My grandfather’s words ring loudly through my mind.‘Us Bennetts are tough, Junior. We don’t let things like this knock us down. The best thing to do is to just keep moving.’
Cherry’s fingers pulse against my shoulder. ‘I’m sorry, Duke. That sounds hard.’
I shrug. ‘I guess I just never really learnt how to let people in. Therapy helped – still does – but it’s not the same. In all honesty, Wyatt was my biggest saviour during that time – all of you Hensleys were. Immediately making me and my grandparents part of your family traditions. Letting me sleep over probably more than I should have. Inviting me along to any of your family activities knowing my grandparents probably were too old to always be taking me out. It helped remind me I wasn’t totally alone, even if I couldn’t say it.’
Cherry’s eyes soften at me, along with her smile. ‘This works, though. Letting me see you in small slices – your art, your passions, your family. It’s like I get to slowly put the puzzle pieces of Duke Bennett together. It helps me to understand you better.’
My brows shoot up as my eyes search hers. ‘That’s something you want? To understand me?’
‘Mhm.’ She nods, mouth spreading out into a glorious smile that has my heart somersaulting. ‘I feel closer to you in the last twenty-four hours than ever and it’s been amazing.’ Then she goes and rests her head against my shoulder, her warmth completely encompassing me. ‘Last night, with Levi, I’ve never felt more defeated than I did then. But with you looking after me and bringing me here, I’ve never felt more alive.’
19
Cherry
Duke:Just letting you know – Levi won’t be working at the bar again.
Duke:He’s alive, FYI. I didn’t kill him, just fired him.
Cherry:Wow, more than one text AND a joke from Duke Bennett? What did I do to be so lucky?
Duke:Funny.
Cherry: Thank you, though. Makes me feel a lot better.
Duke:I’m glad.
Cherry:Hey, Duke?
Duke:Yeah?
Cherry:I can’t sleep again.
‘Sorry I’m late!’ I call out as I rush through the door of Sitting Pretty, the coffee shop on Main Street where I’m meeting Rory and Fliss the following day. I’m immediately greeted by the rich aromas of coffee and caramel, the buzz and steam of the coffee machines filtering amongst the light chatter from customers.
With the wellness retreat at Sunset Ranch heavily booked this summer, any day Rory and Fliss have time off together, we jump at the opportunity for a coffee or smoothie date. Luckily, Rory’s family are visiting from England this week, so the retreat doesn’t have any other guests, giving her more time to spare. They’re the best kind of friends that pass no judgement – if I suddenly told them I wanted to quit college and run away with the circus to become a sword eater, I honestly think they’d hug me and start googling what the best circuses to join are. Plus, they introduced me to smutty romance books and that is something I can never thank them enough for.
‘I was up late last night and overslept,’ I babble my apologies as I drop into a chair. The reality being that I had such a deep, long sleep after being on the phone with Duke while he told me all about his grandfather, opening up another tiny kernel of his life to me.
‘I think him getting me involved with the bar business was his way of showing love, like there was no doubt I’d be taking it over eventually,’ Duke tells me. ‘Even if it probably wasn’t legal to have me helping out in my teens.
‘You know, I remember one time at Thanksgiving I told him I was interested in studying interior design and he came up with a whole plan for me to start my own business.’
Duke chuckles on the other end. ‘Yep, that soundsjust like him. An entrepreneur at heart.’ He hums for a moment. ‘Makes me proud though – growing up during such a difficult time, especially as one of only a few Black people in a small town – but he never gave up. Never let the world stop him from achieving what he wanted.
‘He’d be proud of you too, y’know?’
Rory chuckles, grabbing my hand and giving it a squeeze. ‘Girl, you’re like five minutes late, it’s fine. We already told them to start your drink when you arrive, so it’s all good.’
‘You’re the best, thank you.’ My shoulders drop and I take in the coffee shop – the sunlight scattered across the mint walls, cutting through the large windows that look out onto Main Street.
‘I’m personally more interested by the fact you were up late last night,’ Fliss chimes in, quirking a brow at me over the brim of her coffee cup as she sips slowly. ‘Anyone the cause of that?’
‘Spill!’ Rory demands, eyes wide with hope.
‘Calm down.’ I shake my head at them, chuckling. ‘I just couldn’t sleep, that’s all.’
Duke was no doubt conflicted about letting me stay and, even if I’m reading into our time together too much, it felt intimate. It wasourmoment together, a chance to be closer than we ever have before and I kind of want that to stay just ours for now. There’s something slightly exhilarating about keeping it a secret too. It makes me wonder what else Duke would do if he knew no one would ever find out…
