Chapter 22
Piper
You looked great at the skills competition!
Cash the Sex God
Thanks, Princess
Cash! When did you change your name in my phone?!
I knew you’d like it
I can’t with you
You can’t deny it’s true
I might…
Then I might hold out on you
Fine. You’re Cash the Sex God lt;lt;eye roll emojigt;gt;
Oh, Princess, you say the sweetest things to me lt;lt;kissing face emojigt;gt;
I try. What’s next on the agenda?
I’ve got a meet and greet with fans tomorrow
I wish I could be there.
You’ll be here soon
I miss you
I miss you too. I wish I could go out with you
Angie and I have a few things planned
You’ll have fun
Not as much fun without you lt;lt;sad face emojigt;gt;
Just you wait…I have all the fun things planned when I see you again
Great, now I need to use the vibrator
Princess, you cannot tell me that
Turnabout is fair play
Fine. Then I need to go take a long cold shower
Think of me lt;lt;kissing face emojigt;gt;
You know I do, Princess
“Is this your first time in Nashville?” Angie expertly dodges a group of people on Broadway as we navigate our way to the bar.
“Yeah. I wish we had more time here.”
Neon lights fight for attention on both sides of the closed-off street. Music filters out from every bar we pass, mostly hopeful singers wanting a contract to become the next big thing. There’s more people crowded on this street than I’ve ever seen in my life.
“If only Harper were here this week.”
“Where’s she this week?” I ask, nearly running into someone who stumbles out of a bar. Angie tried to make plans for us to meet up with one of her closest friends, but she wasn’t in town this weekend.
“It’s her mom’s birthday, so she made a long weekend of it at home.”
“Can’t say I’d want to be here with so many people.”
Angie laughs as she finds the bar we’re looking for and guides us inside. “She’s used to this. Not sure if she’s used to this many hockey fans.”
“Even if we don’t like the Knights, it’s not a bad spot to have the All-Star Game.”
Angie sidles up to the bar, finding a small break in the people to order us drinks. White wine for her and an old fashioned for me.
“Are you excited about Cash’s first All-Star Game?”
“Is it weird I’m nervous?” I ask her, a bit louder than necessary given the number of people in here.
Two drinks are dropped off and Angie pulls out two twenties to pay him.
Angie links her arm through mine as we walk through the crowded bar toward a quiet table in the back, trying not to spill our drinks.
The bar is packed, wall-to-wall with hockey fans with various jerseys from all the teams represented. A country tune plays as people dance to the music.
It’s everything a Nashville bar should be.
“I was nervous for Troy’s first one, but not anymore.”
“Do you get used to it?” I ask.
Not that I should get used to it. Because Cassie said after the All-Star break, we were done. Cash’s image has rebounded with the press.
Snarky comments after games? None.
Getting into fights on the ice? Only when they really deserve it.
Sweet and attentive boyfriend? Check and check.
“It’s not as bad during the regular season,” Angie tells me, sipping on her wine. “But the playoffs? I’m a ball of nerves the entire time.”
I laugh. If only Cash and I would make it that far.
“I don’t think I could handle that.”
“You’ll have me by your side. Don’t worry.”
“Good.”
Angie has become a good friend these last few months. We never really hung out before I started working for the team and dating Cash. Now? Now, she’s someone I can talk to about anything.
Well, almost anything. Because no one can know that this thing with Cash has an expiration date.
“I still can’t believe Duncan got into the game.”
Angie snorts over her glass of wine. “I don’t know how you dated him.”
“Can we say it was a lapse in judgment?”
“Believe me, I’ve had those.”
I clap my hand over hers on the table between us. “And now you’re married.”
A dreamy look washes over her face. It’s the same look she had on her face when she married Troy. One of pure blissed-out love.
“Do you ever think about you and Cash getting married?”
It’s an innocent enough question, but it has my heart sinking. “I haven’t thought about it.”
“Then why do you look so sad right now?”
“I don’t know if Cash is the marrying type.”
Angie waves me off. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you. It’s in the cards.”
“He doesn’t look at me like that at all.”
“Piper. Please. Of course he does. That is the look of love. He is head over heels for you. Well, head over skates,” she says on a laugh.
Love? There is no way it’s the look of love.
I can’t love Cash. I couldn’t possibly be in love with him, could I? I told myself I couldn’t fall for him. Cash isn’t the boyfriend type. We’re only doing this so he can bounce back in the eyes of the press so it helps him with the team.
Cash doesn’t do love. He’s told me as much. I don’t want to get my hopes up.
The music of the bar presses in around me, bringing me back to reality.
“Even if we do, it’s a long way off.”
“I told Troy that. That I wanted to wait to get married.”
“And you got married, what, after his second season?”
She nods, tucking a stray strand of dark hair behind her ear. “I didn’t know why I was waiting. It was ridiculous.”
“I’m only twenty-two. I’m in no rush.”
Even if I did want to marry Cash, and I’m not saying I do, it feels too young to get married. I’m not even done getting my master’s degree yet. There’s still so much I want to do.
“I won’t keep bugging you about it,” Angie tells me. “We have an All-Star Game tonight!”
“That we do!”
I swallow down the rest of my old fashioned and put more excitement into my voice than I feel. Because Angie has all sorts of thoughts swirling around in my head.
Love.
Marriage.
Cash.
All the things that the two of us won’t get. Because Cash Williams is a lone wolf. Someone who doesn’t need anyone.
If only Cash could need me.
“We should get going if we’re going to beat the crowds.”
“Let’s go.”
I slip into my jacket, letting it hang open over Cash’s jersey. Because even if we’re going to be done soon, I am still proud to be his.
Even for a little while.