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“Yeah, I can see you processing and know you didn’t even consider that. How about this to chew on, I don’t even know if I want this job. I’m interested, but the idea of not being close to my dad, sisters, Landon, and hell, you and Pen, fucking sucks. Plus, look at this gorgeous house. It’s exactly like I’ve dreamed of it in my head since I first saw it.”
“And the biggest worry I have is taking care of sick kids day in and day out. Sure, I’m good with them, but treating the few really bad ones that come into my ER is rough on me. I carry it with me for days. If I take this job, that would be my reality every day and I don’t know if that’s something I can handle, which you would know if you had TALKED to me instead of deciding to break up with me, but you didn’t.”
I’m completely caught off guard and reeling. I was so sure coming over here that this was what was best for all of us, but now I have no idea. Before I can even say anything, Chayse’s face hardens and my heart sinks because I know I’m not going to like what she has to say.
“So, since you seem to be struggling, let me just take care of this for you. We’re done Cash. I love you, but I deserve better than this. I deserve someone who is willing to talk to me and fight for me. Who won’t push me away the minute things have the potential to get tough. Someone who will stand up and tell me they need me and be there when I need them. I thought that was you, but I was wrong. You’re too busy being afraid to take a chance to see how good we could be, and all of this is because of something that COULD happen, but wasn’t a definite. So, I love you, but I can’t do this, and I know you don’t WANT to.”
“I would like to still be around for Penny, but I understand if that’s something you aren’t comfortable with. Take some time to think about it and let me know.”
“Goodbye, Cash.” Chayse stands and kisses the corner of my mouth before turning to go into her house. She stops for a minute and turns to look back. “Please leave your key on the counter once you guys are done with the house. Reid said it should be ready by the time I get back.”
And with that, she turns and walks into the house. I sit on her swing, my mind reeling. I can’t understand what the fuck just happened, but I can’t sit here any longer. Chayse loves me and she’s done with me, and I have no idea what the fuck I’m supposed to do going forward.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chayse
Cashjustsattherefor a few minutes after I came inside and locked the door. I wanted to scream and rage, but he didn’t deserve to see my tears or hear the pain he caused me. Yes, I technically broke up with him, but as soon as he got out of his truck, I knew that’s exactly what he was coming to do, and I was pissed.
He eventually left and I crumpled into a heap on the floor. I texted my sisters and Landon SOS and it wasn’t long before they were all here. Landon scooped me off the floor and flopped on the couch still holding me. They all let me sit there and cry until there were no more tears.
“What the fuck did he do?” Emerson finally seethed once it was clear I was done crying for the time being.
“Technically, he didn’t do anything. I did. I broke up with him, but only because I knew that’s why he was here, and I was pissed.”
“Explain.” Leave it to Spence to always be the calm and rational one.
I started at the baseball game and explained how upset Penny was when she found out about the job interview and me potentially moving. About how I barely heard from Cash since then, and the weird conversation I had with Reid yesterday before he left about Cash thinking he knows what’s best.
I then told them how I called him out. How I knew he was trying to break up with me, but I’d save him the trouble and do it for him. How he didn’t even consider dating long distance or the fact that I probably wasn’t even going to take the damn job.
I told him I was done because I couldn’t be with someone who wouldn’t talk and choose to fight for me even if it was hard and I loved them. They all sat there and just let it sink in while I played with a string on my shirt. I wasn’t ready to look at any of them yet and see that I might have made a mistake. Landon was the first one to break the silence.
“Good for you, babe. I love Cash and Penny, but you’re right. You deserve someone who isn’t going to walk away at the first sign of trouble. I know he thinks he’s protecting Penny, but he’s using her as an excuse.”
Turning to my best friend, I square my shoulders and look at him. “You think I did the right thing, then?”
“I mean, I wish you didn’t break up, but if he was going to do it anyway, I’m glad you stood up for yourself and demanded better. He knows what you deserve. Now it’s up to him to decide if he’s going to accept this new reality or fight for the best fucking girl out there.”
“Here, here! I couldn’t have said it any better.” Emerson gives my hand a squeeze and a soft smile.
“I’m sorry you’re going through this, but I am also proud of you, sis. Selfishly, I’m going to ask that you don’t let your break up be a deciding factor in regards to this job. I don’t want you running away from us because his head is up his ass. We will all miss you so much, but if you go, I want you to go for the right reasons.”
“Thanks, Spencer. I understand and I promise I won’t run off just because my boyfriend is a jackass. Well, I suppose he’s my ex-boyfriend now.”
“Ugh, why are men so dumb. I’m about two minutes away from going over and kicking his ass. I get he’s scared, but you two are so fucking good together and I’m not ready to give up Penny. I was never in a rush to be an aunt or a mom, but now that I’ve gotten a little taste, I’m not ready to relinquish it.”
“Hopefully you won’t have to give her up. I asked him to let me still be a part of her life. It’s not her fault that he doesn’t want to put in the effort for our relationship. I love her and don’t want to give her up either, but that’s up to him.”
“Well, I’m definitely not giving her up. We have a standing swim lesson date, and I don’t care what he has to say about it. If he tries backing out of it, then I’ll have Reid intervene.” Landon is so haughty that I’m having a hard time not laughing at him.
“Oh, what’s the deal with you and the handsome Reid? Is he gay or just the biggest flirt out there?”
“Nothing, we’re just friends. And he’s actually bi. We love flirting but it hasn’t moved past that. We both valued your relationship and didn’t want to make anything awkward. Plus, with you two sucking face and ditching us all the time, it was nice to have someone else to hang out with who lost their best friend.”
“Hey, you ass! You didn’t lose me, and you know it. I just had a little more of myself to spread around.”
“And spread you sure did!” He cackles before he even gets it out of his mouth and my sisters join in. I’m so glad that they came as soon as I needed them, and they are helping distract me from the spiral I was in.
