“When did you break up?”
“A few months ago.”
Now I understood why she was so hurt. It wasn’t that long ago. “He’ll regret his behavior one day. I have no doubt.”
“I don’t care if he does or doesn’t.”
I liked that response. “Are you over him?”
“Yes.”
“Did you love him?” Please say no.
“I did at the time. Because I’m an idiot.”
“Don’t do that to yourself,” I said firmly.
“I’m ignorant, gullible, and stupid.” There was no emotion in her voice. Just a calm acceptance.
“No,” I snapped. “You’re a wonderful person. You can’t see the bad in people because it doesn’t exist within yourself. Since you never lie, you never expect anyone else to. You took his word for what it was and didn’t question it. You didn’t think he was cheating on you because you couldn’t contemplate it yourself. That doesn’t make you ignorant or stupid. It just means you’re a trusting person, which is rare these days.”
“It sounds nicer when you say it that way, but it doesn’t change the truth.” She looked away and shrugged. “I’ve learned the truth of humanity and see how they really are. No one really cares about each other. They just use each other, lie to each other.”
That stung—bad. She didn’t think that applied to us, did she? “Baby, you think I lie to you?”
She looked at me, her eyes searching my face. “No. But that’s different.”
“How?”
“You told me exactly what you wanted from this relationship. And I agreed. You have no reason to lie. It’s a rare arrangement.”
“You’re wrong. I don’t lie to you because I never would. It’s that simple.”
She tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear, revealing her neck.
I leaned in and kissed it. “Do you trust me?”
“I trust you more than anyone.”
Warmth radiated through my body. I loved hearing that. “And I trust you more than anyone.” I kissed her neck again. “You never have to worry with me. I really care about you. When you hurt, I hurt.”
“I know the feeling.”
I pulled away and rubbed my nose against hers. “And it would make me really happy if you moved in with me. I want to spend as much time with you as I can. I’m not looking forward to your departure.”
Her eyes widened slightly and she looked into my face. “You aren’t?”
“No. Definitely not.”
“I’m not looking forward to it either.”
Did that mean something more, or was it just wishful thinking on my part? Would she consider staying? With me? My mind ran with ideas until I stopped them. It was going into dangerous territory. If she did stay, what would that mean for us? Could I really give her everything she deserved? A new beginning? I wanted to…but did she? If I said the wrong thing, she may just leave.
I kissed her gently. “Is that a yes?”
A beautiful smile spread across her lips. “Yes.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Prudence Clearwater
Desi and Mason were understanding when I told them I’d be spending the last month with Cash. Their only concern was meeting for our shows and our practice sessions, but I assured them they wouldn’t be affected.
Gavin was just pissed. “You’re moving in with him? What about the rent? We rely on you.”
I knew he wasn’t angry about the rent. “I’ll still pay my share. I wouldn’t screw you over like that.”
He searched for something else. “But what about our practice sessions? We need to be together to keep the chemistry alive.”
“I’m not disappearing, Gavin. I’ll still be around all the time. I just won’t be sleeping here.”
“That’s right. Because you’re fucking him even though you don’t mean anything to him.” He paced around the room, his hands on his hips. “You’re just a whore to him. And now he pays you in rent, food, and rides.”
Wow. I couldn’t believe he just said that to me. Desi’s eyes widened but she kept her mouth shut. Mason looked at the ground, clearly uncomfortable. I kept my anger back because I knew Gavin was struggling with the arrangement. People did and said crazy things when they were in love. I tried to keep that in mind.
“How can you be with him like this?” He finally looked at me, anger in his eyes. “You should be with someone who actually cares about you.”
“He does care about me.”
“No, he cares about what’s in between your legs,” he snapped.
My patience was waning. “Gavin, I appreciate your concern but I know what I’m doing. Please let it go and just be supportive.”
“How can I? Prudence, I actually love you. I’d do anything for you. I don’t just want to sleep with you. How can you possibly pick some rich, hotshot, playboy over me? I’m meant for you. Even Desi and Mason agree.”
Desi and Mason stepped back, wanting to disappear.
I was surprised they thought that, but I didn’t question them. “There is no such thing as destiny, Gavin. We make our own destiny.”
“I fucking hate Isaac.” He punched the wall then shook his hand. “This wouldn’t be happening if it weren’t for him.”
He was dead on about that. “You’re right. But it doesn’t change anything.”
He gripped his hair. “Pru—”
“Just drop it.”
Gavin clenched his jaw.
“I’m an adult and I know what I’m doing. Cash doesn’t love me, but I don’t want him to. This is what I need right now. You ridicule Cash for being a jerk, but I want the arrangement just as much as he does. Stop being so one-sided. And if that makes me a whore, I really don’t care. But I care about Cash and I want to spend time with him before our trip is over. I’m sorry if that hurts you, but throwing a hissy fit won’t change anything.”
Gavin seemed to calm down. “Pru, I just care about you.”
“I know,” I said gently. “But I can take care of myself.”
Gavin held my gaze before he stormed into his bedroom. He slammed the door.
♫
Cash and I spent the following weeks together, falling into a domestic pattern. At first, I felt uncomfortable using his stuff. I refrained from cooking or watching his TV, but he was adamant about me making myself at home.