Page 67 of Unruly

“And I’m not trying to hear about my sister fucking someone younger than me,” he shoots back, but there’s no real bite in it.

I shrug, but the words sit heavier than I want them to. “Yeah. He is.”

My gaze drifts to Cash, who’s standing by the fireplace now, staring into the flames. Aria approaches him quietly, touching his arm. He softens a touch, letting her pull him into a hug, but the walls stay up. Everyone’s been ignoring his attitude tonight, giving space that looks more like avoidance. Rhett’s explosion finally cracked it open, but the scuffle solved nothing.

I wander over to him eventually—drawn, despite myself. “Hey.”

Cash turns, surprise flickering across his face before the scowl returns. “Didn’t think you’d come talk to me after that shitshow.”

“You weren’t exactly charming,” I say dryly, crossing my arms.

He huffs a humorless laugh. “Welcome to Thornwood family dinners. Rhett jumps down my throat and everyone else pretends I’m not here.” His voice drops. “Including you these past couple weeks.”

I flinch. He’s not wrong—I’ve been avoiding him like the plague in person sticking to texts only.

“I’m sorry,” I say, forcing the words out. “I’ve just been overwhelmed with the divorce and getting ready for court. Zach’s been … a lot. It’s not you.”

Cash’s jaw tightens. And for a second, I think he might let it go.

Then, his eyes narrow. “Bullshit.”

I blink. “What?”

“Don’t.” He shakes his head, anger flashing hot across his face. “Don’t use your ex as an excuse when we both know the real reason you’ve been avoiding me. You told me it meant nothing. You told me to leave you alone. Fine. I heard you.”

He turns and starts walking toward the field, shoulders tight.

“Cash, wait⁠—”

He doesn’t stop. “We had a fun time—that’s all it was. Let’s just call it what it is and stop pretending.”

His back is to me as he disappears into the dark, and I stand there, stunned, the doubt creeping in fast and cold.

Maybe he’s right.

We don’t need to be together.

CASH

Iwalk away from her because it’s the only thing that still feels like the right thing to do. I saw the way her face crumpled when I said we weren’t anything—when I told her to let it go. I put that look there, like the self-sabotaging asshole I’ve always been.

She doesn’t need this. She doesn’t need a fucked-up twenty-two-year-old who can’t even sit through a family dinner without starting a war.

I climb into my truck, slam the door, and just sit there in the dark with both hands on the wheel. The engine’s off, and the only sound is my own breathing. I should go back inside. I should apologize to Rhett, to Mom, to everyone I just made it harder for. Instead, I light a cigarette and let the smoke burn my lungs while I stare at the dark fields.

The dinner conversation keeps looping in my head. Mom asking about the divorce. Halle admitting Zach shredded the papers just to fuck with her and now he’s dragging her back to court to split hairs on shit she doesn’t even care about. The way her voice got small when she said it.

That piece of shit is still trying to control her. And what did I do? I told her we were nothing and walked away like a coward.

My hands tighten on the wheel until my knuckles go white. I can’t fix the way I feel about her. I can’t make myself into someone who deserves her. But I can make sure Zachariah Mercer never gets to hurt her again.

I pull my phone out and call Miranda before I can talk myself out of it.

She answers on the second ring. “Cash Thornwood. To what do I owe the pleasure at this hour?”

Miranda’s been in my life since Colt dragged her into it a couple years ago. We met while I was visiting Colt at his college one weekend. It was the same weekend I ended up fucking half a sorority and waking up the next morning with no memory of how I got there. Miranda was the one who found my still-half-drunk ass, picked me up, and gave me a bucket to puke in on the way back to the apartment she shared with Colt.

She’s been a bro ever since. Not to mention, she’s techy as hell, and can figure out almost anything if you give her half a reason and a laptop.