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Cash looks into my eyes and smiles a little. “I’d say so.” He pauses, then adds, “I’ll get you something to change into. My T-shirt should be like a nightshirt for you. And I’ll be right next door. So if you need anything at all, just come in. Or call out.”
Next door? “You never moved into the master suite?”
“Nah. I don’t need that much space.”
Through my exhaustion, I tuck away that little detail. Cash is still staying in his old bedroom, which is very nice, if I recall correctly, but definitely not a place you’d bring a string of women to.
“Hang on.” Cash jumps up. “Before you pass out, let me get you a shirt. I’ll put an extra toothbrush in the bathroom, and tomorrow we can get you all the soaps and everything else you need.”
As he dashes out of the bedroom, I’m left wondering dimly,am I staying here after tonight?
I must have dozed off sitting up because I startle when Cash comes back. “Ari, sorry,” he apologizes, laying the shirt on my lap. “You need some sleep. Is there anything else I can get for you?”
There’s something I’m forgetting. “My work,” I blurt out. “I have to call in. I need to make sub plans, and get online to arrange for a sub, and—”
“Hey.” Cash crouches back down between my legs. “I know the principal at the high school. He works as a volunteer EMT a few times a month. I’ll call him. It’ll be okay.”
“Are you sure?” I’m officially at the end of my proverbial rope.
“I’m sure, Ari. I’ll take care of it.” He gazes at me, so concerned and kind, I could cry from the comfort of it. “Is there anything else? If you think of something in the middle of the night, just let me know.”
I’m weak and tired and my defenses are at zero, otherwise the next words wouldn’t slip out. My voice is small as I ask, “Can I have a hug?”
“Ah, Ari.” His features pinch, pain darkening his gaze. “You don’t have to ask. Of course.”
And as his arms come around me, so gentle—he’s trying not to hurt me—it’s the first time since this whole nightmare began that I feel a little bit okay.
Chapter 4
CASH
This entire night has been surreal.
It started out so normal. My shift at the fire station. Losing at poker. Heading out on a call.
And then everything turned on its side. Showing up to find my Ari—I know she’s notmine, but I’ve known her since she was fourteen, more than half of my life—so hurt and scared. So many emotions. Fear, anger, protectiveness flaring hot—I wanted to hunt down this Sean and fling himonto a road, see how helikes it.
And then beat the crap out of him.
Listening to Ari tell the police about her traumatic experience was one of the worst things I’ve heard.
My Ari, the sweet woman who loves her students and spends hours of her own time helping them after school, who always remembers to call me on the anniversaries of my grandparents’ deaths—Ari, who I’m not sure if I would have gotten through high school without—she shouldn’t have everhad to go through that.
Then bringing Ari home with me. Knowing she’s in the bedroom next to mine, the first time she’s spent the night here after all these years.
As the water in the shower rains down on me, washing away the sweat of the night, my brain is a flurry of questions. Some are simple, like how early is tooearly to call Paul, the principal at Ari’s school?
Some are tougher, harder to stomach. Like why didn’t she ever mention to me that she was dating?
Although I’ve never mentioned any of the women I’ve spent time with, either. But I would never tell Ari about a one-night thing that means nothing.
Over the years, we’ve settled into conversations about our jobs and friends and movies and books. Ari never talked about relationships or other men, and I never asked.
But now I’m weirdly jealous. Which I shouldn’t be—Ari and I have been solidly in the friend zone for the entire time I’ve known her.
In high school, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t attracted to her. She has gorgeous light green eyes framed with long lashes and delicate features speckled with pale freckles and her hair is this hickory color that looks like silk in the sun.
She’s deceptively fragile looking too, petite and slender, but she’s one of the strongest people I know. Strong enough to move around the country, teaching in underprivileged inner-city schools, winning over students whose default is not to trust adults.
