Page 54 of Best of Me

My cheeks flame. “What are you even doing here?”

“Couldn’t wait until tonight. Now, c’mon, I got two large piping hot pizzas and two dozen cupcakes.”

Tatum monopolizes most of Duke’s time during our lunch period, which is fine by me. She’s so freaking cute as she brags over him. I also catch a few other faculty members checking him out, which leaves me wondering how I’m lucky enough to call him mine. That thought gives way to guilt, though because if not for Val dying…he wouldn’t be. Plain and simple.

I shake off my macabre thoughts, determined to enjoy the food he brought as well as his company. I have to believe my sister would want us to find happiness—even if that means being happy together.

The rest of the day passes in a blur and before I know it, six o’clock is here and Duke’s knocking on my door, a box of chocolates in hand and a gleam in his eyes that skyrockets my heart rate.

“Ready for our date?” he asks as I step out onto the porch, his hand brushing my mine as I move past him. The barely-there touch ignites a maelstrom of emotions inside me.

Ready or not, here we go.

chapter thirty-two

Duke

To say I’m nervous would be an understatement. I’m low-key worried I’m making a monumental mistake taking Mallory back to the scene of the crime, so to speak. But at the same time, us getting a redo feels right.

When Jenny invited us out and I agreed, she lit up like a bonfire. And I’m the asshole that dimmed her flame. Now I’m more determined than ever to breathe life back into it—and everyone knows oxygen only fans the flames.

“Where are we going?” Mallory fidgets in her seat, glancing around as if a neon sign with our destination will pop up if she looks hard enough.

“There’s no fun in telling you; it’d spoil the surprise.”

She bats her long lashes at me, tempting me to spill my secrets, but I hold strong, hoping like hell this doesn’t blow up in my face. “Ugh. Fine. Spoilsport.”

I’m tense as I turn into the bowling alley parking lot, my grip on the wheel white-knuckle strong. “Duke…” Mallory whimpers from the passenger seat.

“Do you trust me, Cricket?” She nods silently as she fidgets in her seat. “Good. I’ve got you. I’m gonna make this right.”

I park my truck and cut the engine before coming around to open her door. Like the last time we were here, I guide her toward the building with a hand to her back. Unlike last time, Mallory is practically shaking with her nervous energy. I hate knowing I’m the cause of her distrust; I hate knowing I hurt her.

At the door, Mallory hesitates, turning to face me. “Please don’t make me regret this.”

I hold her golden gaze before pressing a chaste kiss to her lips. “No regrets, Cricket baby. Not between us—never between us.”

Mallory steels her spine, standing straight with her head held high—it’s truly a thing of beauty to watch her strengthen her resolve. It’s even sweeter knowing she’s walking through these doors with me.

Inside, Jenny, Nate, Natalie, and Alden are holding down our lane. Mallory sees them and casts a worried glance back my way. Desperate to soothe her, I step to her side and grasp her hand with mine, twining our fingers together, claiming her for our friends to see.

She sucks in a nervous breath and I lean down to whisper in her ear, “There’s no more hiding, Cricket. You’re mine and I want everyone to know.”

The next few hours are split between ten frames, three plates of nachos, just as many pitchers of beer, and countless smiles. There’s something freeing about being able to touch and hug and kiss Mallory whenever I feel like.

Once the last pin is knocked down, Jenny tallies the scores, gleefully announcing that she and Nate won. “Nat, you and Alden came in second place; which means last place goes to Duke and Mallory.” Her lips tip up in a good-natured smile. “How’s it feel to lose, sucker?”

With an indulgent smile, I wrap an arm around Mallory’s middle and tug her to me. “Feels a lot like winning,” I reply to Jenny before capturing Mallory’s lips in a too-hot-for-public kiss.

Summer gives way to fall as Mallory and I continue to nurture this flame between us. The more I get to know her, the more I realize just how different she truly is from her sister. I’m talking night and day. Where Valorie was rigid and a numbers girl, Mallory is a little more carefree and impulsive; and I don’t mean either of those in a bad way. When I was young, Valorie was exactly what I needed to mellow me out and keep me on the straight and narrow.

But now…it’s as though Mallory is tailor-made for me. She constantly pushes me to step outside of my box; whether it’s something small like reading a romance novel or something huge like finally purchasing furniture for my house, she keeps me on my toes and I love it.

Currently, we’re snuggled up on my brand-new massive leather sectional with a chunky cable knit blanket that Mallory insisted would look great in my house covering us. “Are you sure you wanna sell the stuff you and Val bought? You know I wouldn’t mind if you used it, right?”

She’s so damn perfect. Most women won’t let you keep a sweater your ex bought, but here she is offering to use the furnishings her own twin picked day in and day out.“Cricket, I’m sure. Plus we already bought this beast,” I say, patting the cushion next to me.

She rolls her beautiful eyes at me. “Duke. The only thing you’ve bought so far is this couch—”

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