Page 42 of Cash
A pause stretched between us.“Cash?”she asked simply.
Heat crept up my neck at the knowing tone in her voice.“Yeah,” I admitted, seeing no point in lying.
“Be there in five.”
True to her word, Pippa appeared at my door minutes later, wearing pajama pants and a Kiss of Death sweatshirt she’d probably stolen from Gunnar.Her hair was pulled into a messy bun, but her eyes were alert and kind.
“Go,” she said, gesturing toward the hallway with a gentle shooing motion.“Lily will be fine.She’s been sleeping straight through since she got back.”
I hesitated at the door.“Are you sure?I don’t know how long --”
“Eliza,” Pippa interrupted, placing her hands on my shoulders.“Take your time.You deserve this.”Her expression softened.“He’s a good man.I’ll stay with Lily and call you if she wakes up.Whether she asks for you or not.OK?”
I nodded, unable to form words around the lump in my throat.“I put some blankets and a couple of pillows on the couch.”
She hugged me to her for a brief moment.“You go on.I’ve got this.”
I stepped out into the hallway, leaning against the wall as my heart pounded against my ribs.I pulled out my phone again and messaged.Cash called me back immediately.
“Eliza?Everything all right?”His voice rumbled through the line, concern evident in every syllable.
“Everything’s fine,” I assured him quickly.“I promise.I just… Can I come see you?To talk?”
The brief pause sent my stomach plummeting until he spoke again.“Come on up.I’ll meet you in the hall outside the elevator.”
True to his word, Cash was waiting by the elevator when the doors slid open on his floor.He wore worn jeans and a faded black T-shirt stretching across his broad shoulders.His hair was slightly mussed, as if he’d been running his hands through it.
“Hey,” he said, his voice soft in the quiet hallway.
“Hey,” I replied, suddenly unsure what to do with my hands.
He gestured toward his apartment door.“Come on in.”
His room was near the elevator and he quickly opened the door, ushering me inside.His shoulders held visible tension as if he tried very hard to appear calm.
“Can I get you anything?”he asked, hovering near the small kitchen.“Coffee?Water?”
“No, I’m fine,” I replied, perching on the edge of his sofa.My fingers twisted together in my lap, betraying my nervousness.
Cash sat on the opposite end of the sofa, his body angled toward mine.The space between us felt charged with everything unsaid.He studied my face carefully, as if searching for clues about why I was there.
“Is Lily OK?”he asked finally, breaking the silence.
“She’s fine,” I assured him.“Sleeping.Pippa’s with her.”
He nodded, his relief visible.“And you?How are you doing with everything?”
I almost laughed at the impossibility of answering such a simple question.“I’m…” I searched for words.“I’m figuring it out.One day at a time.”
Cash nodded again, his eyes never leaving my face.“I know you will.You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met, Eliza.”
The sincerity in his voice made my throat tight.We lapsed into silence again, the real reason for my visit hovering between.
“Cash, I didn’t come because of another crisis,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt.“I came because I wanted to see you.”I twisted my fingers together in my lap.“I’m sorry about the way I left before.You did exactly what I wanted, then I…”
“Hey.”He moved close enough to be able to rest his big hand over my clenched ones.“No apologies.Especially not about trying to do what’s best for Lily.You have a lot going on.Just know I’m here when you need me.For anything.”
“I know,” I whispered.“And I appreciate your support.”I took a breath.“Cash, is there any possibility of things going further between us?I mean…” I swallowed nervously.“Part of the reason I left so suddenly was because I knew I could see myself with you.Tangled in the sheets each morning.Sitting down to breakfast before we all went about our day.”I glanced up at him.“Sitting on the couch holding hands while we watch some silly TV show with Lily.”
