Chapter 48 #2
Cash opened his mouth to argue with Ralen, and then he realized he was right. She actually had seemed pretty at ease around him once they’d gotten past a few things. Was it just because she’d been in Little headspace? But no, he didn’t think it was.
Cash shook his head. “This is all crazy. You’re suggesting that I go down to Las Vegas, reply to her text in person, and somehow convince her to move back with me? We barely know each other. We don’t even know if we really have feelings for each other.”
“I can tell you right now that that girl has feelings for you. I guess it’s you that’s got to decide whether you have feelings for her.
And if you don’t, then I think you’re right, the best thing you could do is just let that message go.
I mean, it probably would have been nice to say, ‘Nice to meet you, too. Hope you’re doing well.
’ Something like that but if you don’t have feelings for her, then lose her number.
Forget she ever existed. Because someone like Addie, she needs someone permanent.
She needs someone who is willing to go all the way, who will be one hundred percent in. ”
Cash knew that. That was his fucking point. That was the reason why he wasn’t going to chase after her. Because she certainly deserved more than him, more than he could offer.
“But if you do have real feelings for her, and I think you do, because I’ve never seen you care this much about how you should reply to someone.
If you do have those sorts of feelings for her, then you should fight for her.
You should do whatever you have to do in order to ensure that she is in your life permanently.
Just because you signed allegiance to Dante, didn’t mean you signed over your life to him.
We might have to stay here in Billings and look after Bonnie, but there are worse things we could have to do.
And if she feels as much for you as I think she does, I’m pretty sure she’d move here in a flash. ”
“I’d always be torn, though, wouldn’t I? Between her and Bonnie, or whatever other assignment Dante gave us. And what if I put her in danger by association? Things have been pretty safe for us lately, but that doesn’t mean it always will be.”
“Isn’t that just life, though? You’re always torn, aren’t you?
” Ralen pointed out. “Between family members and your partner, between work and a social life. You just have to find a balance. And we can keep her out of this life. If you tell Dante that you want this girl, that you need her in your life, he won’t stand in your way.
I can guarantee he wouldn’t give you any unsafe assignments.
And Bonnie likes her. Anything Bonnie cares about, Dante cares about by default.
So he’s going to ensure that Addie is kept safe. ”
That was true, and he hadn’t really thought about it that way. Bonnie had seemed to like her.
But this was all supposition. He had no idea if Addie truly would want that. To move here to be with him.
Except that message had made it sound like she really enjoyed her time with him.
He made her feel safe. That was a big one for him. He wasn’t sure that he’d ever made anyone feel safe. There were aspects of his life out of his command.
Now he got to be in control. He got to look after someone else, make sure that they were fed, rested, and cared for.
What if he could have that permanently in his life? But he knew it wasn’t just about having someone. It was about having her.
Addie.
“You really think it could all work? That I could keep her safe from the life we lead? If she wants me, that is?”
“Fuck yeah, it can work. We’ll make it work. Dude, if this is what you want, you should go for it. How often in our lives do we actually get something we want, someone of our own to look after? How often do you get to find love?”
“I didn’t know you were such a believer in love,” Cash said. “And I don’t actually think I said love.”
“You love her. I can tell.”
Smug bastard.
Was what Ralen was saying true, though? Did he love her? He didn’t think it was possible to love someone this quickly. But he thought about her all the time when he wasn’t with her.
And frankly, he wasn’t very happy without her around.
So perhaps it was love. What did he know? It wasn’t like he’d ever been in love before. But if it came down to a choice of having her or not having her, he knew what he would choose. If he could make this happen in a way that she’d be happy and safe, then perhaps he should take that chance.
“Wanna come to Las Vegas with me?” he said to Ralen.
“Hell, yes. Hmm, the only issue will be if Bonnie needs us. Titus is still like a fucking bear with a sore paw. Someone ought to put that man out of his misery,” Ralen muttered.
“It’s just one day,” Cash said. “Maybe one night. I could probably get my brother to cover us with Bonnie.”
“Aidan Savage keeping an eye on Bonnie,” Ralen said. “Hmm, surely Dante couldn’t argue with that, right? And what are the odds something will happen while we’re away?”
“Minuscule. I’ll book the tickets. Do you want to tell Bonnie? Without letting Titus know?”
“Do I want to get something over on Titus? Why, hell yes, I do.”