels up to the room. I can take out their trash and tidy a little while they’re out, too.”

“Thanks, Cash. I know that’s not in your job description.”

“No worries. My mom taught me a thing or two about maid service.”

Skylar chuckled. “I bet she did. Thanks.”

I grabbed a keycard and went up to Room 203. I set a stack of fresh towels on the back of the toilet, picked up the discarded towels on the floor, emptied their trash, and made the bed.

I didn’t have a vacuum, so I couldn’t do a full cleaning service, but the room looked tidier, at least. By the time I got back downstairs, it was time for my break, and the troops had assembled.

Poppy and Fisher stood in the lobby, chatting while they waited.

“Don’t you two have work to do?” I challenged as I came out of the elevators.

Poppy shrugged. “I’m an artist. I make my own hours.”

“My Dad was bored, anyway,” Fisher said. “He’ll enjoy running the store for an afternoon without me bossing him around.”

I laughed. “So you’re the boss now, huh?”

“Pretty much,” he said, though there was no arrogance to it. “Dad has finally embraced the idea of transitioning toward retirement. It’s a good thing for us all.”

“That’s great, man.”

“But we’re not here to talk about us,” Poppy said.

I grimaced. “Might be more fun.”

“Nope.” She hooked an arm through mine and urged me toward the restaurant and bar. “No dodging. You’ve been avoiding this topic with us for years.”

“Time to let us help,” Fisher added.

“There’s nothing you can do.”

“We can listen,” she said.

I sagged a little, chest aching. I’d held in so much about my dad’s alcoholism, how intolerable it was at home, the lengths I’d gone to avoid it until I realized I was only hurting myself and Katelyn.

But as I sat down with all my friends, every set of eyes filled with worry for me, I knew the time for keeping secrets was over.

“Things are really fucked up,” I admitted. “I told Kat we were going to take off for a few days until things cool down.”

“That seems smart,” Skylar said.

Brooks had poured drinks for us all, and I picked up my beer and took a fortifying gulp. “Yeah, the thing is…I don’t know if I can make myself go back there. But I also can’t just send Kat back. And my mom, she needs us. She can’t carry that burden alone.”

I gave them the rundown on my father’s condition, the attempts we’d made to get him help before, the resistance he showed to change.

“For a long time, I avoided being home whenever Kat didn’t need me there. That’s why…”

Poppy was the first to catch on. “That’s why you hooked up with so many people? To stay out for the night?”

I nodded. “It wasn’t healthy. Declan made me see that.”

“What’s going on with Declan, anyway?” Sawyer asked. “You’re staying with him?”

“Yeah. We’re getting close.”

“Close enough to share a bed,” Brooks added. “You ready to talk about that?”

I spread my hands helplessly. “I’m not sure what he’d want me to say about it.”

“We’re your friends,” Poppy said. “Anything you tell us stays here.”

“Well,” I said. “He’s ace, and he’s possibly leaving, so basically I’m just floundering around hoping I don’t screw up everything. But we’ve, uh…we’ve been intimate. On occasion.” I hurried to add, “Only when he wants it.”

“Well, of course,” Poppy said. “So he’s not sex-repulsed.”

“No. I guess he’s more…gray ace? Like, sometimes he’s good to go and sometimes not. I just try to follow his lead.”

“Doesn’t that get confusing?” Fisher asked. “Like, what if you read him wrong?”

I shrugged. “He gives me lots of cues, I guess. Sometimes I just ask to be sure.”

“Communication is never a bad thing,” Sawyer said.

“I think it’s great,” Skylar added. “You’ll never cross a boundary if you ask first.”

Brooks slanted a glance toward Skylar, then cleared his throat. “You know, when Skylar and I got together, it wasn’t simple either.”

“You mean because you were a dumb straight boy?” I teased.

He laughed. “Uh, not exactly.”

Skylar leaned forward, keeping his voice low. “I was a bit fragile after my last relationship. You all heard a little about that, right?”

I nodded. Skylar’s ex had been a toxic, controlling asshole who’d shown up in town after Skylar left him. Brooks had stayed out at Skylar’s house to make sure the guy wouldn’t try anything.

“Well, as a result, I was nervous about relationships or even, um, being intimate. But knowing Brooks would always respect my boundaries? That was everything.”

My heart stuttered as I thought of the many times I’d hit on him.

“Shit, I hope my flirting didn’t make you uncomfortable.” I winced. “I was just trying to rile up Brooks. I wasn’t thinking…”

Skylar smirked. “Cash, your flirting is borderline ridiculous. It made me laugh. Don’t worry about it.”

I rubbed my chest. “Ouch. Kick a guy while he’s down, why don’t you?”

Brooks chuckled. “Your ego will survive. Especially if you managed to finally get Declan’s attention after all this time.”

“Which he obviously has,” Sawyer said, nodding toward the doorway. “Because there he is.”

I twisted in my seat. Declan was just entering the bar, looking hesitant.

I met him halfway across the room. “Hey.”

“Hey. I just brought Gray over,” he said.

“Thank you. And, uh, thanks for offering me a place to stay tonight. And giving Kat a ride back.” I laughed a little. “I guess I owe you a lot of thanks.”

“You don’t owe me anything.” He cupped my jaw with one gentle hand. “How are you doing? Are you okay?”

I’d been fine all day. I’d been wrestling emotions too close to the surface, sure. I was stressed and worried about my family. I was navigating a delicate relationship, often out of my depth. I was burning the candle at both ends, working two jobs.

And with Declan’s soft words, I couldn’t fake it anymore.

“N-not really,” I croaked.

Then I fell into his arms, and he hugged me as tight as Grandma Kitty had. Her hug had been comforting and sweet. This one, though, was different. Grandma Kitty kept me from falling apart. Declan? He held me together when I shattered.

He kissed my temple. “Shh. It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

“It’s stupid to be upset,” I mumbled against his chest. “Nothing has really changed.”

“Well, maybe it’s time it did,” he said. “Maybe it’s past time, even.”

I took a deep breath, his words resonating with me. Yeah. Maybe it was time. I’d been treading water, struggling not to drown with my family, for years. Maybe it was time to reach for a lifeline.

I looked up at Declan, wondering if he could be that for me. My anchor. And for how long?

He swiped his thumbs under my eyes, clearing my tears away. “It’s going to be okay. I’m here for you.”

“Tha—” I started to say, but he silenced me with a soft kiss.

Right there in public. It shocked my thoughts away. He glanced over my head, seeming to notice our rapt audience. I turned, and Fisher gave a cheeky little wave. Damn. It was a good thing most of my friends were more tactful than me. I’d have been whistling or catcalling for maximum embarrassment.

I grinned. “You’re going to start all sorts of rumors about us, Mr. Sullivan. Naughty, naughty.”

Declan reddened a little but said gamely, “Are they rumors if they’re true?”

“In that case, kiss me again. I want everyone talking about us, especially if it makes you blush like that,” I teased.

To my surprise, he indulged me with one more kiss. “I’ll see you tonight, okay? Call me if you need me. For anything.”

My heart skipped a few beats, and I practically floated back to my chair. My friends all looked at me with varying degrees of amusement.

“About time,” Fisher said.

“I still can’t believe it,” Sawyer added. “I never thought he’d get anywhere with Declan.”

“Me either,” Brooks said.

“It’s not that surprising,” Poppy said. “Declan just needed to see that Cash was serious. He plays so much that people can’t always tell.”

“She’s right,” Skylar said. “Cash puts on a good front.”

“Cash is right here,” I mumbled, a little disconcerted by how well Poppy had read the situation.

“You’re not the player everyone thinks you are,” Poppy said. “Maybe for a while you played the part, but I think that’s all it was, right? It’s not what you really want. Not anymore.”

“No,” I said. “Maybe not ever. I don’t know. This thing with Declan, it’s…”

“Serious,” Skylar said.

“Yeah.”

“And what about when he leaves?” Brooks asked, forehead creased again. “What then? Maybe you should put a stop to this now.”

I shrugged helplessly. “I can’t just let this moment pass me by. I’m seizing the fucking day.”

“But—” Brooks started, but Skylar laid his hand on his arm, quieting him.

“Can’t you see, Brooks? Cash is in love with Declan. It’s already too late for him to do anything else.”

My stomach flip-flopped to hear it stated so plainly out loud, but I’d already known, hadn’t I? I’d been falling hard since the moment Declan stopped pushing me away.

Consequences be damned.