“Yes,” he said again.
I walked forward, pulled a wad of cash out of my jeans pocket, and slapped it onto his desk. My life savings over the past few weeks.
“I’ll get you another payment next month.”
I was about to walk out, guns firing, in all my dramatic glory, when his voice stopped me.
“Nora!”
I turned to see Duke’s eyes blazing as he stood up, my cash in his hand.
“I’m not taking this.”
I took a step closer, holding my body stiff and rigid. “If you think, for one second, it’s okay to do that without even asking me, you’ve got another thing coming. I don’t want to owe anyone anything. Okay? If you haven’t understood that fact about me this whole summer, then you don’t know me at all.” My words were biting and jumbled and laced with hurt as I pointed and accused. He crossed the room, slowing when he grew closer, but he didn’t stop. I didn’t flinch, even for the fire in his eyes.
“If you think I did that to hold something over you, then you don’t knowmeat all,” he said, spitting the words between us. “You don’t owe me anything. You could walk out that door right now and I never see you again, and I’d still do it. I’d do it again tomorrow. I’d do it a thousand times over.” At his continued approach, I took a step back, bumping into the wall as he continued, “I’ve been lucky. This new business has done well.”
“But your dad—”
“It’s done well forme. Maybe not by his standards, but I don’t care anymore. The point is, this money meant nothing to me, but it was everything to you. I wanted to help, so I did.”
“You can’t just do that to somebody. I was taking care of it. I was getting it done.”
“I know it. And you would have. But at what cost? Working yourself to the bone every night? Only to end up using the money you saved to help your mom out?” He shook his head. “I didn’t do it to save you, or so you would owe me, or whatever’s in your head.”
I bolted forward. “Then why?”
“Because you needed a break, and you’ve never had one.” He took a few steps closer, my chest heaving between us. “I did it because I could. Simple as that.” He reached out, his fingers hooking into the belt loops at the waist of my jeans, tugging me closer as he stuffed the paltry wad of cash back into my pocket. “I don’t want anything from you beyond a tiny fraction of worry to leave your face.”
“I don’t like the feeling of you doing that.” I stared hard at him, begging him to understand.
Though his words had put out the roaring fire inside of me, the coals were still flickering. I needed him to understand that it wasn’t okay. I couldn’t accept his help. The audacity and the nerve heated my blood to boiling.
He closed the gap between us, bringing his hand softly to my chin, pulling my gaze up to his. “I understand what you’re saying. I do. And I’m sorry if it made you uncomfortable, but I’m not sorry I did it.” His eyes studied my lips for a moment, causing my insides to ache, before he lifted them to mine once more. “One day, when all the stars align for you, maybe you’ll date someone. Maybe you’ll get married. And I sure as hell hope that guy helps you shoulder a few of your burdens. Not because he doesn’t think you’re capable. Not because he wants to control you. But because he loves you.” He bent down closer, the heat from his words breathing life into my ear. “And I hope you let him.”
With those words, he straightened, stepping around me to yank open his door, and walked out.
* * *
Every bonein my body felt like it had been run over by a truck as I pulled into my apartment complex at eleven-thirty that night. The extra floor had apparently had a birthday party that day, complete with a piñata. It had taken me thirty minutes to vacuum up the confetti and birthday cake I’d found smashed into the floor. I really didn’t want Duke to be right about this schedule being too much for me to handle, but I was certain I could fall down and sleep like the dead for a week. But I couldn’t sleep yet. I had a few things to discuss with my dear, backstabbing roommate.
Mira was brushing her teeth in the bathroom when I trudged through the door. She didn’t have to work tonight. She wore joggers and an oversized sweatshirt, her hair in a bun. It reminded me of the old days, when we used to stay up late together and watch movies. How long had it been since I’d watched a movie with her? I mentally slapped myself. No time to get sentimental. I was angry right now.
She knew what I was about in one glance at my face, which honestly made me nervous about my temper after such a long, stressful day. She spit, rinsed, and turned to look at me.
“Alright, listen,” she began.
“How could you let him do that?” I asked at the same time.
Instantly, her voice became defensive. “Do what? Help you out? Care about you? Do you know what you have in him?”
“How did it even happen?”
Her arms folded across her chest. “He stopped by a week ago while he knew you were cleaning. He told me what he wanted to do, and I…gave him your bill.”
“You know about my life better than anybody. How I’ve always felt, watching my mom’s worthless boyfriends buying her crap all the time, right up until they bailed. It wasn’t okay then, and it isn’t now. I don’t understand how you think giving him access to my bill wasn’t going to break me.” I walked back into my room, flinging my purse and phone onto my bed.
She followed at my heels. “Yeah, they bought necklaces and fancy clothes. They bought her affection. They used her to make themselves feel like big men. Duke took aburdenaway from you. Quietly. Because he is so in love with you he can’t stand to see you hurting.” She shook her head. “I don’t know about you, but I kind of feel like that’s a huge difference—and pretty freaking hot, if you think about it.”
