Misfit(114)
“This is so nice.” She slid her fingers along Stretch’s thigh, spurred on by Cash following her movements. “Let’s not ruin it with…” Her voice trailed off. If she even spoke the j-word, it would be an admission. On the other hand, they’d always be stuck in one place, if they didn’t talk openly about their feelings. She believed familiarity would breed comfort, and there’d be no need to compete. “Let’s not ruin our evening with jealousy.”
Cash lifted a brow, while Stretch sucked in a breath.
Though afraid of pushing them, the presence of her two men exhilarated her. “We’re still jealous of each other,” she admitted, their dirty, little secret out in the open. “If we can be honest with each other, then we can enjoy each other’s company as we have the last few times we’ve been together. That’s why our guard is down now.”
“We’re just fine.” Cash eyed both of them. “Just as I want it.”
“That’s the problem,” Stretch told him, as Fee drank more beer. “It’s as you want it, but Fee’s right, Cash. Together, with you two, I find a quiet peace.”
“Really?” His admission awed Fee. “I’ve always felt that way about you. You’re so calming to me. Seeing you will turn a rotten day into a wonderful one.”
Skepticism clouded Stretch’s blue eyes, low self-esteem surfacing.
Smiling, she took his hand. “Don’t be so surprised. Why do you think Cash loves you so much? He’s so, um, high-strung,” she said, and giggled.
Stretch chuckled, too.
“You find this shit funny?” Cash barked. “I don’t. I didn’t invite you over here for your backseat analyzing. It’s unappreciated and inaccurate.”
“I wasn’t laughing at you,” Fee said in exasperation. “Kendall described Meggie as high-strung. I couldn’t think of a better word for you, so I borrowed her term.”
Irritation marring his face, Cash stood. “This evening is over.”
“Why?” Stretch spat. “Because she’s innocent enough to believe you love me?”
“See what you’ve done?” Cash glared at Fee, then transferred it to Stretch. “I do have feelings for you and her.”
“Bullshit!” Stretch stormed to his feet. “Every fucking time I try to discuss how I feel, it’s a fucking joke or you shut it the fuck down without hearing a word I have to say.”
“She didn’t mention your feelings. She mentioned hers. If you need to talk to me, we can do it some other time.”
Wow! Really? Every time she thought they were building the relationship they all wanted, Cash shot it down by word or deed.
“Enough!” Fee shouted. Cash ran away from his emotions, as if it were a cancer that would fester and kill him, if he admitted to being in love. “Sit down, both of you.”
Stretch complied. Cash stayed in place.
“Oh my god, you’re the most infuriating man ever.” Marching to Cash, she grabbed his arm and attempted to guide him back to his seat. “Please?”
“I don’t want your goddamn analyzing,” he warned, but sat down.
“I won’t,” she promised. “This is going to be about me. I’ve told myself so many different things to justify why I accept your treatment, Cash. I’ve convinced myself I’m afraid of losing someone else close to me. That’s true. I am. Terrified, as a matter of fact. The past few days have been so good between us and this is what I’ve been yearning for.”
“You’ve been yearning for babies, Fee,” Cash told her. “Marriage. A family. With me.”
“I haven’t said that to you alone in weeks,” she said quickly at the betrayal darkening Stretch’s face. “I haven’t seen him when you aren’t here for an even longer time.”
Cash narrowed his eyes at her.
He had the most beautiful blue eyes she’d ever seen. If Stretch’s were startlingly bright, Cash’s were deep and intense, like blue velvet.
“Did I lie about you wanting my babies? I don’t give a fuck when you said it.”
Aware of Stretch’s interest in the answer, Fee licked her lips, annoyed at the predicament Cash put her in. But this was her chance to explain herself. “I love you, so, yes, it’s true. The only way to have you was agreeing to a relationship with you and Stretch. I thought you’d eventually choose. But, then, I got to know you a little, Stretch,” she said, turning her attention to him. “I knew I could be happy with both of you. That we could work our relationship out, but, Cash, you’re the center of us. For the three of us to work, you have to be all in.”