Page 43 of Riding the Line (Willow Ridge #2)

Cherry

‘You’re staring,’ Montana whispers teasingly as she passes by where I’m clearing some empties from a table that’s just left the bar.

Except, I only got as far as putting my tray down because I got distracted by watching Duke shake up a cocktail while chatting with some of the locals perched at the bar.

He looks so natural behind the bar, smile brighter than any of the neon signs above him as he laughs with customers.

It’s not even that late on a Friday evening yet, but the bar is already buzzing, first rounds turning into seconds, songs queued on the jukebox.

‘Huh?’ I say, feigning ignorance to my friend, and actually getting to clearing the table.

Montana stops, and rests her empty tray against her hip. Her expression is too knowing, and I can already feel the heat rising in my cheeks. ‘You’re both as bad as each other, y’know?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Staring at each other. You always do it when the other isn’t looking.’ She perks her brow at me, chestnut hair slipping to the side as she angles her head. ‘I’m guessing it has something to do with him helping you with the bucket list?’

‘ You’re also helping me with the bucket list, remember,’ I remind her, thinking back to last Saturday when I dosed myself up with plenty of painkillers and caffeine and managed to go out to karaoke with her and a couple of Austin’s friends. I stack the glasses on my tray.

‘I suppose,’ Montana considers. ‘But whatever ones Duke’s helping you with has him gazing at you like you hung the moon, girl.’

My smile practically explodes across my face. You’d think I’ve only just been told Duke might have feelings for me, but even a month after we kissed, it still hits me just as powerfully each time I’m reminded. Even if I can’t scream about it with my best friend.

Montana reaches out to squeeze my upper arm. ‘I’m sorry I haven’t been around as much to help you this summer, but I’m glad you guys are having fun.’

Guilt whirrs in my chest. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t enjoyed the thrill of sneaking around, the slight torture of having to keep our hands off each other at work while knowing he’ll be making up for the lost touches later at night.

But since that night at Kip’s bar, when we were able to unlock all the constraints on our relationship and actually be with each other, touch each other without caring who saw, has left me wanting more.

Because everyone else gets to show off what they have, but me. I want more than my best friend catching Duke staring at me, I want her to see us together, to see how happy we are.

Because this hasn’t just been something in the making only this summer. It’s been years .

I’m pretty certain that’s why those three words keep accidentally finding their way to the tip of my tongue…

But before I can muster up a lie to tell Montana, the bar door flies open and Rory runs in, screaming, ‘We’re engaged!’

Wyatt bustles in quickly after, eyes flashing at the sudden attention when everyone in the bar stands from their seats and cheers, raising glasses and bottles. Rory throws her left hand up in the air, letting the sparkling engagement ring glint under the red neon and twinkling fairy lights.

With a squeal, I drop my tray and run over, wrapping my arms around them both and pulling them into a three-way hug. Rory ends up getting sandwiched between me and Wyatt, her giggles bouncing between our chests. Joy radiates from them in waves.

‘Congratulations!’ I shriek, squeezing them both tighter.

Two of my favourite people in the whole world, getting married.

The first Hensley sibling wedding!

‘Thank you,’ Wyatt replies, kissing my cheek, which only makes my eyes well more as I try to fight back the tears.

Rory shimmies out from between us and slaps a massive, sloppy kiss on my other cheek.

Then, she’s reaching behind me, puckered lips ready for her next victim.

I turn to find Duke already there, the bright joy in his eyes for his best friend and Rory makes my heart melt. Damn, I wish I could hug him too.

‘Don’t even think about it, Rory,’ Duke cautions her, holding a finger up. Rory rolls her eyes but throws herself at him, wrapping her arms around his middle tightly as they laugh together in their embrace.

When they finally let go, Duke moves over to hug Wyatt, patting him on the back. ‘About time,’ Duke jokes. ‘Congratulations, though, man. I kept the usual booth free for you.’

Wyatt just shakes his head, unable to rid the huge smile plastered across his face.

‘Come on.’ Rory grabs my hand and practically skips the entire way to the booth, dragging me with her, as if deciding my shift has ended. ‘Fliss will be here soon, and I need to celebrate with my bridesmaids!’

‘And I just want to say—’ Rory interrupts her fourth speech of the night to hiccup, because I’m pretty certain she’s had more glasses of champagne than anyone else here who’s now gathered at the bar to celebrate.

Fliss, Wolfman, Sawyer – with a girl he managed to pick up at the bar within five minutes of being here – as well as my parents, and some other close friends and family made it over as the evening stretched on.

The bar is electrified with life and laughter, achingly sweet smiles stuck on everyone’s faces, and more hugs than I can count have been shared in the past couple of hours.

‘Oops – sorry! I just want to say a massive thank you to Duke and this bar.’ Standing in one of the booths, with Wyatt blinking lovestruck eyes up at her, Rory raises her glass towards Duke, who’s leaning against a table beside me, a noticeable gap between us.

‘Because it was here that a great friend of ours made me realise how much I loved Wyatt. He stopped me from listening to the voices in my head, and not only showed me how loyal a friend he is, but how much Wyatt cared for me. And for that, I’ll forever be grateful. So, to Duke!’

‘To Duke,’ everyone cheers in unison – Wolfman obviously decides to howl instead – and we raise our glasses, taking long gulps afterwards, before breaking back into conversations laced with laughter and warmth. Duke lingers beside me with an unexpected silence.

Rory goes to pour herself another glass of champagne once she’s flopped back into the booth, snuggling into Wyatt. Only a few drips come out, which makes her pout.

Duke chuckles, rubbing a hand over his head. ‘Guess I better go find some more champagne. Gotta keep our bride-to-be happy.’

‘Such a loyal friend,’ I joke, reusing Rory’s words, only for Duke to stiffen. His eyes cut to mine, then quickly away, a muscle in his jaw feathering.

‘Right,’ is all he says before he walks off.

Coldness sweeps over me as Duke disappears between the crowded tables of the bar, and I try to pretend it’s because someone’s left the door open, not because I’m worried I’ve just upset Duke …

But when I do finally glance over to the door, which is actually partially open as a group of people filters through, I’m illuminated to a whole new reason why my skin has prickled – Levi .

My heart lurches into my throat, blood rushing in my ears suddenly, as Levi strides into the bar, completely unbothered, talking to the friends surrounding him.

I’m like a deer caught in the headlights, unsure what to do, my head yelling at me to run.

I can’t believe I was na?ve enough to think I could avoid him now he isn’t working at the bar.

But instead of running away , my legs decide to kick into action and I find myself rushing towards him.

Before I can reach him, Duke’s broad frame slides in front of Levi, blocking both my view and Levi’s path.

Levi’s friends have all grabbed a table – most of them I remember from high school – and they all whisper and watch as Duke’s voice rumbles, saying something I’m not close enough to make out yet.

My steps falter when their voices become audible, and I lean back against the nearest empty table, clutching the edge for support.

‘Dude, come on,’ Levi begs, exasperation widening his eyes. He throws his hands in the air. ‘What am I supposed to do? All my friends are here. It’s the only bar in town.’

Duke just crosses his arms, unyielding. ‘Yeah, well you should’ve thought about that before you hurt her.’

It’s at that moment that Levi’s eyes catch me around Duke’s shoulder.

They narrow at me while he shakes his head, a sourness taking over his expression.

Duke follows his stare to find me, darkness swarming his eyes as they flare, moments before he turns back to Levi and steps closer, crowding Levi towards the wall.

‘Don’t you dare even look at her,’ Duke practically growls.

Levi’s eyes flick between the two of us, and then he laughs – a smug, snarky grin appearing. ‘Oh, I get it now … Well, I just hope she’s not as frigid with you.’

I don’t get a second to let that cruel blow land because Duke suddenly crowds Levi, forcing him back up against the wall. Duke’s thick, tattooed forearms slam to the wall either side of Levi, caging him in. Much like how Levi had me back at the club. He brings his face intimidatingly close.

‘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 has always been in my corner.

He fights for me quietly and loudly, 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.’