Page 69 of Duke
“We all feel that way about Jonathan Bailey.”
“Those thighs.” Haines sighs.
“The way that man looks in breeches.” I crack a smile.
“Yes.” Haines gets a faraway look in his eyes. “But I like the way he looks when he takes them off better.”
I roll my eyes, even as I chuckle. Feels good to laugh. “Somebody needs to get laid.”
“Somebody got laid a bit too well. Or would it be a bit too much?”
“Shut up.”
He’s teasing, a grin on his handsome face. “Wheeler, surely you know I believe that there’s no such thing as getting laid too much or too well.”
“Yes, there is. It’s called getting knocked up.”
Haines’s grin fades a little. “Fair. That’s not a problem I’ve run into.”
My little brother came out at sixteen and has dated men exclusively since then. I’m thrilled he’s happy.
My parents, however? They say they support him, but I know to this day they still wish their son was straight. Preston, my older brother, is embarrassed by the whole thing and pretends it never happened.
“I’m sorry you’re feeling so rotten,” Haines continues. “I know you’re freaked out. But let’s not forget you did hook up with a hot cowboy who won’t stop calling or texting you.”
“I thought city boys were more your type.” I try another sip of water. It tastes…ugh, I don’t know what it tastes like, but all of a sudden, it doesn’t taste like it should.
Nothing does. The food I used to love—smoothies, hummus, chicken—is a total no-go. I literally vomited in my mouth when I tried to eat some rotisserie chicken for lunch earlier today.
And the fatigue, my God! It’s never-ending. No matter how much I sleep, I wake up tired. My boobs hurt, and my nipples are so sensitive to changes in temperature that I howled this morning like a wounded animal when I stepped into the shower.
I’ve been pregnant for practically ten minutes, and I already hate everything about it.
“I do like city boys.” Haines lifts the water bottle from my hands and sets it on the coffee table. “But I think I speak for everyone everywhere who ever existed when I say that I’d sure as hell try out a cowboy too.”
“Ha.” I fall back onto the pillows. “Duke was just a fling.”
“I didn’t know people wove their flings so casually into everyday conversation.” Haines gives me a pointed look. “For a hookup, you talk about him an awful lot.”
My chest twists, my face getting hot. “Well, yeah. He did get me pregnant.”
My brother’s expression softens. He props my feet in his lap and rests his hands over the blanket on my shins. “I know part of you feels like Duke could never fall for someone as ‘difficult’ or ‘messy’ as you—”
“Wow,” I say, scoffing. “That’s…actually kind of insightful.”
“I pay closer attention than you think.”
My heart swells. Haines does a good job looking out for me, and I’ll always love him for it.
“You also went from hookup to falling pretty damn fast there.”
Haines shrugs. “Isn’t that how it usually happens?”
“You’re twenty-two. Of course that’s how it happens at your age.”
“Look, all I’m saying is you should give yourself a chance. Maybe then you’ll give this cute cowboy a chance too. Preston is a piece of shit. So is Dad. And Mom…” Sighing, he looks down at his hands. “They’re all ignorant in their own ways. Don’t let their stupidity keep you from living your best damn life.”
My throat swells. “I’m hardly living my best life right now. And seriously, Haines, I’m the big sister. I feel like I should be givingyoulife advice.”
