Page 15 of One Reckless Moment

There was such a concept of letting a girl down easy.

I finished off my beer way too quickly and placed it down on the table with a thud.

“Good talk. Thanks for the beer. You can go now.”

Cash reached for another bottle and lined it up at the edge of the table. Using his fist, he hit the top until there was a smooth pop. The bottle cap fell to the carpet and he held it out to me.

I crossed my arms and looked up at him. “Was that supposed to impress me?”

“Take the fucking beer, Pip.”

“Don’t call me that,” I snapped, not taking the beer.

“Take the fucking beer, Paige.” He emphasized my name.

“Thank you, Jesse.”

He shook his head as he sat back in the seat across from me.

“I’m sorry I was a dick earlier, okay?”

“What an apology,” I mumbled into my beer bottle.

“I just wasn’t expecting you to come and I didn’t handle it well.”

I shrugged and took a long sip of my beer so I didn’t immediately snap back. Cash looked around the room, his eyes landing anywhere but on me.

“Can I ask you something?” I asked, finally mustering up the courage to voice what I’d been holding in for years.

Cash nodded and took another pull from his beer.

“Why did that kiss make you hate me so much? Why not just say you don’t feel the same?”

He sat there for a moment, appearing to contemplate my question.

“I don’t hate you, P.”

I nibbled on my bottom lip while I pulled my knees up to my chest, hugging them. “Could have fooled me.”

“I’m sorry I made you think I did.” His eyes locked with mine and all I saw was pain, I just didn’t know why. He also notably avoided the subject of our kiss in his answer.

I shrugged. “It’s in the past. I just want to get through the summer without bloodshed.”

“I think we can manage that.” He smiled against his bottle.

Once we finished our drinks, Cash stood to leave. He hesitated with his fingers wrapped around the doorknob.

“We cool?” He glanced over his shoulder.

“Yeah, we’re cool.”

I couldn’t tell him the truth—that every time I saw him with another woman I wanted to physically scratch her eyes out. Or that he both infuriated me and set me on fire at the same time. I made that mistake once, and it completely ruined our friendship. If I wanted us to have a real chance at getting along this summer, I’d have to keep my feelings to myself.

“Good night, Paige.”

“Good night, Jesse.” The door clicked behind him, and I fell back onto the bed with a soft smile on my face and a racing heart in my chest.

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