‘Get the fuck away from me!’ Levi grunts.
I don’t hear what Duke whispers to Levi over the subsequent gasps and muttering from people on the nearby tables, but I still see the colour drain from Levi’s face.
A heady rush comes from the sight of it all. From witnessing this protective side of Duke that ripped out of the quiet, reserved version of him we’re all accustomed to. In front of everyone as well. Even if they don’t know what’s truly behind all this, I can’t deny the way my body tightens at Duke’s broad, strained muscles trapping Levi so easily, or the way my shoulders straighten, emboldened by Duke’s defence of me.
His eyes are wilder than the night he found me in the diner, fiercer than the day he carried me to the hospital after my fall because the ambulance was taking too long. All those years struggling under the weight of never feeling strong enough, lamenting over the way everyone always seems to be second-guessing me, thinking that no one would ever stand up for me and just let me make decisions and mistakes myself blows away. Because if there’s one thing I know now, it’s that Duke Bennett hasalwaysbeen in my corner. He fights for me quietlyandloudly, and it’s the sight before me that finally confirms –I love him.
‘Woah, what’s going on?’ Wyatt asks from behind me, making me start. He rushes over, rolling up the sleeves of the flannel he’s wearing as he joins Duke’s side.
‘We got a problem that needs taking care of?’ Sawyer sidles up next, much more casually, clicking his neck to either side. There’s a mischievous smirk playing on his lips, as if he’s excited by the prospect of a fight.
Wolfman follows quickly after, swallowing the last dregs of his beer before whacking the bottle down on the nearest table. He grins. ‘Okay. Whose ass am I kicking tonight?’
As tough as they all like to act, they’re the sweetest guys I know, and experiencing them all joining Duke in this heated exchange only emphasises such – how they’re always there for each other. No matter what.
Between the gaps in their shoulders I just about catch Levi shrinking from the four men now towering over him. Montana comes up beside me and wraps her arm around my shoulder – since she’s spent time with Levi outside of the bar too, I had to tell her and make sure he didn’t lay a finger on her either, even if I left out the details of what happened with Duke afterwards.
‘It’s your call, Cherry,’ Duke suddenly says, checking over his shoulder to me.
Everyone’s attention turns to me then, and my lip drops. He’s letting me make the decision here. Trusting me, not anyone else, to decide the path of my story. I stand up from where I was leaning, straightening my spine, and announce, ‘Throw him out.’
‘Attagirl,’ is all Duke replies with a wolffish grin before he grabs Levi by the scruff of the neck and drags him outside.
The guys surround Duke once he shuts the door and inundate him with questions –what was that all about? What did he do? Are you okay?As the chatter in the bar slowly begins to increase, the music finally melding with the buzz of conversation again, the roiling in my stomach and rushing in my ears slowly dials down.
And then it all disappears when Duke’s dark, stormy eyes find mine, anchoring me back down.
‘Just looking out for Baby Hensley,’ he says, making the guys turn to me, brows furrowed. Duke checks, ‘You alright?’
I nod, my eyes stinging, but I try to blink it away.
I’ve got you, he mouths, without anyone seeing now they’re all facing me, and my heart trembles.
Then Duke is waving the guys off and shouting out to the rest of the bar as he heads off to grab some more champagne, ‘Alright, show’s over, guys. Let’s get back to drinking. We’ve got an engagement to celebrate.’
29
Duke
The extra champagne bottles I bring out go down a treat. Enough to quickly pull the attention from me – and more importantly, Cherry – after the debacle with Levi, and back to celebrating.
Everyone’s now surpassed the excited and loud stage of intoxication, and instead the booth is filled with heavy eyes, heads resting against shoulders, and glasses of water to try to combat the hangovers for the next morning.
With the night bleeding into the early hours of the morning, and the majority of the people who came for Wyatt and Rory having left about a half hour ago, the main gang are the last stragglers in the bar as they wait for their ride home. I imagine Luke, one of the only two cab drivers in Willow Ridge, will be picking them up, probably piling them all into one car despite the lack of seats.
Even though I should be listening to Rory’s drunken slurs as she wraps her arms around my waist, huggingme with gratitude for the night, I can’t help my eyes from wandering over to Cherry. I’ve had to return to the solace of the bar multiple times since throwing Levi out, anxious to be able to watch over her as much as possible.
I’ve never felt anger as hot and raging as I did when I saw him saunter in like he’d done nothing wrong. Or when I saw how shaken Cherry looked at his presence. The need to make him pay for what he did was practically trying to tear itself out of my skin, crackling in my veins like lightning.
No one hurts my girl.
I thought I would’ve restrained myself better than caging him in like that. And throwing him to the ground outside which no one luckily saw … I’ve dealt with enough anger from plenty of grief and discrimination over the years that I thought I’d learnt to manage it better. But there was more than just anger playing a role in my reaction tonight. Something I haven’t felt in – well, I don’t know if I’ve ever felt it like this before. And itburns, brighter and deeper than I thought imaginable.
So much so that all I can think about is how badly I want to hold Cherry, how desperately I need to show her how I feel, to remind her that I’m always here to keep her safe.
But I have to shake it off for now. Because if there’s something else this night has reminded me, it’s how much my friends mean to me. I’ve hit a peak level of happiness, surrounded by the warmth of my best friends’ joy and support, knowing I get to bask in that with them – it’s almost perfect, and I know how vital it is not to ruin that right now. Even if that means keeping the truth ofwhatever I have going on with Cherry in the shadows for now.
Rory’s words ofhow loyal a friendI am really emphasised such.
