by Amanda Cowen
He raises a brow, “Harvard, huh.”
I shrug, “Yeah.”
“That’s halfway across the country,” he frowns. “What about studying at USC?”
“I’ve already received an offer of admission from USC,” I say. “But I don’t want to go there. I want to go to Harvard.”
I think I hear him exhale in one long, tense breath.
"What about you?” I ask, “Is your goal to end up back on the Tornados?"
He nods, taking a sip of water and stretching his legs out in front of him. “Yeah, but before I can get back to the majors I’ve got to shake my bad rap. It’s not easy to convince people you’re something else other than what they want you to be.”
I chew my lip and contemplate my response, “You go along with your bad rap because it’s easier that way?”
“I’ve never had anything to make me want to change,” he says.
“And now?” I ask.
“I’m working on it.”
I can feel the way his eyes linger on me, and can't resist looking back at his face. He takes a deep breath, relaxing his shoulders, and his lips push out in an edible pout. My cheeks grow warm and pink from the soft sincerity in his voice. I’m not some conquest to him. He truly cares about me. I've never been more aware of it than I am right this very moment.
The limo comes to a stop and Cash smiles one of his most charming grins. He picks up my hand, brings it to his mouth and kisses my knuckles. “Ready?”
I nod following the path his eyes have taken. We’ve arrived downtown Thompson. It’s perched on a hill overlooking the ocean. A fishing trawler is far out on the calm waters. The sun is shining down on the pastel colored buildings and blue harbor. At the mouth of the harbor is a lighthouse in the distance. The main street is closed off to traffic, and white vendor’s tents line the sidewalk. People are walking around, and every vendor has different types of antiques, crafts, and produce for sale.
Turning to face him, I squeal and kiss him on the cheek. “A farmer’s market?”
Cash laughs, looking down at me. “You like making jewelry. So I thought you might like the farmer’s market. It’s crafty. There’s some great second hand stuff you might be able to reuse for jewelry making.”
“Cash, I’m so excited.” I say, and step out of the limo.
His hand slips into mine and tugs me forward. Time flies by as we enjoy the morning walking around and browsing vendors’ tents for cool finds. After an hour of market shopping, we approach a tent full of antique odds and ends. Cash wanders off and browses through a case of vintage records as I walk in the opposite direction toward something that catches my eye. I let my fingers run across a heavy gold plated chain hanging on a peg board. I twirl it in my fingers and find the etching on the clasp – 24k gold. My eyes widen at the price on the tag. It’s a steal of a deal.
Cash slides in behind me, wraps his arms around my waist and whispers into my hair, “See something you like?”
I spin in his arms and face him. "I do now."
There's a hint of a smirk on his lips. “Come with me. There’s something I’d like to show you.”
I follow him to the other side and over to a cluttered shelf I bypass on my first trip around the tent. My skin hums with warmth. I like that he’s enjoying this as much as I am.
He picks up an old box of odds and ends and says, “Check out this mishmash of jewelry I found.”
I peer inside the wooden box, speechless at the amount and quality of vintage jewelry staring back at me. I pick up a yellow beaded necklace with a gold patterned pendant. It’s beautiful. It reminds me of a necklace my mother wore. It’s has an element of sophistication and class, yet there is a bohemian feel to it.
“Think you could re-use some of these pieces?” Cash asks.
I nod and pick up a silver chain with a turquoise rock pendant. “Yes, everything in this box is amazing. What’s the price on it?”
Cash looks at the tag, “Seventy-five dollars for the whole box.”
“Wow. That’s a lot.” I frown and put the jewelry back inside.
He takes the box from my hands and shoves it under his arm. “Keep looking. I’ll be right back.”
He walks away from me and over to a tall thin man in a pair of jean overalls. I turn away and continue to dig through the shelves. I’m disappointed when I don’t find anything remotely impressive as the box Cash showed me. Moments later I feel a finger tap my shoulder. I turn around to face Cash. He’s holding out the box of vintage jewelry with a sold sticker on it.
“Make me something pretty,” he winks.
“You bought it for me?” I pause for a moment, but it’s long enough for him to place it in my arms. “I can’t accept this from you.”
"Yes you can," he says with a small laugh and ruffles my hair.
"You're so sneaky. I can’t believe —" I swallow — "Thank you Cash."
He smiles at me. “I would do anything to make you happy.” When he says it, I hear the sincerity in his voice. Cash takes my hand in his and guides me over to a grassy area overlooking the ocean. He stares out at the harbor and inhales the crisp ocean air.
“I can’t believe you’re here with me,” he says, smiling down at me.
“I can’t believe it either.” I tell him with a bit more mocking tone in my voice. “And yet, here I am, risking everything to spend a weekend with you.”
“It must be my good looks,” he teases.
I shake my head, laughing. “Your modesty never ceases to amaze me.”
He winks. “Of course that’s not all that makes you swoon for me. Don’t forget my kick ass hockey playing, great sense of humor, and the way I make you scream my name.”
I laugh and lean in a bit closer. “You’re right. The last reason especially.”
A beat of silence passes between us. He tilts his head, thinking. His gaze is tangible, a brush of heat across my skin. I bite my lower lip and run my hand up his chest, suggestively.
“Let’s get out of here,” I whisper, looking up at him.
His eyes meet mine and they're smiling, “And where do you propose we go?”
Nodding at him with a sexy little wink, I say, “Back to your place.” I lean in, for dramatic effect, whispering, “I’d like to properly thank you.”
Holding out his hand, Cash gives me his best smile. “Well then…let’s go.”
By the time eight o’clock rolls around, Anna and Jake are knocking on the front door. I hear Cash greet them while I finish getting ready upstairs. Staring at myself in the mirror, I am worried I am not dressed appropriately. I am torn between dressing like I am attending a swanky party California-style or dressing casual to fit in with the Canadian country lifestyle. I eventually decide to lose the turquoise statement necklace and add a long plain silver chain making adjustments to my outfit to bring it somewhere in between. My black skinny jeans, a pair of heels, and flowing coral top should work.
I fix a few of my curls and smear a layer of gloss on my lips before heading down the stairs. When my foot hits the bottom step, I hear Anna’s voice say, “What do you mean you haven’t told her?”
“That’s enough, Anna.” I shiver from the steeliness of his voice. “Stay out of it.”
Rounding the corner, my feet cause the floorboards to creak and six eyes dart in my direction. Anna gives me a forced grin and clears her throat. Jake’s arms are crossed in front of his chest. He looks nervous. I glance up at Cash and he refuses to make eye contact with me. The lines on his forehead deepen with every awkward beat of silence.
“Tell me what?” I ask, stepping into the foyer. “Is everything okay?”
“Nothing. It’s not about you.” Cash shoots a look at Anna. “Everything is fine.”
When his eyes find mine, he freezes and slowly takes in my appearance.
“Christ,” he mutters and trails his eyes down my body once again. “You’re wearing that to the party?”
“Why don’t you like it? Is it too casual?” I ask.<
br />
Cash runs his hand through his hair and lets out a sigh that sounds both frustrated and amused.
“I think what Cash is trying to say is that you look smoking hot,” Anna gets up from the sofa, glaring at Cash as she walks toward me in a pair of tiny white shorts, a black halter top, and brown leather cowboy boots. “But you know guys, it’s hard to tell your female friend that she looks stunning.”
Her emphasis on the word friend confuses me. Did Cash not tell her what is going on between us? Is she jealous?
“Uh, thank you,” I reply, warily.
Jake stands up and twirls his keys in his fingers. “You ready, Quinn?”
I nod, shifting my eyes between Anna and Cash. The grumpy look on his face is hard to ignore. What is going on?
“We better get going,” Anna says, all smiles. “I promise tonight is going to be so much fun, Quinn.” She gives me a wink and then she glares at Cash again.
He scowls back at her and opens the door. I let Anna and Jake ahead of me because Cash is acting strange and it worries me. He seems anxious and agitated, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s something I did.
“Everything okay?” I ask. “Anna looks like she wants to kill you, and you’re not much better. Did you have a fight I missed?”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing.” He turns his back to me, his shoulders hunched and body strung tight.
“What’s nothing?” I shout behind him, unsatisfied with his dismissal. There are too many things he refuses to talk about. “What are you hiding?”
He stops dead in his tracks and turns around, slowly. “Quinn, I said its nothing. Anna doesn’t know how to mind her own business. She never has. Don’t worry about it.”
My heart sinks. There it is again. He is hiding something from me, and whatever he is hiding will keep me from ever getting too close to him. Obviously it’s more important to him to keep me out than it is to be with me. My dad was right—boys don’t get you anywhere.
Expect heartache.
Defeated in my own internal battle, I let out a deep sigh. “Fine. Whatever. Consider it dropped.” I brush past him, moving down the porch, across the lawn and over to the truck with tears stinging my eyes. I blink them back and tell myself that he will not ruin my night.
Ten minutes later, we pull up to a ranch-style home situated along a large lake. Trucks are parked all over the grass, loud country music blares and the smell of barbeque and bonfire fills my nose. Anna grabs my hand and pulls me to her side. “Have you ever done a keg-stand before?”
“No. I’m not much of a drinker.” I yell over the noise.
“Well, I suggest you get ready to try one tonight,” Anna shouts back with a smile.
We walk up the pebbly driveway and step onto porch. Jake pushes open the front door and leads us into the entranceway. The home is packed wall to wall with partygoers. Beer kegs are lined up on the kitchen floor and guys are tipping girls upside down to chug.
At first no one notices our arrival, until a few guys from the party welcome Anna and Jake. Once those guys recognize Cash, they embrace him in a hug and tell him how good it is to see him. He neglects to introduce me to his old buddies and barely glances in my direction. Suddenly, people start noticing his presence and everyone turns their attention to him.
“Let’s get you some shots. We have plenty of time to introduce you to everyone at the party. I’m thinking Sambuca,” Anna says, peeling me away from Cash’s side.
I look back at him, but he is talking with some tall and lanky guy with curly blonde hair, ignoring me completely. His sudden shift in demeanor is confusing. Today he couldn’t keep his hands off me and now he is acting like I don’t even exist.
I let out a sigh. “Oh, no thank you -”
“You’re at a party. You have to drink something.”
Anna leads us over to the kitchen and yanks open the cupboard, pulling out two shot glasses. She reaches for the open bottle of Sambuca on the counter and fills our glasses to the rim.
“Ready?” She picks up her glass and grins. I watch as she puts it to her lips and tilts her head back. I hate drinking, but I will make this one exception. I don’t want to rub Anna the wrong way. One drink won’t kill me. Besides, Cash seems to be having a great time without me. Might as well show him I can have a great time without him too. Seconds later, I do the same. I put down the empty glass and smile at her.
I cough, still feeling my throat burn. “It’s awful.”
“Want to shoot another?” Anna asks.
I am about to respond with a firm no, when from the corner of my eye I spot Cash across the room laughing with a booty-licious blonde whose hand is resting on his bicep. My chest tightens and I want to take off my shoe and whip it at him…or her.
“Yeah, hit me with another.” I let Anna pour us another shot.
“Hey, Anna, aren’t you going to introduce us to your new friend?” asks a tall guy with long brown hair that is tucked behind his ears. He is wearing a red and black flannel shirt and really worn-out blue jeans. He looks like he hasn’t shaved in a few days and has one of those panty- dropping smiles. His eyes move from me to Anna, then back to me.
His friend has short red hair and a pair of really emerald green eyes. His gray t-shirt doesn’t really leave much for imagination and his broad chest is really nice to look at. A small smile is on his lips as he takes a sip from his beer bottle.
“Boys, this is Quinn. She works for the Bexley Bruisers. She came with Cash.”
The one with long brown hair holds out his hand. “Hi, I’m Greer.”
I slip my hand into his and shake it. “Nice to meet you, Greer.”
“I’m Billy. My brother Mike is the one throwing this outrageous party,” the redhead says, giving me a wink.
I nod in his direction. “Nice to meet you too, Billy.”
“Alright boys, give her some air,” Anna says in a playful tone.
“Don’t be jealous Anna.” Greer smiles and takes a sip of his beer.
Anna rolls her eyes at him.
“I’m guessing you’re here strictly on business.” Billy nods his head in Cash’s direction.
A tiny brunette is perched on the edge of the living room sofa and I feel my heart sink as I watch his finger run up the length of her bare forearm. Unease spreads throughout my stomach and insecurity pulls at my heart strings.
Old habits die hard. I think to myself, feeling my blood heat and bubble as it rushes in my ears.
I tear my eyes off of Cash and the girl’s arm and slam my second shot of Sambuca. “Yeah, something like that.”
“Come on, let’s go dance,” Anna says and leads us over to the dance floor. “You guys want to join us?” she shouts at Greer and Billy over her shoulder.
They both nod and follow us to the makeshift dance floor set up in the middle of the living room. For the next hour I watch Cash from the corner of my eye fend off girls and collect his winnings from anybody who challenges him at a game of pool. Each time he catches my eye, I look away from him, pissed that he has not once acknowledged my presence since we arrived.
The song switches to an upbeat country song and Billy lets out a ye-haw and moves in closer, placing his hand on the small of my back. I reach out for Anna’s hand and spin under her arm to slide away from his touch.
“Dance with me,” Billy says with an impish grin and his hand outstretched to me.
As I open my mouth to tell him no, I spot Cash leaning over some random girl with one too many freckles on her face, showing her how to hold a pool cue. With her backside pushed up against his crotch and the way they laugh together when she misses her shot, it makes my stomach turn. Mortified, I don’t think twice when I grab Billy’s hand and let him twirl me under his arm. If Cash wants to pretend that I don’t exist, I’ll show him what it feels like to be non-existent. When Billy brushes up behind me and starts to grind up against my backside, I let him, seeing Cash’s fists clench.
“Have you ever been to Newfoundlan
d before?” Billy asks, lowering his head to my ear so I can hear him.
I shake my head. “This is my first time in Canada actually.”
He grins. “Do you like it?”
“What I’ve seen so far I like,” I reply.
He slips his hands further down my waist until his fingers are brushing along the curve of my bottom. Feeling a bit uncomfortable, I move closer to Anna and give her a spin under my arm. The last thing I want is for Cash to punch him out. Giving him a taste of his own medicine is one thing, starting an unnecessary brawl, another.
I search the crowd for Cash and I don’t see him anywhere. He is gone and so is the freckled face girl.
“I’m not feeling so well,” I shout into Anna’s ear.
“You know what will help with that, another drink!” She grabs my hand and then looks back at the guys. “We’ll be right back.”
“We’ll be waiting,” Greer says, giving her a wink.
Anna walks us back into the kitchen and pours me another shot of Sambuca. “I know you’re not here on business.” I swallow hard and watch her studying me as she hands me the shot. “I saw you and Cash making out on the porch yesterday. I see the way he looks at you. And the way you look at him. It’s obvious.”
“It’s complicated,” I reply.
“You know; Cash hasn’t been back to Thompson in over a year.”
We click our shot glasses together and pour the clear liquid down our throats. When I look back up, Anna cocks one of her perfectly plucked eyes brows at me. “What’s really going on between you two? Do you even work for the Bruisers or is that some sort of cover?”
I laugh. “Yes, I swear I work for the Bruisers.”
“Then you know about his brother. And Cash’s current situation with Danny? And you’re okay with that?” She cracks open a beer and passes it to me.
“I think I know enough,” I admit, feeling a bit flush from all the shots I’ve taken. “Who’s Danny? Was he involved in the crash too?”
“I shouldn’t have said anything.” Her expression shows nothing but polite concern, but her stream of questions has me back on edge. “I’m not surprised he’s been so aloof. He’s never been one to open up about much of anything. Especially after his brother died. He’s made a lot of reckless decisions. It really messed him up.”