When I was younger, I never had the chance to do things like that. I moved from home to home after my mother died, and the girls never liked me. Back then, I used to wonder why I couldn't make friends, and it always came down to my looks.
Everyone assumed I was stuck up and wouldn't be cool to hang with. I found myself in so many fights growing up. Aubree and Jessa were refreshing to me. They gave me the family I'd been craving.
I laid my clothes across my bed and picked up my vibrating phone to reply to Duke's text. He had Black Thorn business to handle today along with a few other things at the bar, so he was all for me going to hang with the girls. He cracked me up. On one hand he loved the idea, but by tonight he would be calling me to come get in bed with him so he could fall asleep.
The man was predictable. It was crazy how quickly things were moving. Sometimes it scared me. I wasn't used to being openly cared for or having things made plain for me. He knew I had a lot going on, but it didn't matter to him. He was still the first one to pull out his wallet without a second thought.
I smiled at the thought.
Duke: Why haven't you left yet?
Me: Sir, why is it that you know I haven't left?
Duke: Don't worry about it. You need some motivation?
My cheeks reddened.
Me: Absolutely not. I'm putting on my clothes now.
Duke hadn't replied yet, so I got dressed, then walked into the bathroom to refresh my curls. I walked back into the living room and turned to the side in front of my long mirror. I decided to go with a pair of light blue boyfriend jeans with rips in them that rode my hips, a cute graphic Tweety Bird t-shirt, and my new black leather jacket. My outfit was giving very early 2000s.
I leaned over to grab my phone from the bed and Duke had replied maybe five minutes ago.
Duke: That's what I thought. Have a good time tonight, Sweets. Call me at any time if you need me. I'll be working the bar tonight.
I nodded like he could see me. I didn't foresee any problems. It was always a good time when I was with the girls and Miss Lottie.
Me: I hear you, daddy.
Duke: Keep playing and you won't be going anywhere.
Me: Bye sir. Lmao
I went to lock my phone and accidentally clicked on my Instagram app. The moment it opened, a photo of me and Duke at the karaoke bar popped up. Some blog had posted it and the comments had been going crazy for weeks by the look of it. It was strange that this was the first thing I saw the moment I opened the app.
I couldn't stop myself from clicking into the comments to scroll through and see what people were saying. It wasn't that bad, outside of a few people hating on the fact that I wasn't draped in labels. A lot of people were commenting that they understood why I left Hollywood without a word.
Then some were saying I was the next Britney Spears for cutting and dyeing my hair. It wasn't until I came across a few comments from an unfamiliar name asking people where I had last been seen. This person was asking underneath almost every comment.
I left the comments disgusted by how much strangers cared about someone else's life that they didn't know. I neverunderstood the infatuation with celebrities' every move. This was one of the reasons I didn't want that life anymore. I just wanted to live somewhere relaxed and calm.
I noticed I had a ton of messages. I don't know why I clicked to see who they were from. My messages were always full and this wasn't anything new. I scrolled through until the name I'd seen in those comments appeared. I knew I was asking for trouble, but curiosity killed the cat.
The moment I opened the messages, the person had sent a bunch of different pictures of me. All from before I came to Rose Haven, up until the photo the girls took in the bar. Then came a picture of a map surrounding the area. This person was letting me know they were close to finding me.
I quickly closed out of the app and dropped my phone onto my bed, then slid to the floor. I pulled my knees up into my chest and laid my head against them. This was exactly what I had been trying to avoid, and now whoever this was would be here any day to cause mayhem in my new life.
I should have left before I involved this many people. Now I had to stay because my heart couldn't handle walking away from my family. I'd never had it and I couldn't lose it. I reached up and patted the bed for my phone, then called Duke.
He answered on the first ring.
"Come open the back door, love."
I slowly stood from the floor and took the steps downstairs to open the back door. Duke stood with a flat expression until his eyes landed on me. I rose onto the tips of my toes and wrapped my arms around his neck. He lifted me easily, allowing me to wrap my legs around his waist.
Duke turned and locked the door behind him, then climbed the steps with me still in his arms. I laid my head against his shoulder, needing every bit of comfort his presence gave me.
He sat on the couch and rubbed circles against my back until I was ready to speak.
