I can’t even let myself think about the boys. The hand I’ve been dealt is shitty. But I have no choice but to live with it and make the best of it.
I get ready for bed and do my skin-care routine and brush my teeth. Then I pack my toothbrush and toothpaste.
I survey my underwear drawer, realizing after the fire all I’ve purchased is cheap cotton panties and a couple of thongs, but I can’t sleep in those.
I highly doubt Duke will complain if I go commando in one of his cutoff tees. A grin splits across my face when I think about him actually officially beingmine.
This is really happening!
Emotionally, I don’t know where I stand with him. I have strong feelings for him, for sure, but I don’t know where exactly those feelings are currently.
Another thing I want to avoid thinking too hard about because it scares the shit out of me.
He did my dishes earlier while I was getting ready for our date, so I’ve decided my main goal right now is to figure out what his biggest flaw is. He has to have one, somewhere.
I never thought I would get the chance to date and fall in love ever again. When I ran for my life from my ex, I wasn’t thinking about what better men could be out there. I just wanted to be safe and to find peace. I wanted thechance to raise my boys in a home where they didn’t see their mom being pushed around and emotionally belittled. Even in my wildest fantasies, I never imagined I would meet someone who actually treated me well and saw me as an equal, not a vessel for his own pleasure and sick amusement.
I finish packing up the small bag and head over to the main house. Duke said he didn’t know when he would be back from whatever it is he and Sam are up to, but he told me he wants me in his bed when he does.
The broken part of me is a little worried about where he is and what he could be doing.
The trust issues I gained from all the lies my ex told me haven’t disappeared with time.
“They’re just having a boys’ night. Chill out.”
If I want to be able to actually get some sleep, I should call Dolly and see if I can casually extract some information.
After I make it inside the house and go to Duke’s room, I plop down on the bed and pull out my phone. It’s already ten p.m., so I text her first.
Dallas
Hey! You up?
Dolly
Yes!
I tap the Call button and listen to it ring for a few seconds before she picks up.
“Hey, what’s up?” She yawns into the phone.
“Oh, sorry. Were you about to sleep?”
“No, no, I’m finishing up this book forbook club, and the enemies just became lovers after he chased her through the woods, so … you know, I’ll be up for hours.”
“Oh wow, that sounds intriguing.”
“Oh, girl, it is, and he’s a werewolf, so…”
“Ha-ha. A werewolf? I don’t know if I’d be into that.”
“You would if you gave it a try. I’ll send you a picture of the cover.”
“Okay. Um, so what’s Sam usually doing while you read?”
“Different things—cooking dinner, the dishes, watching TV.”
“Wow. That’s not a bad deal.”
