Page 137 of Cash

“You’re an all right dancer too. And your coffee is okay.”

He chuckles. “Keep goin’. I like this game.”

“Oh, please, last thing you need is an ego boost. You know how gorgeous and hardworking and sweet and selfless you are, Cash. I don’t need to tell you that.”

He lets his head fall back on the headrest and rolls it to the right so he can smile at me. “But you just did. So I’m gonna tell you how gorgeous and hardworking and caring and genuine you are, Mollie.”

I look away, hoping he doesn’t see how furiously I’m blushing. “You’re just saying that because you’re feeling guilty for possibly knocking me up.”

“You think I feel guilty?”

His phone chimes, making me jump. I look down at the tests.

“One line means negative, right?” Cash asks, squeezing my hand.

“It does, yeah,” I say.

Then I burst into tears. I’m swept up in a rush of emotion.Relief, exhaustion. A little bit of disappointment too, which takes me off guard.

Cash doesn’t hesitate. He scoots over and pulls me into his lap. I curl up there, burying my face in his shirt, and I weep. He wraps his arms around me, holding me tightly against his chest.

“See?” He kisses the crown of my head. “It’s okay, honey. We’re okay.”

We are okay. I’m not at all okay. I’m relieved and sad and happy and terrified.

My life may be in Dallas, but now my heart is in, well, Hartsville. Should’ve seen that one coming.

Cash wasn’t upset when I told him I was late. As a matter of fact, the things he said almost made me thinkhewishes I was pregnant. Ordinarily, that’d raise my hackles.Is this guy trying to tie me down? Hold me back? Keep me barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen?

But I know Cash isn’t that guy. He’s got big dreams, and he respects the big dreams I have too.

I think he just wants a family.

I need to tell him. Now.

Sniffling, I sit up in Cash’s lap. His blue eyes are full when they lock on mine. Full of concern and softness and something else.

Something that makes my breath catch.

“You said you don’t feel guilty.” I swallow the thump of terror in my throat. “About potentially getting me pregnant.”

“I feel bad you were scared. But we’re two consenting adults, having a lot of fun doing…stuff together.”

I laugh, running my finger over the broken-in fabric of his T-shirt. “That stuff is great.”

“Exactly. If something happened because we were enjoying that stuff a little too much…” He closes his mouth. Opens it. His eyes dart to the window.

Holy shit, Cash isnervous. About what?

What ishegoing to confess? I’m suddenly so anxious to know, I’m shaking.

“What if I was pregnant?” I ask softly.

His eyes return to mine. “I respect your timing, Mollie. I’d never push you to do something you weren’t ready for. But if we did make a baby?” His Adam’s apple bobs. “Honey, I’d marry the shit out of you. Not because it’s the right thing to do, but because I’m in love with you.”

I blink, my eyes bulging. Maybe that’s why they fill with tears all over again so quickly.

The timing couldn’t be worse.