Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Chapter 39
Cash
She didn’t ask for space again.
She didn’t tell me I wasn’t worthy of her love.
She didn’t tell me to get lost or that we’ll talk about it later.
My feet freeze on the sidewalk.
Why am I walking away?
I don’t even bother reaching for the door handle of my truck.
My strides back to her are purposeful, and thankfully, I catch her before she goes back inside the store.
“Ads!”
She turns her attention toward me, and I swear she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
“I love you,” I blurt, the words so easy on my tongue.
Her smile is soft, her eyes watery, making her look like she’s on the verge of tears.
“I know you hate public displays of affection. I want you to know that I know that, but if I don’t kiss you right now, I’m going to—”
Her lips crash against mine, her hands tangling in my long hair, with a bite of pain I find that I quite enjoy.
My tongue sweeps against hers without hesitation, and the rumble of a moan escapes her chest and slides inside of me, arrowing straight below the belt.
I should probably stop. This isn’t the place for this, but my body and brain somehow aren’t connected.
“How many news outlets do you think would show up if the police chief is arrested for lewd behavior in public?”
Adalynn smiles against my mouth at the sound of Madison’s voice.
“We aren’t being lewd,” I argue, my eyes still on my girl.
Adalynn, as if to prove the point, rolls her hips against mine, her lower belly scraping against the erection forming in my jeans.
“Jesus, I need you,” I mutter, my hand cupping the side of her face.
She chews the inside of her cheek as if trying to decide what to do.
“Not here, obviously,” I mutter, clearing my throat as I take a step back.
“I went ahead and bought this for you,” Madison says as she steps closer.
Instead of handing the small bag to Adalynn, she hands it to me.
“So you can umm, hide that whole situation,” she says, waving her hand at my crotch, making it obvious to anyone watching just what the hell she’s talking about.
Adalynn’s face flashes cherry red, her cheeks heating with embarrassment as her eyes dart around.
Most of the businesses here have massive, inviting, glass-paned windows, making it easy for everyone who looks out of them to see us.
Instead of looking over at her friend, Adalynn keeps her eyes on me.
“I always said I didn’t like PDA because I was trying to tell you that it would be okay for you to kiss me in private.”
I tilt my head to the side.
“But you’re not very quick on the uptake,” Madison adds.
“How long?” I ask, trying not to get upset. “How long have you felt this way about me?”
Her cheeks turn redder.
“Adalynn,” I say, a warning in my tone as I lick my lips.
Her eyes drop there, and it’s like we’re playing a game of cat and mouse, and there’s a glint of mischievousness in her eyes right out here, on the sidewalk, in the middle of town with witnesses abound.
“For a while,” she confesses.
“Years,” Madison clarifies. “She was writing Mrs. Cash Tucker in her diary in junior high.”
“You were doing the same with Chase,” she snaps, as if they’re both back in school and tattling on each other.
“And look at us now,” Madison says, her hand cradling the small roundness of her belly. “Pregnant by our teenage obsessions.”
My heart skips a beat as I look at Adalynn. This time, the chewing of her lower lip is a nervous response, not one filled with timidness or arousal.
“Ads?”
She swallows, her throat working with the effort of it before she speaks, but she doesn’t direct her attention back to me.
“Should I just go home so you can tell him everything?” She glares at Madison for a response, but her friend doesn’t back down.
“You told me that you needed me to be the person who won’t let you back down. I’ve spent months watching the two of you be miserable all because you were too afraid to speak up. I’ve pushed you in Cash’s direction and Walker has done the same with him.” She waves her arm at me with frustration. “I say years because that’s how long this has been going on. I never said anything to him. I let the two of you attempt to work through that stuff, but no more. You love each other. You’re meant to be with each other. I think that it’s time—oh shit, he doesn’t look happy.”
Both Adalynn and I turn our attention to the street, just in time to see Donnie walking toward us. He looks like he’s ready to pull my arms from my body.
“Donnie, listen,” I begin as he gets closer, but his hands lift.
I squint my eyes closed because the man is going to knock my lights out, but I’ll just have to take it. I’m not going to ruin my chances with Adalynn because of a fistfight with one of her brothers.