Cash (Glendale Magic #2)

Chapter 25

CASH

What the fuck just happened? Cash had been thrown off balance ever since Bryan showed up. Then he saw them cozy together on the patio, and he fought all of his baser instincts to punch him in the mouth, but he didn't because he had to trust Evie. But Evie hadn’t returned that trust. That woman had caught him off guard. He quickly told her he was here with someone just like he had earlier tonight.

He was who he was, and he wouldn't feel shame for his past. What just happened had him a mess of feelings, and not a single one of them was good.

He finally caught up with her outside of the bar.

"Evie. What the hell?" he asked.

"Go back inside," she said as she was tapping away on her phone.

"No." He watched her, but she just kept tapping on her phone before she slipped it into her clutch.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Ordering a ride." she said not even looking at him.

"Evie. Stop. What's wrong?"

She just looked at him with an exasperated look on her face.

"I can't change my past,” he continued. “I could’ve lied to you, but I’ll never do that either. I haven’t been with anyone else since we got together at the gala."

"Seriously?" she asked in disbelief. "I'm supposed to believe you just stopped sleeping with people once we slept together?"

"Yes, you are, because it's the truth." She just stood there with her arms crossed looking up at him. "You’re the one so fucking entangled with your ex. You're mad at me for having slept with women months, some even years ago, while you’re out on the patio having a little private moment with your ex-boyfriend. The boyfriend who I had to humiliate myself by playing golf with all day."

"Nothing is going on between us," she said, firmly looking at him.

"I know that. I know that because you told me that and I fucking believe you. Could you please just give me the same courtesy?"

She finally broke the glare she had been giving him and looked down at the sidewalk.

"You're right. I'm sorry," she said softly.

He moved in to hold her, but she stepped back.

"Maybe this whole thing was a bad idea," she mumbled out.

"Evie, please," he moved to hold her again, but she held up her hand and he respected her silent directive not to be touched. Just then a car pulled up beside them.

"My ride's here. I'm going home."

"Let me drive you,” he pleaded.

"No. I can't do this right now. I need to go."

"Please don't walk away from me.” His voice was thick with desperation. He should be embarrassed, but he didn’t care. He needed to make this right.

"I have to go." And just like that she closed the door behind her, and he watched as she disappeared down the road.

What the fuck had just happened?

He couldn’t go back in there. He could not face her friends and family after she just walked out on him like that. Making sure he had his phone and wallet and keys; he took off down the block. He needed to clear his head. As he turned the corner and Westside Pub came into view, drowning his sorrows sounded just as good as clearing his head.

He walked into the crowded bar and ordered a whiskey and headed up to the tables that were reserved for the team. He wasn't sure who would be there because all the players who weren't happily settled down were out of town, but he didn't really seem to care.

He went up and sank into a seat with his whiskey and watched the people below him. His number would be even higher if he had to count the people he had slept with here. The waitresses alone would probably be more than four. He still couldn’t believe she even asked. There is no good answer to that question.

"Hey Cash, do you need anything?" asked a waitress. He held up his glass and she nodded and headed back down the stairs.

He sat there with his head in his hands. He would go home and drown his sorrows there, but with River there it wasn't really an option. He didn't think positive male role models got drunk because their current girlfriend was mad about how many people he had slept with at a bar. Why his sister thought he would be a good influence he didn't know. He wasn't any good for anyone. He was only good at dominating the ice and having random hook ups. That's who he was. He was just kidding himself that he could make someone like Evie happy.

He looked up as the waitress brought him another drink, along with a basket of fries and a tall glass of water. "It looked like you could use this," she said with a friendly smile.

"Thanks," he muttered as he picked up the whiskey. She gave him a smile and a pat on the hand as she turned and headed back down the stairs.

He pulled out his phone and tried to text her.

Cash - Did you make it home okay?

He watched as his text stayed green. Fuck. She blocked him again. He dropped his head in his hands with a groan. Then he felt someone slide in on the other side of the table. He looked up ready to tell whoever it was to get lost, but he gave a sigh of relief when he saw Ethan Yellowtail, their goalie, sitting across from him.

"You're looking rough man," he said as he snatched a fry out of the basket.

"I'm feeling it too. What are you doing out here by yourself? I thought you were headed back to Minnesota for the off season."

"Nope, I decided to stay here for a bit longer, but it's boring with all our teammates finding their love life. I met Kate and Wes for drinks and their happiness makes me want to puke," Ethan grumbled.

"Well, if happiness makes you want to puke, you should buy another round and sit with me," he said darkly.

"That bad, huh? Why don't we just finish these up and I'll take you home?"

Cash wanted to argue, but Ethan was probably right. He couldn't go on a complete bender with a teenager at home.

"What happened?"

"I was out with the new girl I'm dating after spending the day fucking golfing with her family and ex fucking boyfriend."

"Yikes, why would you do that?"

"Because it's for some wedding bullshit next weekend. We were out at the bar, and he fucking showed up again, but I decided to trust her. But we ran into some women there..."

Ethan nodded seeing where this was going. "And they hit on you?"

Cash nodded. "I told them I was with someone, and I thought we were good, but somehow it all went sideways. She asked how many women in the bar I slept with. I answered honestly. She got in an Uber, and here I am." He grumbled as he drew his finger through the condensation on his glass.

"That's fucked up. You either answer honestly and piss her off, or you lie and piss her off."

Cash nodded.

"And I just tried to text her but she fucking blocked me again. I haven't slept with anyone besides her since April. April, Ethan. I haven't gone that long since I started having sex, but it was easy because even as pissed as I am, I still don't see anyone but her. She's all I want...but I think she might be out of my league."

"That's some bullshit. She’s not out of your league. Your Cash fucking Hawthorn. You’re someone I always want on my side, you’re one of the best dudes I know."

Cash just sighed; his eyes still buried in his whiskey.

"I mean it. You're one of the best."

They finished their drinks and fries and Ethan drove him home. He went in and River was laid on the couch with a horror movie on.

"Hey Cash," River sat up and looked at him.

"I'm going to bed," he grumbled as he headed up the stairs.

"Rough night?" he asked behind him.

"Yeah, see you in the morning."

He got in his room and closed the door. He managed to get his shirt and pants off and fell into bed in his boxers, happy to let today be a bad fucking memory.