“Right.” Cash nodded. “We should probably go then.”
Chloe wailed as Jonathan sang along to a song that played on the cartoon.
“You go take care of that sweet baby. We’ll let ourselves out, and I’ll lock the door behind me.” Cash and I rose to our feet, and I pulled Liv into a brief hug while Chloe squalled.
“Thank you both for coming.” Liv said, kissing me on the cheek. “Seriously, you guys are lifesavers.”
“Anytime.” Cash squeezed her shoulder.
“Tell Mama to stop being a little b-i-t-c-h.” I grinned as I spelled out the word.
“Jonathan, come take a potty break while I change your sister.” Liv grabbed the remote, bringing the show to a freeze frame. She held out her hand to the boy. “I paused the show, and you can finish it in a minute. Say bye to Ella and Cash.”
Jonathan reluctantly took her hand. “Bye Ella. Bye Cash.”
“Bye, buddy.” Cash waved at him.
“Love y’all,” Liv said over her shoulder as she steered the little boy from the room with Chloe howling in her arms. “Thanks again.”
“Love you too,” I said as she disappeared from the room.
I turned to Cash who shoved his hands in his pockets. “Ready?”
He followed me out the front door, and I locked it behind us. “That was a close one, huh?”
Cash nodded, but didn’t say anything else as we started down the walk. When we got to the car, Cash placed his hand on the passenger door handle. “You know, you were right back there.”
“About what?”
“What you said to Liv.” He tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. “About how even if you’re afraid of losing someone, you’ll never regret giving them all of you.”
I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out. Instead, I kissed his cheek as he unlocked the door for me. As we made the drive back to my house, I laced my fingers through his and wondered if maybe, just maybe, I was right.
Fourteen
Cash
“Thanks again for going with me.”Ella squeezed my hand as we pulled to a stop in front of her house. “And for saving my washing machine. And for breakfast. You’re kind of my own personal hero. Like Captain America but withwaymore useful skills.”
I chuckled. “And what skills do I have that could possibly be better than Captain America's?”
She unbuckled her seat belt without removing her hand from mine. “I mean, I don’t think Captain America is doing things like replacing inlet valves or making breakfast.”
“Because he’s too busy saving innocent people from the bad guys.” I unbuckled as well and opened my door as she started fishing her keys out of her bag. “That’s a pretty epic life skill.”
“That’s fair,” she replied, “but I’d rather eat. If the bad guys come for me, I already know I’m going to die. I probably had it coming anyway. Just let them kill me, but let me eat first.”
I laughed as I rounded the SUV and opened the door for her. “So, the way to your heart is through your stomach?”
“Absolutely. Especially now that Liv’s all husbanded up and Grace is out of the country. Who do you think has fed me all these years?”
“You don’t ever cook?” I asked as we meandered up the walkway.
She shook her head. “The kitchen is mostly just for show. My signature dishes include lightly charred pizza rolls and anything UberEats delivers.” Ella grinned at me as we came to a stop at her front door. “So…”
“So,” I repeated, a smile spreading across my lips as I shoved my hands in my pockets. “It almost feels like I’m dropping you off after a date.”
She pressed her lips together and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “Therewasa shared meal, and that whole mouse thing was as good as any movie I’ve ever been to. It was practically dinner and a show.”
