Page 42 of Duke
Okay, fine.The ease with which she expresses her feelings about Bear stings a little. Our relationship is unique to us, though no less intense. And I’m certain what she feels for Duke is also different. I’ll have to give it some more thought later. This thing we’re doing together—we never said it wouldn’t be complicated to share Lennon like this.
We make a stop in the kitchen for coffee, and after giving a brief nod that I understand what she’s getting at about Bear, I lean against the counter while I tap out a text with her suggestion to Duke.
Lennon thinks you
should go in with him.
There’s a long pause, and I’m almost positive he hasn’t seen the message, but then the little dots jump and jump. Then, they stop. Start again. After another thirty seconds, his response finally comes through.
Like to see the actual doc?
Yep. Don’t leave room for error.
He’s not a baby.
But you should try.
He won’t hide anything if you’re there.
She’s worried about him.
Rightfully so.
Tell her she’s made a good point.
And that I’m thinking about her.
Bear says to say both of us are.
Be safe today. Take care of our girl.
Our girl.I let out a breath and tap back a response.
You got it.
Setting the phone on the counter, I look around, surprised there’s not a single brother in sight. I don’t fucking know what everyone is up to but it’s preferable they stay out of my way. I kinda meant what I said about my desire to end Tristan, assuming he’s the asshole responsible for all the fuckery going on around here, and I won’t hesitate to take any motherfucker down if they so much as breathe in Lennon’s direction at this point.
Armed with our morning coffee, we grab granola bars and fruit and shove all that into our backpacks to eat when we get a chance. Come to think of it, the fact that Bear isn’t here to cook breakfast for everyone might explain the lack of activity in the kitchen this morning.
“Are you going to tell me what Duke thought of my suggestion?” Lennon asks as she climbs into the front seat of the SUV. Her eyes flick to mine, capturing my attention with their brilliant blue reflecting the sunlight.
I rest my hand on her leg, tracing patterns with my fingertip as I’m apt to do. “He said it was a good idea. Now, whether Bear will allow it or not is another question.”
“Okay. I still think it’s smart, and I don’t have a problem telling him he’s being a pain in the ass if he doesn’t allow it.” She looks away, swallowing.
“It’s okay to be worried. We all have been. But this is hopefully a step in the right direction.” I pat her leg, then shut the door, hurrying to the other side. I pull open the heavy door and climb in. “And Duke. Can we talk about that?”
She peers at me out of the corner of her eye as we take off down the driveway, her chin tipping up. “I’m not mad anymore. I’m—”
“Hurt.”
She looks away and nods. “Did you know?”
“That he felt that way about you years ago? I had an idea he did, but I also figured I had to be imagining it. His reaction to you showing up here, though, that was what solidified it for me. He was so angry and upset, especially when Bear and I were getting close to you. It was obviously not because he was feeling brotherly and protective toward you, you know? But no, he never breathed a word of it when you were still living at Tristan’s house. Never mentioned you all that often that I can remember. But we also weren’t exactly on speaking terms then, either…”
She draws in a breath, likely digesting what I’ve said. “Okay. I’ll talk to him.”
“That’s a good idea—because I don’t want to speak for him.” Even though I could, probably. I know him well enough, and he’d given me the unfiltered version of events last night. “He was in a bad state, though, I’ll tell you that much.”
