Page 50 of Best of Me

Natalie and Jenny exchange a look, silently communicating with one another, until wordlessly Natalie starts emptying out the grocery bags on the counter. I take stock of the contents, noting the familiar ingredients: a tub of vanilla ice cream and one of butter pecan, a jar of caramel sauce, Magic Shell topping, chocolate sprinkles, and whipped cream.

“Wha—how?” I ask, feeling crazy emotional as Natalie starts assembling the sundaes in precisely the right order.

Jenny opens her mouth to speak but Tatum beats her to it. “Mr. Duke said you had the sads because he was a dumbass—you can’t get mad, Mama, that’s exactly what he saided—and told Aunt Jenny this would help.”

Jenny and I barely suppress our laughter while Natalie fights back a grin as she scolds her daughter all the while spooning sprinkles into each bowl. I guess what they say about motherhood and multi-tasking is true.

The four of us each grab a bowl and move to the living room. I lose myself in the flavors and the memory of making this for Duke.Great. Now even this makes me think of him.

Jenny finishes first since her serving is much smaller than everyone else’s due in part to her being a type one diabetic. “So. I was right; you did have a secret boyfriend.”

My shoulders sag and I push away my bowl with two bites still remaining. “Had. Past tense.”

Natalie reaches over and squeezes my shoulder. “Don’t count him out just yet.”

“Look, I know y’all are close with him and…wait! How did y’all know about Ashley’s Has the Sad’s Sundae?”

Tatum rolls her eyes, the sass this kid has could easily rival a teenager. “I already told you, Mr. Duke sent us.”

“Really? He…” Words fail me as the implications of Tatum’s words become clear. Not only did Duke remember what this sugary concoction was for, he sent our friends over here for my benefit. He sent them here to comfort me. Because he knew he messed up.

“Girl, he’s got it bad for you.” Jenny smirks, looking all too smug. “I called it, in case you forgot; at my engagement party, I told you he wanted you and as per usual, I was right.”

Natalie snorts. “How does my brother handle you?”

Jenny wags her brows and Natalie gags. “Oh, God. Forget I asked!”

Tatum stares at both of them like they’re insane; I’m starting to wonder if the kid might just be on to something.

I bury my face in my hands. “What do I do?”

“You decide if he’s worth it and if he is, you give him another shot,” Natalie says at the same time Jenny shouts, “Make him grovel!”Yep, totally crazy because Duke Kincaid is not the kind of man who grovels.

“Wanna know what I think, Ms. Mally?” Tatum asks, coming to sit beside me.

While I’m not sure what kind of advice a five-year-old with no knowledge of the situation can offer, I humor her. “Sure, lay it on me.”

“I don’t wanna lay on you. I wanna give you advice.” Tatum sounds absolutely exasperated.

The urge to chuckle at her pure cuteness is overwhelming, but I manage to rein it in. “Right. Sorry. Continue.”

Tatum heaves out a sigh, steepling her fingers beneath her chin in a way that is all her daddy. “Remember Amelia’s blocks?”

How could I forget?“Yup. She was really sad when Hayes kicked them over. Mad, too.”

The little girl’s eyes brighten and she bounces in her seat. “Exactly! It’s just like that. Mr. Duke knocked over your block heart and made you sad and mad. But remember what you told Amelia, Ms. Mally? You tolded her it was okay because she could rebuild them into something even better! You can do that, too! You can rebuild your heart with Mr. Duke into something better!”

By the time she’s finished, Tatum has rendered her mother, Jenny, and myself speechless. The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. Duke did kick over my feelings like a tower of blocks, but that doesn’t mean all hope is lost. It doesn’t mean we can’t rebuild.

chapter thirty

Mallory

Monday morning dawns and while my heart still feels heavy, it’s less so. My eyes are also less puffy and my cheeks less red. And in keeping with the less theme, I’m hoping today is less awful than the last two.

I still haven’t checked any of Duke’s messages or returned his calls, which makes me a total wimp. But I’m so dang scared of the hold he has over my heart that not knowing almost seems easier.Nut up, buttercup—that’s what Ashley would tell me, and I will…after say ten or so cups of coffee.

I cave after only two.

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