Page 115 of Duke
All I thought existed.
When I decided not to pursue a law degree and started Bellamy Brooks instead, I knew I was forfeiting the chance to ever be with a guy like that. After all, a successful man who came from a good family would never want a broke creative type for a girlfriend or wife who was, by all accounts, going nowhere fast.
For a long time, that fact stung. I felt embarrassed. Shameful even.
Now, I’m so glad I didn’t end up with one of Preston’s prep school friends. Maybe I get to end up with a cowboy instead.
Maybe I finally get to embrace who I really am and what I really want, something I’m not sure I could do if I still lived in my parents’ world.
Duke opens my door and holds out his hand. Taking it, I am brimming with a profound sense of gratitude. Who knew coming to a small town in the middle of nowhere would broaden my horizons in such an epic way? There’s a wholeuniverseoutside the place I’m from and the people I grew up with.
A whole different way of life that isn’t objectively any better or worse than how I grew up. It’s just different.
The kind of different I’m really starting to like.
“Thank you.” Holding on to Duke’s hand, I step onto the cracked pavement. Beside us, Ava and Sawyer are unloading the kids from his black Silverado.
Ella and Junie scream when they see us.
“Uncle D!” Ella makes a beeline for him, wrapping her arms around his legs. “You’re here! Daddy said you were coming.”
Junie eyes me. “Mommy didn’t say Miss Wheeler was coming too.”
Sawyer shuts the car door and grins. “We didn’t want to jinx it. So happy you made it, Wheeler.” He comes over and wraps me in a hug. “Thank you for coming. Means a lot.”
I give him a squeeze. “Thank you for having me. I’m so excited to see this art I’ve been hearing so much about.” I let go of Sawyer and hold out my hands to the girls. “Y’all wanna show me what you made?”
Junie and Ella bounce on their toes, all smiles. Junie takes my right hand, and Ella takes my left.
“I love your beautiful shoes,” she says.
“And your jewels,” Junie says, staring at my earrings. “Can I wear those?”
Ava laughs and starts walking beside us. “Those are for pierced ears, Bug. When you’re a little older, we’ll get yours pierced, and then you can wear any earrings you want.”
I give Junie’s hand a squeeze. “How fun is that gonna be? I’ll save all my favorite earrings for you.”
“I love you, Miss Wheeler.” She beams at me.
I burst out laughing. “That’s all it takes, huh?”
“She’s got a big heart,” Ava says.
Sawyer chuckles. “And expensive taste.”
“You’re in trouble, brother.” Duke claps Sawyer on the shoulder. “You lucky bast—bum. You luckybum.”
The girls see a friend, so they drop my hands and take off running. The guys hang by the open doors at the front of the school where several teachers are handing out paddles for bidding.
Ava nudges me with her elbow. “I love your outfit.”
“Thanks. Duke and I are heading to dinner after this, so figured I’d put some real clothes on.”
She grins. “I heard y’all are going on a date. I’m happy for you guys.”
For a split second, I think about keeping up the pretense that she doesn’t know I’m pregnant. It’s easier that way. Less awkward if we stick to polite topics of conversation. I’m still getting used to the fact that all Duke’s family will probably know all our business for, well, ever.
But all of a sudden, the idea of pretending makes me feel suffocated. I’m not going to get anywhere in any area of my life if I don’t talk about anything real. Look how far Duke and I have come in such a short amount of time, largely because I’ve tried my best to be open and honest with him.
