Chapter 2
2
CASH
With my bag packed, Steve walked me to the door. We’d gone over everything one last time: his schedule, his meetings, the tools to keep him on track. We’d been together for six weeks. Six weeks of structure, encouragement, and support to help him rebuild his confidence had finally paid off. My job as his sober companion had started the day he left rehab, offering one-on-one support to help him maintain his sobriety. Staying sober wasn’t easy, and I could only hope he’d stick with everything we’d put into place.
As we reached the threshold, I clasped his shoulder. “You’ve got this,” I assured him.
“Thanks, Cash,” he replied with a small smile and a handshake.
Outside, the crisp December air chilled my neck and carried the faint scent of rain as I walked toward my Silverado. It was the kind of dreary weather that marked winters in Eastern Texas.
As I climbed into my truck, the sense of accomplishment from my work with Steve was mixed with something sweeter: anticipation. After going home to pack, I would be staying with Britt at her place for the night before we caught our early flight to Boston in the morning. The thought brought a huge smile to my face as I cranked up the heat.
Working as a sober companion was hard on my dating life because it required me to live with my clients for a period of time, but Britt had been a surprise. A good one. We had met a little over a year ago at Club 24, a gym in Houston. I’d been there with a client, trying to scope out places he could channel his energy and create healthy habits. She’d been running laps on the indoor track, her ponytail bouncing with each stride. It was impossible not to notice her. When we’d crossed paths later at the smoothie bar, she’d been the one to kick off the conversation. Her confidence and quick wit had me hooked right away.
“Let me guess,” she’d said, eyeing my protein shake. “You’re one of those people who drinks these so you can justify a burger with extra fries.”
“Guilty,” I’d shot back, earning a laugh that made me want to keep talking to her. During our conversation, I learned she was a medical resident who had studied at Baylor, juggling long hospital shifts with grueling responsibilities, and still somehow she made time for the gym. Over the next few weeks, we kept bumping into each other when I was there with my client. Before I knew it, I asked her out for coffee, then dinner, then we hung out more when our schedules would allow.
We’d been together ever since.
Her family was a whole different kind of whirlwind. Her mom and dad were classic Bostonians: warm, loud, and hardcore Red Sox and Patriot fans. I hadn’t met her brother Silas yet, but I’d heard plenty. Britt shared he was the drummer for a famous rock band, Surrender, living a chaotic lifestyle that didn’t exactly align with her structured, no-nonsense approach.
I couldn’t wait to see them all. When the Hales had visited over the summer, Kevin and Melissa had made me feel as though I was already a part of their family. It was nice, given both of my parents were dead.
I’d had a rough childhood. I had lived in Dusty Creek, just outside of Houston, with my parents until I was sixteen. My mom was always there, but she wasn’t really there . She was usually high on something, and my dad’s temper made any space feel smaller when he wasn’t lost in his own world. I spent most of my time in my room to avoid them both.
It wasn’t just the yelling or the way his words cut like a knife—it was the way he could fill a room with tension without saying a damn thing. I could feel his anger before he even looked my way. Even when he wasn’t losing it, I could still sense it, simmering just under the surface, ready to blow. It was as though he carried a storm with him, and no matter where you were, there was no outrunning it.
One day, I came home from school to a nightmare. My father had shot and killed my mother, then doped himself up with heroin, the overdose taking his life too. I didn’t need to ask why. I’d grown up in the wreckage of their choices. A rageful father. A mother too high to save herself. I understood enough.
I was placed in foster care, bouncing from home to home until I ended up with my last foster family. John and Evelyn Rhodes were different. Both of them worked in addiction recovery, Evelyn as a therapist, and John by supporting people struggling with substance abuse. They helped me more than I thought anyone could. It was because of them that I pieced together who I was and how to survive. They were kind but firm, and even though I kept my distance emotionally, they showed me what real support looked like.
In the years since I turned eighteen and left their home, we have remained close. When I had a client, my job kept me busy, and I couldn’t see them as often as I’d liked. The nature of my work was all-consuming given that my life had to revolve around the client. But the Rhodeses have always been there when I’ve needed them. I considered them my family.
After going back to my apartment to take a quick shower and pack for Boston, I hurried over to Britt’s place. Once I was parked in the lot near her condo, I grabbed my luggage from the back of my truck and walked up to her door, giving it a light knock. She opened it almost immediately and her eyes lit up when she saw me.
“Hey, you.”
“Hey.” I stepped inside, pulling her into a quick hug before kissing her softly. I could smell her perfume and the faint scent of freshly baked cookies.
“You’re just in time,” she stated. “I made your favorite fluffernutter cookies.”
“You’re spoiling me.”
“It’s the little things when I don’t get to see you every day.” She nudged me toward the couch.
I sat down and kicked my shoes off. She walked over with a plate of cookies and I took one. “Thanks. So, ready to see your family?”
Britt sat down beside me, her fingers curling around her own cookie. She took a bite, then paused. After a moment, she met my gaze. “I am, but there’s something I need to tell you.”
“Oh?” I swallowed the delicious peanut butter and marshmallow cookie.
“You know how I’ve been applying to different hospitals for a new job?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I got a call from one of them today.”
“That’s great!” I beamed and took a bite of another cookie. “Which one?”
She swallowed. “St. Thomas in Boston.”
I stopped chewing. “Boston?”
She nodded. “And I decided to take it.”
I balked, my mind taking a second to catch up with her words. “Wait, what? You’re moving to Boston? When?”
She gave a reluctant nod. “I didn’t think I’d get a job there, but it’s been the only facility to offer me an ER position and you know I don’t like the hospital I was placed at here. They want me to start at the end of January.”
My chest tightened, and my thoughts began racing as I processed the news. “That’s ... amazing,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “But Boston? That’s so far.”
I’d understood why she had applied to hospitals in Massachusetts, but I suppose I never actually thought she’d move back to where she was from.
Her caramel eyes softened. “I know it’s a big change. But I want you to know I’ve been thinking about it a lot, and I want to ask you something.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?”
“Would you … Would you consider coming with me?”
I blinked, and she continued.
“I know your job is here, but maybe we could move in together there and when you have a client, you fly back here to be with them. You have to live with them, anyway.”
That was true. Depending on the severity of their addiction, my time with clients was six or more weeks at a time.
“Can I think about it?”
“Of course.” She smiled. “While we’re in Boston, maybe you could check out the area to see if you could live there too.”
And if I couldn’t, then that would be the end of us.
The plane touched down with a slight jolt, and the moment the wheels hit the tarmac, I felt a rush of excitement shoot through me. It had been a long time since I’d spent Christmas with a loving family. The Rhodes usually went on vacation for the holidays and this year was no different. They were on a cruise to Norway.
Britt squeezed my hand. “Welcome to Boston.”
“Thanks,” I muttered, looking out the window at the thick blanket of snow covering the ground. As a Texas boy, this was all new to me. Could I live in a place where I would have to shovel snow during the winter?
We stepped off the plane and into the terminal, the cool air inside the airport a relief from the stuffy cabin. As soon as we made it to baggage claim, I caught sight of Britt’s parents, who were waving at us.
Her mom greeted us first, her bright red scarf standing out in the sea of black coats. Britt’s dad was close behind, his big frame impossible to miss. They both smiled wide as we approached .
Her dad clapped me on the back as soon as I stepped close. “How was the flight?”
“It was good. Thanks for picking us up.”
Britt’s mom hugged me. “We’re so glad you’re here.”
“Yeah, but judging by the snow outside, I might freeze to death.” I chuckled.
Her mom grinned. “You’ll get used to it. We’ve got plenty of hot chocolate and coffee waiting for you at home.”
“I might need that to survive.” I grinned.
They led us to the car, where her dad and I loaded the bags into the trunk of their SUV. As we drove through Boston, I kept my eyes focused out the window, taking in the old brick buildings and the snow-covered streets. This place had an entirely different vibe than Houston. I couldn’t wait to see more of it.
When we arrived at their house, it was everything I’d imagined. The outside was picturesque, with snow-dusted trees and twinkling lights lining the front porch. The warmth of the house greeted me as soon as we stepped inside. A Christmas tree stood in the corner, with the faint smell of dinner wafting through the air.
We walked into the living room, and Britt’s eyes immediately scanned the space until they landed on her brother. She grinned and practically rushed over to him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders in a tight hug.
“I missed you, baby bro,” she murmured.
He chuckled and pulled her in a little closer. “Missed you too, sis.”
I stood back, watching them, and then Britt turned to me. “Silas, this is Cash. My boyfriend.”
His eyes flicked to me as he extended a hand. His gaze was sharp—almost piercing—and something about the way his hazel eyes looked made me pause. They weren’t bloodshot or out of focus, but they seemed a little too wide, almost like he was hyper-aware of everything around him.
It was a subtle thing, but I couldn’t help noticing it. The last thing I wanted was to make assumptions, but I’d seen that look before. The wide, dilated pupils had a certain intensity behind them that didn’t match the rest of his calm demeanor.
Could he be using?
I pushed the thought aside quickly, forcing myself to take his hand with a firm shake.
“Nice to meet you, man,” Silas greeted.
“Nice to meet you too,” I replied. I wasn’t sure if it was because he was living in California or his rock star persona, but he had clearly bleached his hair to be blond unlike the rest of his family.
“Why don’t you two get settled in?” Britt’s mom spoke. “Dinner’s almost ready.”
Britt led me to her childhood bedroom, which had a queen-size bed and a few remnants of her teenage years like posters of bands she used to love. Framed photos of her and her friends from high school covered her desk and bookshelf.
“The closet should be empty if you want to hang up your clothes,” she stated.
I nodded and put our luggage on her bed. “Glad your parents are cool with us sleeping together under their roof.”
She chuckled. “We’re almost thirty. I think they know I’m not a virgin.”
We continued to unpack and then Britt led me into the kitchen, where her mom was already setting the kitchen table. My stomach growled and I hadn’t realized how hungry I was.
Once everything was ready, we sat down at the table with Silas. The conversation started with casual topics at first, just getting to know each other better. I found myself getting comfortable with them, though I couldn’t help but notice Silas’s occasional smirk, like he was sizing me up. I didn’t take it personally. I probably would’ve done the same thing if I were in his shoes.
The food was delicious. Each bite of the mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, and perfectly seasoned chicken seemed to melt in my mouth. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had a home-cooked meal, and I was definitely enjoying it .
As we finished eating, Britt cleared her throat. She looked over at me. “So, there’s something I need to tell you all.”
Britt’s mom paused mid-sip of her wine, and her dad leaned forward, both giving her their undivided attention. Even Silas peeked up from his phone for a second, his eyes narrowing in curiosity.
I looked at Britt and patted her knee under the table. She bit her lip, hesitating for a second before finally speaking. “I’ve been offered a job at St. Thomas.”
Her dad’s eyes widened. “Does that mean you’re moving home?”
Britt nodded and glanced at me. “I am.”
“And you’re moving too, Cash?” her mother asked with a hopeful smile, clearly assuming we’d be making the move together.
I opened my mouth to answer, but Britt beat me to it. “He hasn’t decided yet. We’ve talked about it, but he’s not sure.”
Her dad leaned back in his chair, his eyes shifting between the two of us. “Either way, I’m sure you’ll figure out what’s best for you.”
I nodded. “Thanks. I’m definitely thinking about it.” The idea of moving to Boston wasn’t a simple decision for me, especially with my work. But if I stayed in Houston, I knew the long distance would be the end for me and Britt.