Page 17 of Duke
Needless to say, it was a relief when Mom finally asked for a divorce last year. Dad moved out of my childhood home a week later, and we’ve all been navigating their acrimonious split ever since.
I wouldn’t say I’m super close to either of my parents, but I’m definitely closer to my mom than I am to my dad. I feel bad for her. But Dad? He’s a lost cause in my eyes. He’s always been mean and angry, but age has only seemed to amplify his worst qualities. I do my best to keep my distance.
“If you like Wheeler, you should ask her out,” Sawyer says, yanking me back into the present. “Mollie says she’s single.”
My knee feels wobbly. Both my knees, actually. I curl my hand around the lip of the shelf. I should make myself known, but I’m frozen in place. Too scared—too curious—to come out.
“I liked talking to her,” Duke replies. “That’s it, all right? So y’all can fuck off now.”
Ryder chuckles. “Keep talking to her, then.”
“Trust me, I’ve tried. She’s busy.”
I feel a funny little tug in my center. Regret? I haven’t meant to be rude to Duke. I’m just protecting myself from inevitable heartbreak.
Truth is, though, I’d love to hang out with Duke again. Sometimes, after a long, lonely day of work, I want to text him so badly—invite him over for a drink—that I literally ache.
But if my parents’ divorce has taught me anything, it’s that one, shotgun weddings are never a good idea. And two, my work and my sanity need to be my focus right now. A relationship, marriage, kids—the life I’ve always dreamed of—will come later, when my business is thriving, I’m one hundred percentfinancially independent,andI’ve found some semblance of what my therapist calls “self-love” and “inner peace.”
“Bellamy Brooks is going places,” Cash says.
“Of course it is. Mollie and Wheeler are working their asses off.” Duke sighs. “Bet they’ll be all over the world in no time.”
“You could be goin’ with them,” Ryder says. “Remember what I told you—bide your time. Good things come to those who wait.”
Wyatt scoffs. “Don’t you go giving him ideas. We just created one of the biggest ranches in the fuckin’ country, remember? I need every pair of hands I can get.”
As the ranch’s new foreman—he’s taking over from Cash—makes sense why Wyatt would say that.
“Seriously, Wy,” Duke shoots back with a hard little chuckle. “I ain’t your little minion. I got a life of my own, you know. Things I wanna do and see outside Texas.”
I bite my lip. I can so relate to Duke’s desire to break the mold.
“Aw, c’mon.” Wyatt’s voice drops, all earnestness now. “You know I love you, right? That’s why I wanna keep you around. We’re just getting started—as a family, as a business. I’m excited.”
“Only because Sally’s part of the family now too.”
“Well, yeah. Sally makes everything better.”
Is there something in the water here that’s making everyone and their mother fall in love? These cowboys keep pairing off, and something inside me wishes it were my turn to pair off too.
But it’s not in the cards for me right now.
“Sally sure does make everything better.” That’s Patsy, who must be just getting back. She had to run to her house a little bit ago to grab some fresh mint from her garden, becauseof courseLucky River Ranch’s chef grows her own herbs. “Then again, I’m a little biased.”
“We’re all biased. And real damn lucky that Sally decided to stay in Hartsville,” Duke says, and I hear the faucet turn on. “All right, Patsy, what can we help with? I’ll chop up those onions.”
Ryder laughs. “You always were the crybaby. No, wait, that was me, actually.”
“Hey. Cowboys cry too, you know.”
I’m laughing, even though I don’t wanna be. Duke is cheesy. But his cheesiness is really fucking endearing. So is the way he seems to effortlessly embrace expressing his emotions. He’s not afraid to be vulnerable, and I like that.
Too much. Which is why I decide I’ll try to sneak out of the pantry and through the kitchen unnoticed. Having lunch with Duke suddenly seems especially dangerous. I figure I’ll just grab whatever leftovers there are after the cowboys head back to work.
Yeah, the idea of eating alone is depressing. But I’m used to it by now. I have friends in Dallas, but I’m usually too busy working to meet them for a meal. I make an exception when my little brother visits from college. The best days are when Haines is in town.
I wouldn’t say my life in Dallas is depressing in general. But it sure as hell isn’t as fun or as full as life on the ranch can be. Living here forces you to work with and see other people. Eat with them too.
