Page 117 of Duke
“Something to think about.”
“I’m thinking.”
Her eyes go soft. “Trust yourself to make the right decision. I wish I’d trusted myself earlier. I would’ve avoided a lot of unnecessary heartache.”
A beat of silence moves between us as we look toward Sawyer and Duke. They’re the ones playing hopscotch now, Duke showing Ella and Junie how it’s done.
I scoff. “I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. Like, a man that good can’t possibly exist, you know?”
“Oh, I know,” Ava says with a mirthless laugh. “Why do you think I settled for my ex? It’s what I was taught—that men just aren’t as kind or thoughtful as women. But they can be.” She points to the boys. “Those men are.”
I think I knew the night we met that Duke is one in a million. Every interaction with him just hammers that point home. I want him.
I’m falling for him.I can’t fuck this up.
I just need to figure out how to like myself a little more, so I can let him in without being terrified that he’ll be turned off by what he sees.
Am I kind enough? Smart enough? Do I love hard enough? I think so. But everything I learned growing up told me otherwise. I’m so, so scared Duke won’t love me back because of that.
Ryder comes over to give us a hug.
“I’m so glad you came,” he murmurs in my ear. “You bein’ around is making my brother a very happy man. Kinda grosses us out, actually, how chipper he is.”
I lean in to whisper in his ear. “It’s the sex.”
“Figured as much,” Ryder replies with a smirk. “How’re you feeling?”
Wrong that I appreciate how everyone’s asking me that question tonight? Seems silly, but their genuine concern makes me feel…safe. Taken care of.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Wyatt approaching.
“I’m feeling all right tonight,” I say.
Ryder’s smirk stays put on his handsome face. “Duke makes everything better, huh?”
“Are you bein’ a perv again?” Cash appears over Ryder’s shoulder. He’s holding hands with Mollie, who beams at us with a knowing twinkle in her eye.
“Probably shouldn’t say the word ‘pervert’ when you’re at a preschool.” Wyatt glances around.
Cash rolls his eyes. “You just said it.”
“What? Pervert?” Duke strides over wearing a cocky smile. “Yeah, that’s definitely inappropriate.”
Sawyer groans. “Can y’all be polite just once in your lives?”
“Nope.” Ryder holds out his arm. “May I escort you inside, Miss Wheeler? My brothers may be heathens, but I’m a gentleman.”
Cash lets out a bark of laughter. “I call BS.”
“Case in point,” Ryder sniffs. “C’mon, pretty lady.”
I meet Duke’s eyes, and my heart takes a tumble. They glimmer with happiness, the kind you can’t fake. Happiness and…is that pride?
Why wouldn’t he be proud of you?
Why am I not more proud of myself? I’m pregnant. Scared. Sick. But I’m showing up anyway.
I’m trying my best anyway.
