Page 62 of Riding the Line
An unexpectedly beatific smile dances on his lips as he swaps his pencil for a paintbrush, dipping it in the water and then into the first colour. ‘Mhm. And I’ve got you with me for my whole shift.’
‘But you organised our shifts before we even started—’ I nod to him, unsure what word to use ‘—this.’
‘I know.’ This time he looks up, eyes softening as they drift over me for a long moment—like I’m too enchanting to rip his gaze away – before dropping back to the canvas. ‘You … soothe me, Cherry. Distract me, I guess. When you’re around, my mind likes to focus on you, instead of all the worries swirling about. Like at Sawyer’s rodeos. I always need a bit of someone else’s strength at those too.’
He gently the paintbrush across the canvas, wetting his lips as he concentrates. ‘I’m scared that he’ll get hurt,and we’ll lose him. That I’ll lose someone else. Every time he climbs into that chute my heart stops and my mind can’t help but flash reminders of sitting with my mom in hospital, knowing I was about to lose her and feeling totally on my own. But having you there … I don’t know, it reminds me that I’m never completely alone.’
There I was lamenting the way Duke always ended up saving me, trapped in this constant cycle of always having to rely on others, when really, he was just giving back the same care I unknowingly gave to him. Holding me up when he had the strength, knowing I’d shine a light for him on his darker days too.
Hope flares in my chest, coercing out my smile. ‘I guess I have no choice but to keep coming back from college to watch them with you then.’
He flashes me a quick smile back, a silent promise in his brightening eyes. ‘I guess so.’
If I hadn’t been falling for Duke Bennett all these years, then there was no doubt that I was now.
We settle into a comfortable silence as Duke continues to paint me. Eventually, the painkillers work their magic, and my cramps turn into dull aches, though still never completely gone. The pizza arrives and I lazily chomp on slices while trying not to move too much. For once, I let myself just lie there, allowing that today I might need to share my strength with him, and give my body the rest it needs, not berate it for how it works differently to everyone else’s. And when Duke’s gaze is filled with nothing but awe and reverence as he admires me, accepting myself comes a little easier.
Being stuffed full of pizza sends me to sleep at somepoint, my body jolting awake what must be at least an hour later when Duke’s fingers softly graze my legs to wake me up. My eyes flutter open, and Duke’s sitting there, displaying his finished piece to me, pride lighting up his face. I practically scramble over to the end of the bed to take it from his hands and look at it closer.
‘Careful, it’s still wet,’ he scolds me with a smirk.
My eyes roam over the canvas, exploring the paint strokes that softly outline my silhouette, even under the baggy T-shirt, a faint desire underlining the effort gone into capturing my shape. I’m brighter than all my surroundings, golden hues used to highlight the muscles of my legs, the rise of my cheekbones, the sunshine glittering against the strands of my hair, in a way that almost appears like I was divinely created. Celestial.Powerful.
‘Duke, this is incredible.’ This time I don’t fight back my tears, letting them spill softly. ‘You’ve made me look so … sobeautiful.’
A faint blush rises in his cheeks – something I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. He shakes his head, though, reaching out to wipe away my tears with his thumb, my head falling into his hand. ‘All I did was paint what beauty was already there, Baby Hensley. It’s all you. It’salwaysbeen you.’
28
Cherry
‘You’re staring,’ Montana whispers teasingly as she passes by where I’m clearing some empties from a table that’s just left the bar.
Except, I only got as far as putting my tray down because I got distracted by watching Duke shake up a cocktail while chatting with some of the locals perched at the bar. He looks so natural behind the bar, smile brighter than any of the neon signs above him as he laughs with customers. It’s not even that late on a Friday evening yet, but the bar is already buzzing, first rounds turning into seconds, songs queued on the jukebox.
‘Huh?’ I say, feigning ignorance to my friend, and actually getting to clearing the table.
Montana stops, and rests her empty tray against her hip. Her expression is too knowing, and I can already feel the heat rising in my cheeks. ‘You’re both as bad as each other, y’know?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Staring at each other. Youalwaysdo it when the other isn’t looking.’ She perks her brow at me, chestnut hair slipping to the side as she angles her head. ‘I’m guessing it has something to do with him helping you with the bucket list?’
‘You’realso helping me with the bucket list, remember,’ I remind her, thinking back to last Saturday when I dosed myself up with plenty of painkillers and caffeine and managed to go out to karaoke with her and a couple of Austin’s friends. I stack the glasses on my tray.
‘I suppose,’ Montana considers. ‘But whatever ones Duke’s helping you with has him gazing at you like you hung the moon, girl.’
My smile practically explodes across my face. You’d think I’ve only just been told Duke might have feelings for me, but even a month after we kissed, it still hits me just as powerfully each time I’m reminded. Even if I can’t scream about it with my best friend.
Montana reaches out to squeeze my upper arm. ‘I’m sorry I haven’t been around as much to help you this summer, but I’m glad you guys are having fun.’
Guilt whirrs in my chest. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t enjoyed the thrill of sneaking around, the slight torture of having to keep our hands off each other at work while knowing he’ll be making up for the lost touches later at night. But since that night at Kip’s bar, when we were able to unlock all the constraints on our relationship and actuallybewith each other,toucheach other without caring who saw, has left me wanting more.
Because everyone else gets to show off what they have, but me. I want more than my best friend catching Dukestaring at me, I want her to see us together, to see how happy we are.
Because this hasn’t just been something in the making only this summer. It’s beenyears.
I’m pretty certain that’s why those three words keep accidentally finding their way to the tip of my tongue…
