Chapter 21 Jillian
Jillian
“Selling your coffee shop would be purely voluntary,” Cash soothed me. “Don’t believe these lies. This isn’t some power move on my part. Of course Frankie told you in the worst, most hysterical way. I’m only hoping to be able to convince you to think about the possibilities.”
“Of selling Perk Up & Read?”
“Darling, you know we’ve talked about moving away. . . to a bigger city. . .”
“I know we’ve discussed it, but not made anything like a decision!”
“I just want the best life for you and Blue.”
“And you don’t think it’s here in Ramshackle Bay?”
Cash eyed me, as if figuring out his next move. “Certainly not. I have enjoyed my time as mayor, but there’s too much. . .baggage here. For both of us,” he added.
“I’ve built up Perk Up & Read from nothing,” I said, wanting to make him understand. “It’s making good money, too. And I think Ramshackle Bay is only going to grow bigger. There’s so many possibilities here. We don’t have to leave to have a good life.”
“I know you like your little shop, but the Beachy Peachy Dreams Corporation is talking about giving me a job,” Cash said. “A big one. We’re talking like VP of the company. With all that money, you wouldn’t even need to work.”
“I like working,” I protested. “I like running the coffee shop.”
“Who are you going to trust?” he asked, running a rough finger down my cheek. Your loving partner or the weakling ex who cheated on you?”
“That’s not fair,” I said. “That’s not what this is about.”
“What if I went to the big city first, scouted things out for a few months, made sure we found a good place that you’d love?”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“How could you even think about leaving Blue for that long?” I asked sharply.
“Honey, it wouldn’t be that long. Just until I made enough money to convince you to move over, too. And you know she won’t remember anything from these days.”
“You’re already working such long hours at the mayor’s office,” I said. “And now you want to spend even more time away from her! These are memories you can’t get back!”
“I’ll try to do better about that,” he said, pulling me into his arms, “if that’s what you want. And hopefully I wouldn’t have to be gone too long.”
But I didn’t want him to spend time with Blue only because I wanted it. She was his child, too!
Cash was anxious to make sure I wasn’t upset with him, and that night I let him pleasure me as I lay back languidly, but through my leisurely orgasm haze a very unwelcome thought intruded.
Here was Frankie totally unwilling to move on, to leave town, to even grant me a divorce, while Cash was openly talking about moving away and a big separation!
Damn him!