One Day at a Time (Starting Over Series Book 4) (12 page)

He kissed her hard and deep before he pushed her in the direction of the shower since they still had to get snacks together to bring.

***

They had been driving for about twenty minutes, and it didn’t look like there was anything around. The day was hot already, but there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. At least they had a breeze, and Cash told her the Barn was among a lot of trees. She decided to wear a khaki skirt, white tank top, and topped it off with her hair in a braid and a fedora. She had rolled her eyes and laughed when Cash pulled out a fedora that looked like hers and stuck it on his own head.

He pulled down a long country road with a whole lot of nothing around, but after driving for about ten minutes they came upon a large wooded area. Pulling down another road, they came upon a bunch of cars parked and people carrying coolers and baskets toward a big barn.

“It really is a big barn,” she whispered and then turned toward Cash as he started chuckling. “Hey, stop laughing. I thought it was just the name of the place. I didn’t think it was really a barn.”

Grabbing her hand he brought it to his lips and kissed the back of her hand, “I’m just giving you shit, babe. Are you ready?” He pulled into a spot, hopping out and coming around to her side and helping her out. She grabbed the smaller cooler while he grabbed his guitar case and the larger cooler. Walking side by side they made their way toward the huge open barn doors.

“Oh my god, you brought her!” A gorgeous tattooed platinum blonde shouted as she ran toward them.

“That’s Betsy, and she’s been looking forward to meeting you,” Cash whispered.

Betsy came rushing over to them with a little girl in her arms. “You must be Tessa. It’s so nice to meet you. I’m Betsy, and this little girl is my youngest, Margot.” Betsy reached an arm out and wrapped it around Tessa.

Tessa wasn’t used to people being openly affectionate, but she was getting more used to it. “It’s nice to meet you, Betsy, and you too, Margot. She’s beautiful.”

“Thank you! You guys are just too cute with your matching hats.” Betsy shot Cash a look that hopefully let him know she’d kick his butt later.

“We are pretty cute,” he said, before lifting Betsy’s little girl into his arms. “How are you, you little monster?”

“Pweety!” she shouted and pointed at her own dress.

It did something to Tessa’s insides to see Cash with the little girl in his arms. She wondered if he wanted any children. She’d always dreamed of having lots of children and smothering them with love. She watched him hand the little girl back to her mom and then grabbed her hand so he could take her around, introducing her to all of his friends.

“Dario and Stella are with Jared by the stage. They told me to send you their way when you guys got here.” She looked at Tessa. “Dario is my husband, and Stella is our four year old.”

Lots of people were stopping to say hi to Cash and looked at her with curiosity. She tried to give people a welcoming smile. Some smiled back and others just looked at her and then kept walking. He wrapped an arm around her waist and led her toward the makeshift stage at the front. As they approached it, a large, gorgeous man with a shaved head smiled and stood up from where he was sitting. Tattoos covered him from wrist to neck and his eyes were bright silver. He intimidated Tessa until he smiled—then he was just handsome.

She watched Cash and they shared a man hug before he turned to her. “You must be Tessa. It’s so nice to finally meet you. I’m Jared.”

He shocked her when he wrapped her in a bear hug, squeezing her tight. “It’s nice to meet you too, Jared.”

Betsy’s husband and daughter came to meet her as well. They were certainly a different couple. She looked like a tattooed pinup model and he wore baggy jeans and an oversized button-up shirt, but was certainly someone you couldn’t judge by how they looked. He was the sweetest most soft-spoken man she’d ever met, and it was obvious that he loved his wife and two little girls.

She met the other guys who played with Cash, and they were all so different but so nice. After the introductions they all went to eat. With all of the eating she was doing maybe she’d finally start putting on some weight. Loading up her plate, she grabbed a bottle of water and followed Cash and Jared to a table. There were some tables outside under the trees and some inside toward the back. They sat down with Betsy and her family and a couple of other guys who were tattooed like Jared.

When she learned Jared did tattoos she confessed she had always wanted to get one. She admitted that she wanted one that she’d seen on Pinterest. It was the word HOPE and the E was flying away as little sparrows.

“Have Cash bring you in. I want to draw up a design for you. Do you know where you’d want it?” Jared asked her. They were all staring at her, waiting for an answer.

“I thought about maybe putting it on my left shoulder. The birds could fly toward my right shoulder. What do you think?” She looked toward Cash, wanting his opinion.

He leaned down and kissed her shoulder. “I think it’s a great idea, babe. Whenever you want to do it let me know and I’ll take you.”

Chapter Eight

Cash stood up on the stage tuning his guitar. This is where he was supposed to be. He loved performing in front of a crowd, the rush and the feeling of sharing his music with others. Music was how he met Jared. They started playing together in their junior high band and then high school. They’d been close until Cash had started to use. It didn’t take long before most of his good friends dropped him, including Jared. When Jared had reached out to him he’d been shocked, but grateful. They were like brothers. He looked out at the crowd and zeroed in on his girl. She stood with Betsy and had Stella in her arms.

She turned her eyes up to him and smiled. It may have been fast, but at that moment he fell in love with her. Smiling back at her he knew he must’ve looked like a lovesick fool, but for once in his life he was going to accept the fact that he deserved to be happy. His life couldn’t be going better. His relationship with Journey was getting stronger every day. He was sober and healthier than he had been in a long time. He was surrounded by great friends who all had each other’s backs, and the best part was Tessa. The day he ran into her had been one of the best things that has ever happened to him. He was scared he was going to screw it up, but he had to take it day to day just like his sobriety.

Jared jumped up on the stage and came up to Cash. “I’m so fuckin’ happy for you.”

“What do you mean?” He waited for Jared to answer him.

“I have never seen you this happy, and I’m fuckin’ thrilled for you.” Jared turned him so they were facing the crowd. “I love her for putting that look on your face.”

Cash didn’t even know how to respond to that so he just pulled him into a hug.

“All right, time to stop being a pussy. Let’s play.” He slapped Cash on the back and grabbed his drumsticks.

He cleared his throat as he stepped up to the microphone. “How y’all doin’?” Everyone cheered and clapped. Smiling at Tessa he began strumming his guitar and sang “Just Breathe”
by Pearl Jam
.
Eddie Vedder was his absolute idol. Song after song they played. The kids all ran around the makeshift dance floor while some of the adults sang along. His girl sang along with everyone else. She danced where she stood with Stella still in her arms. The toddler was smitten already.

They ended their set with “Won’t Back Down”
by Tom Petty, another personal favorite of his.

When they finished playing he grabbed his bottle of water and jumped off of the stage. In a flash, Tessa ran up to him, winding her arms around his neck. “You were so good! I could listen to you play all day and all night.”

“Thank you. You looked like you were enjoying yourself.” He leaned in and kissed her lips. They were soft and pliant against his. He pulled back and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, leading her toward his friends. He had to get her back to his place soon. Her brother was working a twelve-hour shift starting at six tonight so she needed to get her Jeep and leave to be home for her niece.

It took forever for them to get out of there. Betsy had talked Tessa’s ear off, making his girl promise they’d have lunch. It thrilled him that they seemed to hit it off. He wanted her to have some girlfriends. She admitted one night while they were lying in the hammock that she really didn’t have any girls she went out with or talked to. Betsy would be a good friend for her. She was loyal, smart, and funny. Maybe it would help pull Tessa out of her shell a little bit.

They reached his truck and he helped her inside. As soon as he climbed in he loved that she slid right over to sit next to him. They pulled out onto the road and she rested her head on his shoulder, her scent wrapping around him. They sat in a comfortable silence all of the way back to his place. He hopped out of the truck and met Tessa at the front of his truck.

“Cash Money! Bring your girl over here.” He rolled his eyes, but grabbed Tessa’s hand and took her over to Mac who was sitting on her front steps.

“Hey, you crazy old bat!” He loved that woman but she had the worst timing.

“Hi, Mac,” she said as she accepted the older woman’s hug.

They chatted for a little bit before they went back to his place. He only had an hour left with her before she had to leave. Going into the kitchen he found her putting stuff from the cooler away in the refrigerator. He came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and buried his nose in her hair. She sank into him and he loved that she trusted him to support her.

“I wish you didn’t have to go,” he whispered against her ear.

She looked at him over her shoulder. “I don’t want to leave you either.” He turned her in his arms so they were facing each other. He held her head in his hands, her silky locks sliding through his fingers.

“When will your brother be home at night next? I’m not going to be able to sleep without you next to me.” He punctuated this with a kiss on her lips.

“I think Wednesday and Thursday.” She kissed his chin.

“Perfect. I want you over here as soon as you can on Wednesday. I want to take you out to dinner.” He loved how the simplest things made her eyes light up.

“Okay. I’ll be here right after I get off at five.” She rested her head on his shoulder, placing a kiss on his neck.

“I don’t want to let you go, but you should probably head out so you can see your brother for a bit before he goes to work.” He rubbed his finger over her bottom lip as she mock pouted. It was fucking adorable. Wednesday he’d make her dinner and they’d watch a movie and then he’d tell her everything on Thursday. It was make it or break it time. He hated to think she couldn’t handle hearing about his addiction, but that could very well be a possibility. That was why he always avoided dating, but he couldn’t stay away from her.

“I’ll call you later, or you can call me,” she said to him as he carried her bag out to her Jeep.

He kissed her one more time before forcing her to get in the Jeep, otherwise he was never going to let her leave. “Be careful driving home. I’ll talk to you later.” She finally backed out of his driveway, waving as she pulled away. “Fuck,” he muttered, he missed her already. He was whipped but he didn’t even care. He turned to go back into his house and found Mac coming toward him.

“How was your weekend with your girl?” she asked as they walked toward the side of his house. “I’ve never seen you smile this much. It’s a good look on you.” She always embarrassed him when she said shit like that.

“Well, thanks. We had a great time this weekend. My sister is crazy about her already. Betsy and Jared are too. She’s coming back over on Wednesday and I plan on telling her everything Thursday. I’m freaking out a little bit. I know I can’t keep it from her anymore, but—you know what, I’m not going to worry about it. That seems to be all I do. I’m in love with her, Mac. I want to tell her, but she could walk away from me.” Rubbing a hand through his hair he stared up at the sky. “Sorry, I’m ranting. How have you been?” She worked at a homecare agency clipping toenails for the elderly.

“You know me, honey. Every day is a party. I’m going to Florida next week to see my sister. Will you bring in my mail and take out the trash?”

“Absolutely, I still have that key you gave me last time.” He kissed her cheek before going inside. He was going to put together the most romantic date she’d ever had. He needed her to be extremely happy when he told her about his past. If she was happy there would be less of a chance that she’d leave him.

***

Tessa smiled like an idiot the whole way home. She shifted in her seat since she was still a little tender down below. She was so glad it was Cash who had taken her virginity. He’d been gentle with her and made it such a beautiful experience. Wednesday couldn’t get here soon enough. She missed him already. He made her feel like she was a new person. It was in a good way, because for so long she didn’t really talk to many people—her shyness made it difficult for her to make friends. Now, in the past two days she’d made two.

She whipped into her parking spot, grabbed her bag, jumped out of the Jeep and made her way to her apartment. She found Josie reading on the couch when she walked in. “Aunt Tessa! I’m so glad you’re home. I’ve missed you. Daddy says you were with a boy. That’s so gross!”

“Yes it is, baby doll. Remember that when you’re fourteen.” Jonathon said, walking out into the living room. He walked toward Tessa, looking at her closely. “You look different.”

“Different? Whatever, I do not.”

“Well, you look…happy. Is Cash treating you right?” She knew Jonathon was going to go all protective big brother with her, but that’s okay because he loved her.

“Of course he is. He’s wonderful, Jonathon. I love him.” It felt good to say it out loud. She didn’t know how it worked, telling him without scaring him off.

“Love? Honey, you haven’t been together very long. He’s your first relationship. Shouldn’t you slow down a little bit?”