Tomorrow #2
“Look…” Cheyenne blew out a breath, raising one of her rogue curls away from her face, “I know what you’re thinkin’ because about a year ago, I was you.”
I vaguely remembered her mentioning something like that the morning after the fire—which was still pending investigation. But still—probably another subconscious attempt to stall—I asked, “What do you mean?”
“I was a drifter my whole life. We moved around a lot after my mom left my dad. He traveled a lot for work. I loved the freedom I felt, being able to start somewhere fresh. New town. New people. When I got pregnant with my ex’s baby, I tried to run.
God, I tried so many different times throughout my pregnancy. ”
Cash had told me some of the details about how Mav and Cheyenne came to be a couple. But I’d never heard it straight from the source.
Cheyenne went on before I could even come up with a response.
“My ex didn’t want me to keep the baby. When he first found out, he threatened me.
I tried to run then, but Maverick convinced me to stay.
When my ex found out I was keepin’ it, he tried to hit me…
in public. Maverick nearly bashed his skull in. ”
“Really?”
She blew out a breath. “I left the next mornin’…
it nearly broke him. Hell, it nearly broke me.
” I didn’t miss the way her eyes turned glassy or how she looked skyward, probably to hide her tears.
“I thought he was better off without me. He’s the best man I know, and I didn’t feel like I deserved him.
I got to Dallas before turnin’ back around. ”
“What made you decide to stay?” I asked, and, damn me, but was that hope trembling in my voice?
Maybe I could make this work. Maybe I was being stupid and hard-headed. I’d never felt like this before. A part of me wanted to stay. Not just because of Cash, but also because of the friendships I’d built, the family I’d weaseled my way into, the job I had. I liked being here.
Cheyenne’s words cut through my thoughts. “I was more afraid to live without him, than I was to stay. For the first time, I didn’t want to run.”
God, it’s like she was speaking straight to my fucking soul. Tears pricked in my eyes, the weight of her piercing stare crushing as it landed on me. And for a moment, I didn’t see her, but I saw myself.
Even in the face of reason, though, I couldn’t help but be a stubborn little bitch. I didn’t know how to shut it off. How to not be like this. It was just second-nature.
“Cash will get over me. This isn’t even anything serious. Better to cut the cord now than prolong it any longer.”
Cheyenne shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not. I’ve known Cash for a while, and while, yes, the guy’s a playboy through and through, somethin’s changed. He’s different with you.”
I huffed and rolled my eyes, not really knowing what to say.
“Take it from someone who knows firsthand, if you leave, you’re gonna regret it.”
“You don’t know me,” I managed to croak out.
To my surprise, a smile tugged on her lips.
Dear God, she was pretty. When she smiled it reminded me of Cash.
Bright and brilliant, like the sun. She was pure sunshine.
But even as pretty as she was, the knowing look in her eyes made me all the more annoyed.
“Look, in the end, you’re the one who has to make the decision,” she said.
“But if you plan to leave, do it before you break his heart.”
“That was the plan until you came out here,” I huffed.
She nodded. “Good luck, Ollie.”
I muttered out a response, but she was already walking away. I wondered now if she even had planned to call Violet or if it had just been an excuse to come out and talk to me.
Who was she to tell me what I should and shouldn’t do? I didn’t need her judging me anymore than my own mind already was.
Anger bubbled and writhed inside me, like water boiling in a pot. This was exactly why I was better off alone. Get too close, too comfortable with people and they felt like they had a say in your decisions, your happiness.
I’d managed to take care of myself my entire life. I didn’t have anyone to depend on from the time I was a little kid. No one to call when things went to shit. No one to hold me through the night or reassure me that things would be okay. I had me. And at the end of the day that’s all that mattered.
Glancing at my phone, I typed in the address to Mercenary Ranch and searched for an Uber. I clicked on the first car I saw, put in my payment info, and hovered my thumb over the confirm button.
I was so dumb. So stupid and hopeful and ignorant of the feelings I had for Cash. Soon, I’d be gone. Out of his life.
He’d be better off without me.
My chest felt heavy and hollow all at once. An annoying little voice whispered a single word in my mind. Over and over and over.
Stay.
Tears hung in my eyes and I bit back a curse. Stop it. It’s the right thing to do.
I looked at my phone once more—at the blurry button from my tears plopping onto the screen.
We were supposed to be celebrating Cash. Was I really going to just disappear during his birthday and ruin the night for everyone else? I might be cold, callous, selfish, but I wasn’t that cruel.
I’d give him this one night. One parting gift. I’d let everyone think I was fine, let him think things were okay, and tomorrow I’d leave.
Tomorrow.
One could argue that might be more cruel, but I didn’t dwell on it long. Not when that familiar, whiskey smooth voice cut through the silence of the night. “There you are, sugar. I’ve been lookin’ all over for you.”
I didn’t turn to face him right away, but instead sucked in a lungful of crisp, cold air. It’d dropped drastically in temperature from the daytime. One of the odd beauties of Texas weather. You could have a forty degree temperature fluctuation in less than twenty-four hours.
“Ollie?” I noted the concern in his voice, wishing he wouldn’t show me such tenderness. I didn’t deserve it.
I turned to face him, a smirk coming to my lips as I looked him up and down. He was shirtless, revealing sculpted muscles that I longed to trace with my fingertips, my tongue. His hat sat a bit crooked on his head, his cheeks rosy even in the dim light, and his eyes looking a bit glassy.
Definitely drunk.
“Well, looks like you’ve been having fun without me,” I drawled.
He pulled me to him, capturing my mouth in his. He tasted of whiskey and those snickerdoodles his mom made that he’d been snacking on all night. Cookies and alcohol, the perfect combo.
“I’d be havin’ a lot more fun with you, sugar,” he said, pulling back to rest his forehead against mine.
“Too much more fun and you’re not gonna be able to enjoy your present tonight.”
Something sparked in his gaze, some of the glassiness vanishing entirely. “Present? My birthday ain’t for four more days.”
I nipped at his bottom lip, brushing a hand over his rippling muscles. “Call it an early gift.”
He snaked his hand in my hair and bit his lip before pressing his mouth to mine. “We can go to my room. No one will come lookin’ for a bit.”
I laughed. As much as my body craved the thought of having him right now, I didn’t want to feel rushed.
It was selfish, but I wanted to make this last as long as possible.
One last dance. One last fuck. One last, long night in his arms. “I don’t want you for just a bit, Big Daddy. I wanna take my time with you.”
“Well, looks like the party's over.” He pulled me to him once more and kissed me. Rough. Fierce. It was almost enough to sway me. But I wouldn’t fall for his charms.
“Not yet,” I breathed, drawing back enough to look up at him. “I want to spend time with our friends. Together.”
His brow crooked upward. “Together. Like…together together?”
“Don’t think harder than you have to.” I patted his chest. “You might lose the last few brain cells you have.”
His crow of laughter melted me. I knew what I was doing was horrible, but I’d be gone soon enough. For a few more hours, he deserved to be happy.