Page 130 of Pinch of Love

Chapter Thirty-Three

Maya

I’d never seen Grandma Millie look so disappointed in me. Her expression clung to my soul as Grace and Izzy tried to persuade me to stay.

To give it time.

But they didn’t understand that Rob’s breaking into my rental and scaring me to death wasn’t what made me want to go home.

It was that Cash had to be the one to pick up the pieces,mypieces.

Again.

It wasn’t fair to him.

I almost got his dog killed, for crying out loud.

My life’s problems weren’t going to get easier, especially now that Rob was in jail.

Cash didn’t need to be a part of that.

He might seem gruff and rough around the edges, but the guy had a spirit that reached deep.

I didn’t want to be the one who broke it.

The only problem was that my sister had booked a flight out here at the end of the month. We’d planned it so I could see her before returning to North Carolina. So, that meant I’d have to come back to Buttercup Lake.

It was our one chance to be together as sisters, and it had been a long time. We needed to figure out what to do with Mom’s ashes. I knew I’d be back.

But I’d definitely be staying at the lodge.

My rideshare finally pulled up in front of the house. I looked around the foyer, and all the emotions from the first time I walked inside came rushing back. The excitement, the grief, and the headaches from my ex, and the grumpy landlord.

My heart tugged as I thought about Cash.

His beautiful green eyes always felt like they were peeling back my layers and getting to the heart of my issue—no matter what it was. Which was exactly why I couldn’t let him see my weakness when I told him I was leaving.

I knew he’d read between the lines, and he’d know I wasn’t doing it for myself. I was doing it for him.

Then he’d convince me to stay, and he’d be fine.

But it was too big of a risk.

I opened the door as the woman walked up to the front of the house.

“Hey,” she said, glancing at my bags. “Need any help?”

I nodded. “That would be great.”

“So, you’re a fan of Disneyland and Minnie? I love her too.” She rolled my largest bag through the door, and I didn’t bother to correct her.

Instead, I thought about Cash.

The way his lips tugged into an unrelenting smile when I teased him, or the way his eyes lit up when he’d talk about his projects.

I pulled my smaller bags out the door and closed it behind me.

“Going to Disneyland?” she asked as I put the last of the luggage into the trunk.