Pop-punk and Other Stuff

However, attending an elitist function on Nesta’s arm had proven to be a thoroughly entertaining affair. Nesta was born for the razored repartee of high society, and she delighted in politely eviscerating anyone foolish enough to cross verbal blades with her. 

Last month at a gala celebrating women in tech, he’d watched her lure a very prominent CEO into a debate about utilitarian ethics which had ended with the latter practically foaming at the mouth. 

Nesta had patiently listened as the smarmy asshole had descended deeper and deeper into his rambling, self-congratulatory defense of utilitarianism and its societal benefits, waiting until he’d become well and truly entangled before questioning him about utilitarianism’s obvious conflict with common-sense morality. 

She’d managed to make quick work of him after that, and within five minutes the prick had been red-faced and heading for the exit, his fingers flying over his phone screen as he vowed to use his newly-acquired social media platform to destroy Nesta’s reputation. 

And as if seeing Nesta filet San Francisco’s elite wasn’t treat enough, black tie events offered the distinct pleasure of watching her do it in a slinky frock and four-inch heels. 

Cash knew that he was one of only a handful of people Nesta trusted enough to see her in ratty sweats or without a drop of makeup on, and it was a privilege he didn’t take lightly. 

Still, it was impossible not to be awed by her when she donned formal attire. Nesta in an evening gown was like a general in full battle regalia, and while the lower necklines and suggestive silhouettes might have left some people feeling vulnerable, they clearly made Nesta invincible. 

Besides, tonight’s event wasn’t just the typical charity circle-jerk; it was the Justice and Diversity Center's Annual Gala. Like her parents before her, Nesta was one of the organization’s most fervent supporters, and she’d been volunteering her time pro-bono with them since she graduated law school. She’d recently been granted a seat on their board as a result, an achievement for which she was being honored at tonight’s event.

Though Nesta’s accomplishments offered no shortage of reasons to celebrate her, it was somewhat rare that she actually allowed him the opportunity to do so, and Cash was looking forward to spoiling her tonight. He’d even gotten her to agree to invite her sisters to the event, and—after much cajoling—she’d also consented to allow Rhys and Azriel to tag along as well, provided that the former made an obscene donation the the Center’s legal fund, a stipulation which Rhys had graciously accepted.

Cash arrived back at the townhouse around five thirty that afternoon to find the main floor unoccupied, all three women likely getting ready in their respective rooms. Abandoning his freshly-pressed tux on the kitchen island, he headed up the two flights of stairs to his and Nesta’s suite on the fourth floor.

The door to the massive walk-in was closed, but Cash nevertheless recognized the plaintive crescendo of Rigoletto’s famous rebuke echoing from within, an indication that not only was Nesta home, she was in a mood. In his experience, she only listened to Verdi when she was ticked off. 

His suspicion was confirmed when the next song began and Nesta’s own voice filled the space, pouring over the cascading strings like a cresting wave. 

“O don fatale, o don crudel. Che in suo furor mi fece il ciel!”

It was one of Nesta’s favorite arias, and one exquisitely suited to her rich mezzo-soprano voice. Cash’s italian was rudimentary at best, but he’d heard this particular aria enough times by now to understand what was being said. 

Unable to bear interrupting Nesta quite yet, Cash listened as the aria’s initial dramatic condemnation gave way to an almost tender legato. The hair on his arms rose at the sorrow Nesta managed to inject into her voice, another telling indication of what he was likely about to walk into.

Despite its inclusion on her “Rage Opera” playlist, Don Fatale was usually Nesta’s go-to when she was feeling guilty or remorseful.

Whatever it was Nesta was stewing over, it likely had to do with her sisters.

Cash waited as the final, breathless notes gave way before finally knocking on the door. 

The music paused a moment later.

“Come in,” Nesta called.

Cash did as instructed, slipping through the door and leaning against the jamb as he surveyed her. 

“Uh-oh,” he said after a beat, earning a scowl as their gazes met and held in the mirror, her eyes the same depthless blue of the treacherous North Sea.

Incredible, that her beauty still found a way to strike him dumb even after all this time. 

“What?” Nesta demanded archly. 

Cash surveyed her more critically, even as he forced himself to smile in an effort to ease some of her obvious agitation.

“You look like you’ve just found out that the huntsman you paid to kill Snow White actually freed her instead. What‘s wrong?”

Nesta snorted, glancing down to fiddle with the earring lying on her dressing table.

“Graysen’s not coming tonight.”

“I would have thought you’d be thrilled about that,” Cash said.

Nesta rolled her shoulders as if fending off an unwanted touch. Her way—he knew—of trying to curb her mounting irritation.

“Elain finally told him about getting into the PhD program at Yale, and evidently he didn’t take it well. She’s been in her room crying since she got home.”

“Fuck him,” Cash said. “He’s a selfish, insecure prick. Do you want me to go talk to her?”

“Maybe,” she said, huffing out a breath. “God, I just—I cannot stand the way he speaks to her.”

“I know, but that isn’t your fault.”

“Isn’t it?”

“Nes—”

“I set a terrible example for them,” she breathed, fiddling with the earring again. “I was supposed to be teaching them how to make healthy choices and I—I failed them.”

Cash came to kneel beside where she sat at her vanity, running a soothing hand up her thighs.

“Baby, that’s not true. Please, don’t be so hard on yourself.”

Her answering nod was half-hearted at best. 

“I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but there are some lessons that Ellie and Fey are going to have to learn for themselves. This Graysen thing? It’s just something Elain’s going to have to figure out on her own.” 

He touched her chin, waiting for her to look at him before flashing her a soft smile. 

“Lucky for her, she has you to lean on when she does.”

“Thank you,” Nesta said, stroking a hand down his cheek. “Will you still go talk to her, though? I just want to make sure she’s alright.”

“Of course.” 

He rose and crossed to the door before pausing. He turned, steeling himself for Nesta’s holy fire as he asked, “Did you two fight earlier?”

Nesta's answering glower was sharp enough to cleave flesh from bone, and Cash held up his hands in supplication.

“I’m not judging, I’d just like to know what I’m walking into.”

At this Nesta relented somewhat, her shoulders sagging a little.

“It wasn’t a fight exactly,” she offered after a beat. “But after Elain finally calmed down enough to explain what happened, I tried to comfort her. That’s when she got mad and told me to stop pretending to be sad when she was sure I was secretly thrilled.”

“And was she wrong?”

“Of course!”

Cash only raised his eyebrows in challenge, earning another stormy look from Nesta.

“I won’t deny how I feel about him, but she’s my sister. I hate seeing her upset, no matter the reason.”

Nesta looked down into her lap, fiddling with the hem of her silk dressing gown.

“Just tell her—” she paused before shaking her head.

Cash waited, but when she only shook her head again, he offered her a smile.

“She knows,” Cash assured her. “They both do.”

Nesta gave a small smile of her own in return. 

“Thank you.”

He grinned again, slightly broader this time. 

“For you, Nesta Flaviana? Anything.”

He felt his gut tighten at the slight flush which crept across her cheeks.

“I don’t deserve you,” she said, her smile softening to something reverent.

He could see the words she still wasn’t ready to say out loud glittering in her eyes, and it filled his entire body with a pleasant buzzing. 

“Of course you do,” he said. “I’ll be back up in a bit.”

She blew him a kiss as he slipped out, heading to the second floor where Elain and Feyre’s bedrooms were housed

He paused for a second to listen outside Elain’s door. When only silence greeted him, he knocked.

“It’s Cash. Can I come in?”

No reply. 

“El?”

“It’s open.”

He slipped inside to find Elain sitting on her bed, eyes red-rimmed but dry.

“Are you here to lecture me, too?”

“As the boyfriend of less than a year, I believe lecturing is above my pay grade.”

Elain awarded the comment with a grim half-smile, a poor facsimile of her usual dazzling grin.

“I heard what happened,” Cash clarified. “I just wanted to make sure you’re alright.”

“I’m fine.”

“You wanna talk about it?”

Elain pursed her lips, a familiar steel flashing in her eyes. 

“On the record or off?”

Cash let out an appreciative huff at the tartness in her tone. Elain may have tended towards the role of peacemaker among her sisters, but she lacked none of the famed Archeron fire when she was worked up.

“I know your sister can be…intense at times, but it’s only because she cares about you.”

Elain rested her chin on a propped knee, lips thinning in a pert frown.

“You’d make a terrible spy,” she said. “You’re not supposed to be so obvious in your mission.”

Cash smiled.

“I’m not here to spy on you. And we don’t even have to talk about it, if you don’t want. Say the word and I’ll be out of your hair.”

“No, stay,” she huffed, gesturing for him to close the door.

Cash did as he was instructed before sliding into the chair opposite the four-poster bed, waiting for her to speak. 

However, when she remained silent, expression still wary, he gently prompted, “I won’t repeat anything you don’t want me to.”

At this she finally seemed to relax, heaving a deep breath and biting her lip.

“I get that Nesta…isn’t a huge fan of Gray’s, but he’s not Tomás. He doesn’t always do or say the right thing, but he would never hurt me.”

Cash crossed his arms, needing to do something with his body to fend off the hum of irritation which had begun to buzz through his nerves.

“I’m glad to hear it. But you know that can’t be the bar, right?”

“It isn’t! I know it may not always seem like it from the outside, but Graysen is actually an amazing boyfriend.”

She paused, biting her lip again. If she dug in any harder, Cash worried she’d draw blood. Remembering his promise not to lecture, he kept that thought to himself, waiting for her to continue instead. 

“Besides,” Elain said at last. “Today wasn’t his fault; it was mine. He asked me months ago if I was going to apply to the Yale program and I lied and told him no. If our roles were reversed, I would be just as mad at him.”

Cash forced himself to shrug, well aware of the damage he could do if he came on too strong in his reply.

“Fair enough. But it does beg the obvious question of why you felt the need to lie to him about it in the first place.”

Elain wrapped her arms tighter around herself in reply, eyes growing glassy. 

However, her voice was steady as she said, “I never dreamed I’d actually get in, so I didn’t think it would matter. And I didn’t want to have to start talking about what it would look like to do long distance when I knew there was a good chance I’d be staying in California. Stanford is an amazing program, too. Just because I got into Yale doesn’t mean I’m automatically going to go there.”

She paused, resting her chin on her knee again before adding glumly, “Not that it matters now, anyway.”

Watching the way her eyes dim tugged at Cash, and he suddenly had a renewed appreciation for the restraint Nesta managed to exhibit when it came to these things. Despite his promise of neutrality, Cash was currently fighting the urge to hunt Graysen down and knock the little prick into next week.

“I know it’s probably the last thing you want to hear, but it’s all going to work out, El. One way or another.”

She nodded, though he could tell she remained unconvinced. 

“Tell Nes I’m sorry,” she said instead. “For ruining her big night.”

“You haven’t ruined anything,” Cash assured her. “And I know she can be overbearing at times, but try to be patient with her. She just wants you to be happy, is all.”

“I just wish she understood how intimidating she can be. She makes Gray nervous, and he gets weird when he’s nervous.”

Cash couldn’t help himself this time.

“If he really plans to go to law school, it might not be bad practice for him. I get the impression from your sister that litigation isn’t for the faint of heart.”

Elain rolled her eyes, but at least some of the tension had melted from her expression as she said, “that’s dangerously close to a lecture, and we both know it.”

“Fair enough,” Cash said, grinning as he rose to his feet. “All I’m saying is that if Graysen thinks Nesta is a lot, he ought to try Eris Vanserra on for size.”

Elain’s cheeks flamed scarlet at Eris’s mention, and Cash felt his irritation reigniting. 

“What are the odds that he’s going to be there tonight?” She asked, nose wrinkling. “He’s always impossible to shake when I don’t have some sort of buffer.”

“Unfortunately I’d say the odds are pretty high, but say the word and I will be your buffer,” Cash assured her.

Elain worried at her plush lower lip, and Cash mentally kicked himself for adding to her troubles. He should have known better than to mention Vanserra in this house. 

“Unfortunately he knows your Nesta’s boyfriend, which, in his mind, means you don’t pose a competitive threat.”

“How about this then,” Cash said, unable to fully keep the menace out of his voice. “You say the word and I knock his head off his fucking shoulders.”

Elain laughed, eyes a little brighter now.

“Thank you for the offer, but don’t worry about me. I know Nesta doesn’t think so, but I am a grown woman; I can fight my own battles.”

Cash didn’t doubt it, but he found himself tempted to mention that if she didn’t want him to play buffer, he knew someone who’d likely be more than willing. In the end he decided to keep his mouth shut, not wanting to undermine Elain’s agency by suggesting she needed someone to play knight in shining armor. Still...

“I should probably start getting ready,” Elain said, interrupting Cash’s reverie. “Thanks for letting me vent.”

He smiled, crossing to the door.

“Anytime, you know that. I was just about to open a bottle of champs, would you like me to bring you a glass?”

She grinned this time.

“Please. Also, if you’re giving out pep talks, you might want to check on Feyre, too. She’s better than me at hiding it, but I think her breakup with that Scottish asshole has her pretty shaken up.”

Cash ignored the way this made his heart clench. 

“Roger that,” he said, forcing himself not to push for more details before he headed downstairs.

Once on the main floor, he wasted no time in opening the bottle of Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé he brought for the occasion. Truthfully he wasn’t much for sparkling rosé, especially the pillowy, decadent expression that the House of Billecart-Salmon had spent seven generations perfecting. Still, he’d bought it knowing that it was precisely the type of sparkling that both Feyre and Elain delighted in drinking, and that pleasing them would please Nesta just as much. 

Pouring two glasses (since Nesta, he was sure, was already enjoying a glass of Bollinger), he dropped one off in Elain’s room before heading to Feyre’s across the hall.

“Champagne delivery,” he called, knocking on her door.

“That’s a cheap ploy,” she called back. “But it’s open.”

He entered to find that unlike Nesta, who’d still been in her robe, and Elain, who’d yet to even shower, Feyre was almost fully ready.

She wore a yellow satin dress adorned with an elegant cherry blossom print, the off-the-shoulder cut and trailing overskirt making her look so much older than her 21 years. Or perhaps it was the look in her steely blue eyes, the self-possession in them reminding him so much of Nesta he almost had to do a double take.

“You look lovely,” he said, extending the flute to her with a smile.

“Thanks,” she said, accepting it and taking a grateful swig. “The dress is Nesta’s, but she never wears it because—”

“—it’s not black,” they finished in unison.

Feyre laughed, taking another swig of her drink.

“She says that yellow makes her look like a toad.”

Now it was Cash’s turn to laugh.

“I highly doubt that, but I’d agree it suits your style better than it does hers.”

They lapsed into comfortable silence for a beat as Feyre studied him, her expression neutral but her gaze wary.

“So,” she said at last.”Which one of them sent you to check on me?”

“Elain,” he admitted, not wanting to insult her by feigning ignorance. 

Feyre snorted, twirling the stem of her glass.

“Tell her to focus on her own love life. She’s the one with the selfish boyfriend, not me.” She paused before adding, “Besides, I’m fine.”

“No one would blame you if you weren’t,” Cash pointed out. 

“Why wouldn’t I be fine?” Feyre said calmly. It’s not like Tam was my first boyfriend.”

Cash only just managed to hold back his snort of disgust. In hindsight, the fact he’d chosen to use the nickname Tam instead of just going by Tom or Thomas like a normal person should have been their first clue that he was an insufferable twat. Still, Cash decided not to voice this to Feyre on the very real chance she still had feelings for this loser.

“True,” he said instead. “But I think it’s fair to say that things with him were a lot more serious than anyone you’ve been with before.”

And it was true, things had been serious. Serious enough, in fact, that Tam had spend the better part of the eight months they’d been together trying to convince Feyre to quit school and move back to his native Edinburgh with him. That—coupled with the fact that he’d been almost 30—had instantly made him enemy number one in Nesta’s eyes, a sentiment Cash had quickly come to share.

Whereas Graysen was selfish, spoiled, and immature, Tam had been…possessive of Feyre, his constant jealousy and explosive temper all-to-familiar. 

Luckily for them, Feyre had seen the warning signs too, and she'd dumped him before they’d been forced to find out if he was really as much like Tomás as he’d seemed. 

Still, Cash could see a change in Feyre following the breakup, and he knew Nesta and Elain saw it, too. She was slightly more guarded now, not quite as quick to smile or laugh as she’d been six months ago. 

It pained Cash to watch her struggle to move on, even though he had little doubt that she would. Of all the many things he’d come to love about Feyre, it was her tenacity he most admired. Besides, difficult as Tam’s behavior had been to stomach from the outside, choosing to walk away from him had been a decision Feyre had needed to make on her own. Cash couldn’t have been more proud of her for finding the strength to make it. 

“I know Nesta worries about me,” Feyre said finally, interrupting Cash’s reverie. “And that she thinks I’m too young to really get it, but you should know I would never put a guy above my own dreams and ambitions. Even one with a sexy accent,” she added with a smile.

Cash rewarded it with one of his own, relieved that she seemed able to find some levity in the situation despite her obvious lingering pain. 

“And I know some part of Nes feels guilty for staying with him all those years,” Feyre continued after a beat. “But I understand why she did.”

Something in her tone made Cash’s heart stutter, and it only took a glance at Feyre’s solemn expression to set it sprinting in his chest.

Nesta had told him months ago about the devil’s bargain she’d made with Tomás, the real reason she’d felt so beholden to him despite his cruelty. Looking at Feyre now, he could see the truth of that long-buried secret shining in her eyes.

“I found the check stubs when I was helping clean out her office this spring,” Feyre explained. “I know he was helping pay my tuition for art school.”

Cash didn’t know what to say. He’d cried when Nesta had finally admitted the truth to him, unable to bear the fact that she’d carried this burden for so long on her own. Still, Nesta had been adamant that he not breathe a word of it to her sisters, terrified that they—that Feyre—might learn the truth and somehow think that everything Tomas had done had been her fault.

As Cash grappled with how he ought to respond, Feyre saved him the effort by speaking again.

“And I know Nes worries that she set a bad example,” she said. “But that’s not true at all. The truth—the real truth—is that watching her stand up for herself against Tomás is what gave me the courage to break things off with Tam. Besides,” she added with a knowing smile. “Everything good I’ve come to expect in a relationship, I learned from watching you two.”

“Fuck, kid,” Cash said, wiping at his glassy eyes. “When did you get so grown up?”

Feyre laughed, some of the solemnity vanishing from her face. 

“Don’t worry, I’m still young enough to drink you under the table tonight and have zero hangover to show for it tomorrow.”

“Don’t remind me,” Cash said, and Feyre grinned again.

“So like I said, you don’t have to worry about me. I might not be totally ready to get over Tam, but I’ve made peace with the fact that he wasn’t the one for me.”

Cash nodded, studying her appreciatively for a moment before finally asking, “Does Nesta know that you know?”

Feyre shook her head.

“It doesn’t have to be right away, but eventually I think you should tell her.”

This time, Feyre nodded.

“I will,” she said, tipping her glass to Cash so he could refill it for her.

“So,” she said after taking a sip. “Do we really think Graysen isn’t coming tonight? Because to be honest, I think Nes is liable to throttle him if he tries to pull one of his usual stunts.”

Cash grimaced. Among his many unsavory qualities, Graysen had perfected the art of the cold shoulder, seeming to know exactly how long to keep Elain dangling in suspense before sweeping in with an empty apology and an equally-empty (though typically extravagant) gesture. It was Graysen’s subtle way of always keeping the power balance of their relationship tipped in his favor, and of keeping Elain feeling grateful when she ought to have been angry.

One of Graysen’s favorite parlor tricks was turning up unannounced to “talk things out” after he and Elain had a fight, a stunt which had landed him in hot water with Nesta more than once over the years. Still, Cash doubted that even Graysen, puffed up on ego and privilege as he was, would dare try and make a scene at tonight’s gala. Besides, if what she had said about their fight was true, poor Elain was likely in for at least two more days of the silent treatment before he deigned to reach back out.

“No comment,” Cash said. “Though the less said about Graysen tonight is probably the better.”

“Fine by me,” Feyre said, rising to her feet. “Well, since I’m the only person in this house who’s actually ready, I’m going to meet Lucien for a drink at Bistro Ember. What time are we leaving for the event?”

“7:30. Does Nesta know Lucien is riding with us? I think the car she ordered only seats four.”

Feyre snorted.

“Are you kidding? Lucien wouldn’t be caught dead at this thing tonight.”

When Cash raised his eyebrows in question, Feyre clarified, “Lucien and Eris...don’t play well together. Things tend to get pretty spicy when they’re forced to be in the same room, so Lucien likes to keep their interactions to a minimum.”

Cash wondered if the younger Vanserra would be willing to make an exception in order to keep Elain company tonight, but considering that coming as Elain’s plus-one would basically put him on a collision course with his brother, Cash was forced to abandon the idea.

“Thank you,” Feyre said, handing back her empty champagne glass and swiping a pair of jeweled sandals from the floor. “For coming to check on me. I never really cared about having a brother, but I’ll admit it’s kinda nice.”

“I’m flattered,” Cash said. “Tell Vanserra I say hello.”

Nesta was still in her dressing room with the door closed when he arrived back upstairs, so Cash decided to get ready in the guest bathroom downstairs instead.

He was just stepping into his tux when he got a text from Rhys in the group chat.

Well, the movers just left, so I guess it’s official: I’m a proper American boy now.

Six months ago, the Sadeghi Group had entered into negotiations to buy and redevelop the old Hard Rock Hotel in Vegas, the culmination of Farhad Sadeghi’s lifelong goal of owning property on The Strip. Not wanting the dream to slip through his fingers as it had several times in the past, Rhys’s father had ordered him to Nevada to personally oversee the deal. Originally Rhys had only planned to stay in the U.S. until the property acquisition went through, but eventually Cash and Az had convinced him to put down stakes in California instead. Though the eight-bedroom mansion Rhys had purchased in Presidio Heights was lavish nearly to the point of obscenity, Cash was too happy to even tease his friend for it…much.

How’s the new crib, Scrooge McDuck? Cash typed back.

Just had the servants fill up the pool with the last of daddy’s gold coins, so all the place is missing now is my painting. Tell Nesta I’ll give her fifteen grand to take it off her hands.

Cash didn’t need clarification on which painting Rhys was referring to, since his friend had barely been able to shut up about the thing since he’d first laid eyes on it months ago.

Her sister painted that for her. There’s no way Nes would ever agree to give it up, I don’t care how much money you throw at her. 

Cash couldn't blame Rhys for being a little obsessed. The painting in question was something of a masterpiece, a gorgeous, chaotic abstraction which wouldn’t have been out of place hanging in a museum next to a Pollock or Rothko. Feyre had been tight-lipped in explaining the inspiration behind the piece, but it never failed to impress from where it hung in Nesta’s formal dining room.

Rhys, for his part, had been completely infatuated with the piece since the moment he’d first seen it, and he’d been dogged in his attempts to woo it away from Nesta for months.

Fine, Rhys sent back. Then come over for some pre-drinks so I can get Nesta tipsy and find out what she will accept as payment.

Unfortunately the Archeron train is moving a bit too slow for that, Cash wrote. Your depraved begging will just have to wait, I’m afraid. 

Tell her my soul is absolutely on the table, Rhys sent back. As is my body, he added, followed by a string of grinning devil emojis.

Cash rolled his eyes, but before he could warn Rhys to keep his usual outrageous flirting in check tonight, another text pinged through.

By the way, Az wants to know how much we are allowed to pre-game this thing?

Cash couldn’t help but laugh as he texted back.

What are you, freshman? There’s going to be an open bar.

There are open bars and there are open bars, came the reply. You know I only prefer the latter.

Behave, Cash warned.

Rhys only response was an angel emoji before he added, See you in a bit, handsome.

Cash only rolled his eyes, slipping on his cufflinks and grabbing his bow tie before heading into the kitchen to pour himself a quick drink.

When he’d acquired a whiskey and taken a grateful sip, he glanced at the oven clock to find that it was nearly 7:15. He settled at the island and busied himself by catching up on some work emails.

When ten minutes had passed, he glanced at his watch again, wondering if it was worth risking the combined wrath of all three Archeron women to point out that if they didn’t leave soon, they were going to be late. Blessedly he heard movement on the stairs before he’d been forced to decide, and he felt his jaw going slack as Nesta descended. 

She wore a silky gown the poisonous green of a snake’s skin, the garment tailored to echo the movement of her body as she slunk towards him, grinning like a cat. 

“What do you think?”

Despite the thousands of compliments he thought to pay her at that moment, he was slightly mortified when he finally opened his mouth and what came out was, “no bra tonight?”

Indeed, though the darts in the dress hid it well, Cash could nevertheless make out the unmolded shape of her breasts through the silk. 

Nesta’s smile grew wicked as she turned to show him the back of the dress, which dipped to her low spine.

“No room for one, I’m afraid.”

Cash flushed, both at his own inarticulacy and the heat which now glittered in her eyes.

“I have no idea why that was the first thing out of my mouth,” he admitted. “You look—” he swallowed, trying to catch his breath before finally managing, “Nes, you look gorgeous.”

It was like the garment had been made for her. And yet…

“Is that new?” He asked, cocking his head as he continued to admire her. “I feel like I would remember seeing you in something that fabulous, but it’s still weirdly familiar.”

“Yes,” she said before pausing and adding, “well, newly mine, anyways. Mor actually gave it to me.”

So that’s where he’d seen it before. 

“I mentioned a few weeks ago that I’d been struggling to find something to wear tonight, and she offered to send me this one. She said it never fit her right, but that it deserved  to be worn.”

He had to admit, as lovely as it had been on Mor, the style and silhouette were much better suited to Nesta’s taste.

“I have to agree with her,” Cash said, living for the lovely, private smile she offered him. “It’s perfect on you.”

“You look rather nice yourself,” she said, coming forward to settle in the space between his legs, her arms twining over his shoulders.

This close he could smell the elegant perfume she wore, the scent making his gut tighten with pleasure.

“It’s a shame we’re so short on time,” he breathed, pressing a kiss to her neck. “Because I would love nothing more than to—”

“Please,” a voice interrupted. “Can’t you two take one day off from your public fornication?”

Cash glanced up to see Elain descending the stairs, a faint scowl on her face as she surveyed the way Nesta stood pressed between his thighs.

Nesta cleared her throat and stepped back at once, her attention now wholly fixed on her sister instead. 

Elain’s dress was a lovely ballerina pink, the silhouette perfectly cut to show off every dip and curve of her envious figure. Like Nesta, she wore her hair in an elegant twist at the nape of her neck, leaving her creamy shoulders exposed by the gown’s strapless neckline.

She genuinely looked like she'd wandered off the pages of a storybook, her cheeks suffused with a soft blush and her brown eyes framed by long, dark lashes. 

Still, there was a sadness in her expression she hadn’t quite managed to conceal, and Cash felt his heart squeeze in response.

Cash had no doubt Nesta saw it too, but Elain’s phone chimed before she could comment on it.

A little furrow appeared between Elain’s brows as she read the message, erasing any doubt about who it was from. Cash watched a slender muscle feather in Nesta’s jaw as Elain hesitated over her reply, thumbs hovering as she chewed on her lower lip. 

Cash knew Nesta was fighting the urge to demand what it was that Graysen had said to put that look of desolation on Elain’s face, but instead she asked diplomatically, “is everything alright?”

“Of course,” Elain said, stuffing her phone in her clutch and flashing a smile that didn’t meet her eyes. “Shall we? Where’s Feyre?”

The front door chimed in answer, Feyre’s voice filtering up from the ground floor.

“The car is here!”

Elain wasted no time in capitalizing on the opportunity to escape, edging around her sister with another unconvincing smile before hurrying down the stairs.

Nesta only tossed a knowing glance in Cash’s direction before following suit, accepting his hand as he helped climb into the hired Escalade.

Elain, he noted, had chosen to take the third row, her attention wholly fixed on her text conversation with Graysen.

However, he knew better than to make a comment about it, simply sliding into the seat next to Nesta and reaching to squeeze her hand. 

Though Elain remained distracted for the majority of the twenty-minute ride, Feyre kept up a lively stream of conversation, peppering Nesta with questions about who would be in attendance for tonight’s event and what they could expect.

“I can’t believe we finally get to meet the elusive friends tonight,” she said to Cash, twisting from where she said in the front seat to grin at him. “We were beginning to think you’d made them up, didn’t we, Ellie?”

“Still do,” Elain replied, not glancing up from her phone screen.

“Exactly,” Feyre said with a raise of her eyebrows. “You should know that half the girls in my freshman-year dorm were performance majors, so if they really are paid actors, I will be able to tell.”

Cash flicked her nose in response.

“I’m trying not to be offended by the suggestion I would need to invent friends.”

Feyre shrugged.

“You can’t blame us for being skeptical; your friend Rhys’s Instagram reads like an influencer’s fever dream. Some of those travel photos can’t be real.”

Cash traded a quick glance with Nesta before shrugging.

“Don’t believe everything you see on social media,” he said in deflection. “Rhys is a workaholic; he’s just good at making his job look glamorous and desirable.”

“Sounds boring,” Elain announced, still typing away.

Cash wasn’t sure he wanted to laugh or wince. He’d heard women call Rhys many unsavory things over the years, but no one who knew Rhysand Sadeghi would ever think to call him boring. 

Still, it was probably for the best that Elain felt that way, even if she’d likely only said it out of misplaced anger. Though Nesta had seemed amenable enough to the idea of introducing Az and Elain, Cash didn’t think she’d be nearly so obliging if it were Rhys who was interested. Rhys and Nesta had formed quite a bond since he’d relocated to the States, but Cash knew that Nesta’s fondness for him wasn’t enough for her to overlook his reputation for breaking hearts.

“Be nice, Ellie,” Nesta said, flashing Cash a reassuring smile. “He’s a lovely man.”

“He’ll be touched to hear you think so,” Cash said.

“I’ll deny it if asked,” she shot back easily, the devilish spark he looked so much glinting in her eyes.

Cash grinned, but before he could indulge her playful mood and volley back, the car pulled to a stop, a tuxedoed valet attendant opening the door and offering each of the three women a hand out of the car.

“Speaking of Rhys,” Nesta said, rubbing her hands down her bare arms to ward off the damp chill clinging to the air. “Do they want us to wait for them?”

“No need,” Cash said. “Rhys is notorious for being late, and Az—”

Cash was interrupted by the throaty purr of an engine, and—with the exception of Elain, who was still absorbed in her text fight with Graysen—they all looked up in time to watch a familiar tangerine Lamborghini as it slithered around the corner and into the valet line several cars behind where they now stood. Az was out of the car a heartbeat later, running a hand through his glossy hair and looking, admittedly, like a GQ model. 

Curious despite himself, Cash glanced at Elain to see her reaction. Fingers flying over the keys and bottom lip caught between her teeth, she hadn’t noticed his friend’s arrival at all. 

Feyre certainly had, though. Cash almost laughed as he caught her delightfully unsubtle up-down, an Archeron sister trademark. None of the girls had any discretion when it came to checking people out, and it was Cash’s absolute favorite. The look had been a harmless enough gesture, though, and one that could have been easily dismissed had Nesta not caught it, too.

Cash watched her face morph into a more disquieting iteration of Disney Villainess that he was man enough to admit slightly terrified him. 

“Absolutely not,” Nesta deadpanned. “He’s way too old for you.”

Unlike Cash, Feyre seemed nonplussed by Nesta’s vengeful expression, and she simply rolled her eyes in response. 

“I’m a grown woman; you can’t treat me like a baby forever.”

“You are the baby and always will be,” Nesta pointed out. “And you’re not dating any of Cash’s friends, the end.”

Feyre only rolled her eyes again, her posture remaining relaxed. 

“I don’t know what you’re getting so worked up about. I didn’t even say anything!”

A beat of silence passed before Nesta seemed to relent, smiling a little.

“You’re right,” she said. “I’m sorry, Bug.”

“Besides,” Feyre said, eyes glittering in challenge. “Don’t pretend you weren’t thinking the same the first time you met him. Come on, El.”

Flashing Nesta a triumphant smirk, Feyre looped an arm through Elain’s, turning her sister towards the door before deftly plucking the phone from her unsuspecting grip. 

“Catch,” Feyre said, ignoring Elain’s indignant huff as she tossed the phone to Cash instead.

Cash waited for Elain to protest, unwilling to hold her phone hostage even if it was probably the best thing for her. However, some part of her must have agreed, because she only rolled her eyes.

“Whatever,” she said, giving Cash a tight-lipped smile. “Just don’t lose it.”

“It’s here whenever you want it,” Cash assured her, ignoring the texts which continued to ping through as he tucked the phone in his breast pocket. 

With that, Elain took Feyre’s hand and disappeared inside the building.

No sooner were they out of earshot than Nesta extended her hand to Cash, demanding, “Let me see that thing.”

Cash turned, ready to chastise for the violation before noting the satisfied smile on her face and falling silent. 

“Good boy,” she said, brushing a soft kiss on his lips. “You passed.”

“That was a test?” He laughed.

“They trust you,” she said, voice slightly more earnest now. “I just want to make sure that trust isn’t misplaced.”

“You know I will always have their backs,” Cash said, leaning down to kiss her again. “Just like I’ll always have yours.”

“I do,” she agreed. “One of the many things I adore about you.”

Cash couldn’t ignore how her words affected him, how close that statement had been to—

“As you were, lovebirds,” a voice interrupted, and Cash turned to see Az standing several feet off, his expression neutral but his dark eyes glimmering with sardonic amusement.

“Quite the entrance you made,” Cash said in greeting. “I do believe you may have caused several of the older ladies to swoon.”

“Good thing I’ve got a good lawyer then,” Az said, flashing Nesta a quick half-smile that she rewarded with one of her own. “Shall we?”

“So where’s Rhys?” Nesta asked as they made their way through the building's sleek lobby and into the elevator. “I thought you were staying with him.”

“He got a call from work just as we were leaving. But he promised he’d be no more than ten minutes behind me.”

“I’ll allow it,” Nesta said with a smirk. “If only because that check he wrote the Center had so many zeroes in it I kept losing count.”

With that the elevator doors opened onto a glittering rooftop patio, the domed ceiling and glass walls offering a breathtaking view of San Francisco’s skyline beyond.

“No Eris yet, that’s a relief,” Nesta said, surveying the crowd. “I should make my rounds now so I can politely ignore him when he does finally slither in. Divide and conquer?”

Cash nodded, glancing at his phone.

“Rhys is just pulling up now. I’m going to make sure he doesn’t get into trouble and then we’ll come and find you.”

Nesta gave him a quick kiss in salutation before waving to a well-dressed woman several paces away and heading towards her. It was an effort not to admire her toned backside as she sauntered off, but not wanting people to think him a boor, he forced himself to turn back towards the elevators instead, just in time to see Rhys step off.

“Quite the party,” Rhys said, clapping Cash on the back as he glanced around the room. ‘Who knew lawyers had such good taste?”

“That’s high praise, coming from a bougie thing like you. Nesta will be delighted.”

Azriel let out a soft huff, expression wary as he surveyed the crowd.

“Don’t tell her I said this,” he said. “But there’s something deeply unsettling about a room full of lawyers.”

Rhys gave an approving hum.

“Like swimming in shark-infested waters,” he agreed. “Still, it’s not all bad news,” he said, eyes glittering as he glanced around. “There are an exceptional number of beautiful women here.”

“Pass,” Az said, sounding almost bored. “There’s something sleazy about trying to get laid at a...charity…”

His voice trailed off as his attention snagged on something over Cash’s shoulder, eyes glazing a bit.

Rhys followed Az’s line of sight, a wicked half-grin curling at the corner of his mouth.

“You were saying?”

“Fuck,” Az breathed, his eyes still pinned across the room. “That girl is gorgeous.”

“You certainly have a type,” Rhys said, grin slipping a little as he cocked his head. “Hang on, isn’t that one of Nesta’s sisters?” At this his smile brightened to maximum wattage, eyes alight with mischief. “Oh, you’re in trouble now, Azzy.”

Cash twisted to see where Az was looking, and sure enough, there was Elain, standing silhouetted against the wall of windows and looking so lovely it was almost painful. 

“That’s Elain,” Cash said. “Feyre’s next to her in the yellow.”

Rhys gave an appreciative whistle.

“Wow, genetics really didn’t miss with the Archeron girls.”

“No they did not,” Az agreed, a slight flush in his cheeks.

Cash winced when Az finally dragged his attention away from Elain and turned, face uncharacteristically hopeful. However, It quickly fell as he read Cash’s expression, groaning as he ran a hand through his hair.

“She’s got a boyfriend,” Az said.

Cash bit his lip.

“I’m sorry, brother.”

Az groaned again.

“How long?”

“Two years,” Cash admitted, hating the way Az’s face crumpled, the light that had shown in his eyes dimming. “But if it helps, Nesta and I think he’s a complete twat.”

“It doesn’t,” Az said, sullen as he peeled his attention from Elain and turned towards the bar on the other side of the room. “I need a drink.”

Rhys had the decency to wait for Az to get out of hearing range before turning to Cash, his face exultant.

“Does that mean Feyre’s single?”

Cash turned, eyes hard as he took in his friend.

“Don’t even start, because that is never going to happen.”

Rhys scoffed, his eyes flicking back to Feyre every several seconds as if to assure himself she was still there.

“You didn’t give Az this lecture when he had his tongue hanging out just now,” Rhys said.

“Az isn’t the one with a reputation for being a philandering rake.” 

“I’m not saying I’m going to go over there and slip her a room key or whatever! What’s wrong with me just getting to talk to her?”

“What’s wrong is that she is Nesta’s baby sister, and she is fresh off a terrible breakup. Nesta will straight-up murder you if she finds out you hit on Feyre, and then she’ll probably kill me too for allowing it. So the answer is no, and it’s final. Go find someone else to work your sexual sorcery on.”

Rhys grit his teeth, his usual mirth replaced with an expression Cash wasn’t sure he’d even seen on his friend’s face. “It’s not like that! Brother, I am not being funny when I tell you I haven’t been able to sleep since I saw that painting. I need to be able to talk to her about that, if nothing else.”

Cash opened his mouth to remind Rhys that his rich boy tears had no effect on Cash, and that—billionaire or no—his friend was simply going to have to learn how to accept disappointment like the rest of them mere mortals. However, a glance at Rhys’s expression had him hesitating. 

The look in Rhys’s blue eyes as he continued gazing at Feyre wasn’t simply excitement, or even attraction. It almost felt like…recognition, as if Rhys had just found something he’d be unknowingly searching for his entire life. Cash couldn’t help but remember the way his gut had tightened the first time he’d laid eyes on Nesta, her very presence seeming to answer a question he hadn’t recalled asking.  

“Fine,” he said, and Rhys was already in motion, his eyes wholly fixed on Feyre.

Cash put a hand to his friend’s chest to halt his retreat, giving him a hearty shove to show he meant business.

“But if I’m going to let you go over there and talk to her, there are rules. Break a rule and I break your kneecaps, understand?”

“Don’t be so dramatic.”

“No, I’m serious, Rhysand. Feyre’s special, and she and Elain are Nesta’s entire world. This can’t be one of your usual flings where you lavish her with gifts and orgasms and expensive dinners to distract from the eventual moment when you lose interest. Feyre’s tough, but she’s still young and impressionable. Don’t go over there unless you’re serious about it.”

“Okay,” Rhys said, his imperiousness fading to something softer, more reverent. “What are the rules?”

“No meals valued at over fifty dollars, no trips over fifty miles away, and no physical contact of any kind until and unless she initiates it.”

Rhys’s brows flattened at the last stipulation, but seeming to know better than to push Cash on it, he merely pursed his lips and said, “This is California. Where am I meant to find a proper meal for under fifty dollars?”

“You’re a smart man, you’ll figure it out. Who knows? Maybe you’ll finally have to learn how the grocery store works and make her home-cooked meal. And before you try and bend the rules, a private chef is valued at way more than fifty dollars, so don’t even think about it.”

“Fine,” Rhys said, lips curling into his tell-tale grin. “For the record, I think this will make a charming addition to your best man’s speech at our wedding.”

“Do not,” Cash warned, putting a finger in Rhys’s face. “Get ahead of yourself. I mean it, Sadeghi. Absolutely no funny business.”

“I know,” Rhys said, his smile more earnest now. “I promise.”

With that he slipped into the crowd, his path casual but deliberate as he arced towards the main bar, arriving just in time to slide into the open space at Feyre’s right elbow and offer her a disarming smile.

Cash glanced around for Nesta, relieved to see that she was deeply entrenched in conversation with an older gentleman on the other side of the room. Cash didn’t exactly know how he planned to keep this off Nesta’s radar all evening, but he supposed he owed it to Rhys—and maybe Feyre—to at least try.

With the situation under control, at least for the time being, Cash finally turned his attention to Elain’s phone, which had been buzzing incessantly for the last ten minutes. The petty part of him wanted to put the damn thing in airplane mode, knowing how much it would likely agitate Graysen if his texts suddenly went green. 

The idea was tempting, but Cash knew it wasn’t his call to make, and that he’d be doing Elain a disservice if he made that choice for her. Besides, Elain seemed miserable enough as it was; he didn’t need to make it worse by pouring gasoline on the fire. Perhaps he’d wait to give it back to her, though, at least until the end of the evening. Maybe if Elain could manage to forget about Graysen for a little while, she could relax enough to actually enjoy herself.

Mind made up, Cash switched the phone to silent mode before slipping it back in his pocket.

He managed to snag a glass of champagne from a passing waiter on the way. It was Veuve Cliqout, a classic and respectable choice, if a somewhat predictable one. 

When he looked back up, it was to find Nesta deeply immersed in convo with the Diversity Center’s director. He debated going to join her before thinking better of it. He didn’t want her to feel as if she needed to babysit him all evening, and remaining where he was allowed him to keep an eye on both Nesta and Rhys and Feyre (with an easy path to intersect Nesta before she could get a clear sight line of where they stood at the bar.)

He glanced around the room to see if he could spot Az and spare himself the indignity of standing alone like an idiot when he felt a tap on his shoulder.

“It’s Cassian, right?”

Cash turned to see one of the senior partners from Nesta’s firm, a middle-aged white dude whose name he knew he didn’t have a prayer of remembering.

“That’s right. Good to see you,sir,” he hedged, offering the man his hand and hoping he hadn’t been too obvious. 

 Thankfully, the stranger didn’t seem to notice or care, launching directly into a monologue about a recent bottle of Ghost Horse cabernet he’d sampled on his latest trip to Napa. At seventeen hundred dollars a bottle, Cash couldn’t decide if the man was mentioning it because he knew Cash was a somm or he simply needed a fresh victim to brag to, but Cash was happy enough for the diversion, even if Ghost’s tight structure and heavy oaking was about as far from his personal taste as wines came.

After twenty mildly-hellish minutes of pretending that Napa “cult wines” didn’t bore him to tears, Cash had to hide his relief when the man spotted someone he knew and excused himself, freeing Cash to once again sweep the room.

Nesta was still entrenched in her conversation with the director, but Rhys and Feyre had migrated to a set of low couches in one corner of the room. He couldn’t see Feyre’s expression from where she sat with her back to him, but Rhys–for his part–looked thoroughly engrossed, temple resting lightly on a fist as he seemed to hang on Feyre’s every word.

Unable to resist, Cash snapped a picture and texted Rhys “what the fuck are you two talking about?”

It was perhaps a bit unfair since he knew that Rhys, a certified phone addict, wouldn’t be able to resist checking the message. Instead, he watched his friend as he reached into breast pocket to silence the thing without even looking at it.

Perhaps he hadn’t made such a mistake in letting Rhys speak to Feyre after all, even if he wasn’t at all sure that Nesta would agree.

Still unable to locate Az, Cash decided to make his way to Nesta,who–upon seeing his approach–finally excused herself and met him halfway.

“Lost the boys already?” She asked, accepting his proffered drink and taking a grateful sip.

Cash fought the urge to glance in Rhys’s direction, not wanting to draw Nesta’s attention towards his current conversation partner. Instead he gave a shrug.

“They’re around here somewhere.”

It was perhaps a testament to how invested in the evening Nesta really was, that she didn’t call him out on what she normally would have sussed out to be an evasive answer. All the more reason, Cash decided, to keep Rhys and Feyre off her radar. It was her evening; he didn’t want anything to spoil it.

“I hope you aren’t too bored.,” she said, sending a pang of guilt twinging in his guilt.

“There’s nothing boring about watching you work a room,” he assured her, ignoring the urge to reach over and touch her cheek.

“A necessary evil, I’m afraid. Though I will admit that tonight’s lot is generally less odious than the usual lawyer scum.”

“Thank god for small miracles”, Cash said with a smile. 

“Archeron.”

Cash barely stifled his groan of disgust as they both turned in time to see Eris Vanserra swagger into view, his attention fixed entirely on Nesta. Cash watched, jaw clenched, as Eris’s gaze slithered from Nesta’s spiky heels all the to the twist in her hair, his assessment brazen and thorough. However, there was no heat in his expression as he finally met Nesta’s eye and flashed her a self-satisfied smirk, indicating that he’d only checked her out to prove he could. 

It was only for Nesta’s sake that Cash refrained from breaking Eris’s nose. She’d never admitted as much out loud, but it was clear that jealousy and possessiveness were major triggers for her, and he didn’t want to suggest he felt she were his to covet and control, the way Tomás always had.

Besides, she was more than capable of telling Eris off herself if she wished. Instead of speaking, however, she merely sniffed, giving Eris a less-than-flattering perusal of her own. 

“Vanserra,” she said in greeting. “How kind of you to slither out of your hole to join us this evening.”

Eris only raised his eyebrows,his smile growing.

“I never miss an opportunity to support the needy, as you well know.”

The insinuation that she’d been such a cause left a foul taste in Cash’s mouth, and he stepped slightly closer to Nesta in reassurance, their fingers gently tangling. 

It was only then that Eris deigned to acknowledge Cash’s presence, an unkind smile twisting across his face as he noted how close Nesta was standing. 

“Kahukore,what a surprise,” he said breezily, looking Cash up and down as well. “Then again, maybe not that much of a surprise.”

At this he let his gaze shift back to Nesta, smile widening to reveal perfectly-bleached teeth. “I knew you were boning him. Naughty girl, Archeron.”

“Get fucked, Eris,” Nesta replied coolly. 

Unphased, Eris only chuckled, his eyes flitting over Nesta’s shoulder and snagging a moment before drifting back to her.

“By you? Tempting, but I think I’ll pass. Will you excuse me?”

Not waiting for a reply, he moved to brush past Cash, his gaze having already strayed back to whatever it was that had caught his attention before.

Cash had an unpleasant feeling that he knew exactly where Eris was headed, and a glance in that direction was all it took to confirm he’d been right. 

However, before he could make a move to stop Eris, Nesta was there, sliding into the latter’s path and baring her teeth at him.

“Don’t even think about it,” she snarled quietly, poking Eris hard in the chest.

“Excuse me?” Eris demanded, mirth fading as he massaged the spot where Nesta had jabbed him.

“She’s not interested,” Nesta said, jerking his head to where Elain stood near the bar, chatting animatedly to Aelin’s friend Elide Lochan. “And I will put you in your grave before I let you near either of my sisters.”

Eris only rolled his eyes at Nesta’s answering snarl. 

“Elain’s an adult,” he said. “Why don’t you let her make her own decisions?”

Cash only gave a pitying laugh he knew had Eris seeing red. 

“She practically shudders every time your name comes up. Is that decisive enough for you?”

Eris’s lip curled. 

“What do you care? Going for the matching set now?”

“Watch your mouth,” Cash snapped, feeling his patience fraying but not wanting to lose temper in front of Nesta. She wouldn’t admit that either, but he knew that displays of male anger made her nervous. “And stay away from Elain.”

“Or what?” Eris challenged. 

“Or I’ll tell everyone what a cold fish you are in the sack,” Nesta said, flashing him an unkind smile that nevertheless made Cash’s gut tighten pleasantly. 

Eris’s gaze darkened even as his skin grew slightly pale.

“No one will believe you,” he said. 

“Won’t they, though?” Nesta said. 

Cash couldn’t help but laugh at Eris’s furious expression, especially as Nesta wordlessly raised a hand to high-five him, eyes still glued to Eris.

“You’re a witch,” Eris gritted out.

Though the comment had Cash clenching his teeth, Nesta only smiled.

“Charming as always, Eris. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

Cash couldn’t help but chuckle as he watched the redhead practically stomp back through the crowd, giving the bar where Elain was still hovering a wide berth.

“You and Eris?” He teased. “Yuck, Archeron!” 

Nesta only laughed.

“We all do things in college we regret. And thankfully for me, he drank so much whiskey that night that there wasn’t much to actually regret.  Just a few sloppy kisses and some cringy dirty talk.”

“From you or from him?”

She flashed him a quick glance, and he marveled at how she managed to imbue it with such heat. 

“Do you even have to ask?”

He laughed, trying to tamp down his unease as he watched her scan the room.

“Where did Az run off to? I think now might be a good time for introductions.”

“That ship has already sailed, I’m afraid. He got spooked as soon as he heard she had a boyfriend.”

Nesta flashed him a softer, more playful version of Disney Villianess.

“Shame,” Nesta said. “And I’m afraid we’ve lost Feyre as well. She texted that she was going to meet some friends, so I doubt we’ll see her until the morning.”

Sure enough, a glance to where Rhys and Feyre had been revealed that they’d both disappeared.

“Oh to be young,” he hedged, pulling his phone from his pocket and texting Rhys, remember the rules,asshole.

“Will you check on Elain for me?” Nesta asked, brushing a hand down his arm. “I need to go look at my notes before I give my speech.”

“Of course,” Cash said, a little thrill buzzing through him as she leaned over for a salutary kiss.

With that, Nesta sauntered off, leaving Cash alone to scan the room for Azriel a third time. Without a Rhysand-sized H-bomb to worry about, Cash was able to locate him standing along the far wall.

Cash didn’t fail to notice that it was a position which afforded Azriel a clear view of the balcony, empty save for a single occupant. 

Two birds with one stone, then.

“How you holding up?” Cash asked as he approached Azriel.

“Swimmingly,” Az said in a flat voice, his eyes straying to the balcony again before he drained the whiskey in his hand. “You know how much I love cavorting with strangers.”

“Not all strangers are created equal,” Cash said. “Maybe you ought to try talking to one and see where that gets you. I’m happy to suggest someone if you nee—”

“I don’t know why you’re over here babysitting me when Rhys is the one you should be worrying about,” Azriel cut in. “If Nesta catches him flirting with Feyre she’s gonna knock his head off; I’m honestly surprised she hasn’t noticed yet.”

“They left already,” Cash admitted, and Azriel huffed a soft laugh but offered no further commentary. 

A beat of silence passed as Cash debated if it was worth continuing to push when it was clear Az was losing patience. However, when he dared a glance back at his friend and found him once again staring out the window, Cash’s mind was made up. 

“Dating isn’t married, you know. Nothing to say you can’t talk to a woman just because she’s got a boyfriend.”

Az’s gaze snapped back to Cash, his expression stony. 

“I don’t need a pep talk,” he snapped. 

“Apparently you do,” Cash shot back. “Or you’d already be out there offering her a glass of champagne and your suit jacket. She’s got to be freezing in that dress.”

“I like Nesta too much for that.”

“Well that’s inconvenient for you, seeing as she has a boyfriend.”

Az only glared.

“You know what I mean, asshole. I don’t want to make things weird for her by skeeving out her little sister.”

“That’s a coward’s answer and you know it,” Cash said. “But suit yourself. Nes asked me to check on her, so if you don’t want to sack up and go out there, I will.”

“Be my guest,” Azriel said. “I need another drink.”

Cash fought the urge to roll his eyes, but knowing it was pointless to push Az once he’d made up his mind, he turned towards the balcony himself, just in time for a flash of red hair to catch his eye.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” he growled, giving Az one last disapproving look before heading off to catch Vanserra before he could slither outside in Azriel’s place.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he said, catching Eris by the elbow and making the latter scowl.

“About to hit the head,” Eris said, sneering as he gestured to the bank of restrooms that were indeed located along the balcony wall. “Why, jealous I fucked your girlfriend and now you want to sneak a peek?”

Cash scoffed.

“Hardly. To hear Nesta tell it, there isn’t much to see.”

Eris’s lip curled, but seeming to know he’d been beaten, he simply brushed past Cash and out of sight. It was only then that Cash turned his attention back to Elain, only to find that she wasn’t alone after all, a dark suit jacket draped over her shoulders and a soft smile on her face. 

“Atta, boy, Azzy” Cash muttered to himself, turning back to the bar to await Nesta’s speech.

x

Hours later, he and Nesta were in an uber home, exhausted and slightly buzzed as they reminisced on a successful evening.

“Thank you for coming tonight,” Nesta said. “And for convincing me to invite my sisters. It was nice to have them there.”

Cash felt another pang go through him.

“Of course,” he said, unable to keep himself from adding, “have you heard from Feyre?”

“No,” Nesta said, her words tailing off into a yawn. “But we share locations. She’s at Tonga, of all places. No accounting for a 21-year-old’s taste.”

Nesta yawned again.

“Did you ever find out where Rhys ran off to?”

Cash quickly checked his phone, cursing softly to himself when he looked at Rhys’s location as well.

“What’s wrong?” Nesta asked, eyes fluttering as she nestled her head on his shoulder.

Cash bit his lip.

“Funny story, he’s also at Tonga.”

Nesta scoffed, sounding half-asleep now.

“That’s random.”

Cash grit his teeth. Fucking Tonga Room. After tonight, he had half a mind to burn that cursed place to the fucking ground. Still, there was a poetic irony to the fact that of all the bars in the city, this all had to be going down at Tonga. It represented the worst secret Nesta had ever kept from him, and much as he currently hated Rhys for putting him in this position, Cash knew he had to make the choice she’d failed to make that night and tell her the truth.

“Actually, it’s not,” he admitted. “I’m pretty sure they’re there together.”

Nesta sat bolt upright, eyes blazing.

“Excuse me?”

“Look, I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but I think they really hit it off–”

Nesta snarled her displeasure, the sound doing odd things to Cash. Then again, that’s what he loved about being with Nesta; somehow she found a way to scare the shit out of him and make his dick hard at the same time.

“I cannot believe you!” she said, either unaware or uninterested in the heat that had flared to life in his eyes. “How could you let this happen?”

“She’s a grown woman, Nes; give her a little credit.”

“She’s twenty-one,” Nesta snapped, tone positively subarctic now. “And he’s like forty-five!”

“Watch it,” Cash said. “You know he and I are the same age.”

“Good! Then from one guy over thirty to another, you can tell him to back off.”

“And what if he’s genuinely interested in her?

That, it seemed, had been the wrong thing to say.

“Don’t make me kill you both,” she snarled.

They’d arrived home by this time, and Nesta wasted no time in sliding out of the car, heading for the house without bothering to wait for him.

“Nes, wait!”

She ignored him, storming up the stairs into the kitchen before turning on him with a blazing fury he hadn’t seen in quite some time.

“I cannot fucking believe you,” she seethed. “Rhysand, Cash? Seriously?”

“You were fine with Az talking to Elain! How is this any different?”

“It’s completely different, and you know it!”

“Why? Because you hate Graysen?”

Her eyes flashed.

“Don’t put this back on me.”

“Look, I know that you don’t want to hear this, but your sisters are adults. At some point, you have to let them make their own mistakes.”

She flashed an unkind smile.

“I’m glad we can at least agree this is a mistake.”

“I don’t think that’s fair.”

“All you’ve ever told me about Rhys is how much he likes to sleep around and how little interest he has in settling down. Explain to me why I should let him within one hundred miles of Feyre.”

“Because it’s her choice to make! You told me yourself that she knows who she is and what she want., If she wants him, I don’t think it’s for either of us to stand in her way.”

“She’s twenty-one, and he’s a fucking gorgeous billionaire. Of course she’s going to want him!”

“That Tam guy was rich, and she broke up with him. I don’t think you’re giving her enough credit.”

“And what? Just because Rhys is your friend and I love you, I’m supposed to give him a pass?”

“I–” Cash began before realizing what she said and completely losing his train of thought. His mouth had gone dry, heart thundering in his chest. “What did you say?”

“I said just because he’s your–”

“No,” Cash said. “The other part.”

Nesta softened at this, her own eyes suddenly misty as well.

“That I love you?” she said, voice softer, more reverent now. “Of course I love you, Cash. I love you more than anything.”

Cash couldn’t help the half-laugh, half-cry as it choked out of him.

“And this is how you choose to tell me for the first time?” he said, coming forward to gently cup her face.

“I meant to make it special,” she said, a tear shining in her eyes as she laughed as well. “After everything, I wanted to make sure you knew I meant it.”

“Ironically, I think you timed it perfectly,” Cash said. “You’re never more honest than when you’re angry.”

She leaned into him, pressing up to kiss him softly.

“I love you, Cassian Kahukore,” she breathed onto his lips. “I will love you for the rest of my life.”

“I love you,too,” he said, brushing his nose against hers. “More than anything.”

“But I’m still not happy about this,” she said, gently pulling back as she studied his face. “And this conversation isn’t over.”

“I know,” Cash said. “But can it wait until tomorrow? Tonight there’s something I’d like to do.”

“I’m listening,” she said, moving to push his suit jacket from his shoulders as she leaned up to kiss him.

“Not that,” Cash laughed. “I mean yes, that–always that–but first, will you have a glass of the Domaine Serene with me?”

Her eyes had gone slightly glassy again.

“That’s what you’ve been saving it for?”

“Yes,” he admitted. “And it’s been well worth the wait.”

She nodded, kissing him again.

“Text Rhys first,” she said. “Tell him if he values his life, he’ll be here in the morning to talk.Then yes,let’s open it up and talk about us.”

“Done,” Cash said. “I love you.”

Nesta smiled. “I love you, too.”

— tim drake

— dick grayson

— jason todd

a/n: baby's first SMAU! this is a prompt that has floated around in my brain for a while and i'm honestly kind of shocked that i've never seen it done before (let me know if u have). all the pictures are from pinterest btw. let me know what u think!

likes, comments, and reblogs are greatly appreciated <3