Chapter 9 Solana
“I got you. Let me find Juelz real quick so he can step in for me.” Duke responded.
I nodded and allowed him to walk me back over towards Jessa and Aubree so he could find Julez. Once he was out of earshot, Jessa and Aubree pulled me down into the empty seat next to them.
“Ma’am, what were you over there talking to that man about?” Jessa asked.
I glanced over my shoulder at Aubree, her head tilted as she waited on me to say something. I rolled my eyes and settled back into my seat. I didn’t have the answers they were looking for.
“I don’t know what y’all want me to say. It wasn’t anything too deep. He offered to bring me back to the shop, and I took him up on it.”
“Solana, please. You were over there too long for the conversation to only be about that. But I’m going to let you have that. Ms. Hot in the pants.” Jessa responded.
“I second that. But, because you’re in your feelings, I’m going to leave it alone too.” Aubree added.
“Well, thank y’all so much.” I responded sarcastically.
Before either of them could say another word, Duke was walking back over. Now standing in front of me, he held out his hand. I reached out as he helped me stand. I turned to face Jessa and Aubree one more time.
“I’ll let you know in the group chat when I make it home. Stay safe.” I told them.
“Will do, and you do the same. In every way—” Jessa said, wiggling her brows, which made Aubree laugh.
I didn’t stick around to entertain their nonsense. I quickly walked away, Duke following close behind me with a smirk. Jessa and Aubree’s laughter carried even as we put distance between us.
I kept walking until we reached the designated gravel parking lot, then stopped and turned to look at Duke.
He chuckled and stepped around me. “I thought you knew where we were going with the way you were walking.”
“Definitely not. I just needed to get away from those busybodies.”
Duke chuckled and shook his head. “I saw. Well, my bike is right over there.” he nodded towards his bike parked near a few others.
He strolled ahead, and I couldn’t help but watch—the broad shoulders, the way he moved. I silently thanked God for the creation of that man. He was in a league of his own.
I’d been thinking about riding on the back of his bike since the first time I saw it—and him.
The moment we reached it, he popped open a compartment in the back and handed me a helmet. I glanced around, expecting another, but he didn’t bother. He just swung his leg over the bike, settling in as he released the brake.
I stood silently on the side, unsure of what to do. Duke focused on starting his bike before he finally glanced back in my direction to see I hadn’t moved an inch.
“You changed your mind?” he asked, lifting a brow.
“No, but…uh, where is your helmet?” I asked.
He nodded toward the one in my hand.
“You’re holding it. I didn’t expect a passenger, so I didn’t bring an extra one.”
I hesitantly held his helmet. “You sure? I can go back with Jessa. She said she would leave at a moment’s notice if I wanted to go. I don’t want you to ride without a helmet.”
He smirked, his eyes dipping for a second before dragging back up to mine. “Come here.”
My feet moved at the sound of his husky tone—no permission needed—until I was right at his side. He took the helmet from my hands and motioned for me to tilt my head forward. I didn’t hesitate. I followed. He slid the helmet on, then tightened the strap beneath my chin, making sure it was secure.
“Throw your leg over and slide as close to me as you can. When I take turns, follow my lead. If it helps, hold on to me. I won’t go too fast—I just want to get you back safely. You gonna let me do that?” he asked.
I nodded and did exactly what he said, leaning into him. My feet settled onto the pegs as I rested my cheek against his back, my arms wrapping around him without hesitation.
I closed my eyes briefly as he turned down the long dirt road. My heart sped up, bracing for something I couldn’t quite place. I didn’t know what to expect or how to feel. I was sure he could feel my heart pounding through his leather jacket, but he didn’t say anything—he just picked up speed.
The night’s cool air whipped against my trying to fight the warmth that had took over my body because of my closeness to Duke.
“Open your eyes, Sweets.” He called out over the wind.
I don’t know how this man knew I wasn’t looking.
I kept my eyes closed for a few more minutes before I finally peeled them open.
My arms automatically tightened around his waist. Duke was now on the main highway, flowing through traffic.
I wasn’t sure if I heard him or I imagined it, but he laughed. At least, I think he did.
We had just gotten off the highway, and I hadn’t closed my eyes again, taking in the beautiful sights.
It was amazing. This was the way he could experience the world.
I always wanted to learn, but I never had anyone to show me.
Not to mention, my manager was heavy on not putting myself in any kind of unnecessary danger.
I never understood it. I put myself in danger every time I left my house—hell, even before I made it out the door, sometimes while I was still inside. I should’ve done it for myself.
As we rode, the thought of letting all of this go twisted into an ache in the center of my chest. I couldn’t. I’d fought too hard for this life to let one small setback take it from me.
It seemed as if the time went by slow and fast at the same time. We’d made it to the shop in no time, at least that’s how it seemed. Duke slowed down and kicked out the stand. I still held him in a tight grip like we were still in motion.
“You alright?” Duke asked.
I nodded against his back, sure he could feel the motion without me saying a word. He chuckled, then placed his hands on top of mine. His thick, calloused hands rubbed mine soothingly until I was finally up to releasing him.
“Sorry. I wasn’t ready for it to end yet.” I mused aloud.
“Shit, you ate?” he asked.
“I did actually. But I wouldn’t mind going with you to grab something.”
No other words needed to be said. Duke kicked up the break, then waited for me to wrap my arms back around him before slowly pulling away from the curb. This time around, I kept my eyes open as I took in the local sights that made up parts of Rose Haven I had yet to see before.
Jessa and Aubree had brought me to many places here, but never this side of town. I could clearly see why as we passed houses with windows boarded up, lone rusted bikes laid against the curbs, until loud music and laughter met us the further we rode into this part of town.
As we rode by the group of people on both sides of the street, they shouted Duke’s name and he gave them a nod. That simple action alone let me know just how loved he was in this area.
A few more minutes passed before he pulled into the parking lot of a small building tucked in the center of this neighborhood like it had always belonged there. It seemed as if, later on; they had just built more places around it. A wooden sign read Big Moe’s with a picture of a slab of ribs on it.
Duke turns off the bike, then waits a moment as I put one leg over to get off. I turned to face the small red building with chipped paint. It wasn’t polished or trendy, but the smell of smoke and sweet sauce gave more than enough reasons Duke brought us here.
I hadn’t realized how long I’d been standing there looking at my surroundings until Duke spoke up a few steps from me.
“You plan on coming inside, sweets?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder with a smirk.
I nodded and walked over. Duke opened the door and stood back to allow me to walk ahead of him.
“You don’t plan to let that nickname go, huh?” I asked with a smile as I stopped so he could walk beside me.
Duke placed his hands in his pockets with a smirk. “You answering. I’m going to assume you fuck with it.”
I rolled my eyes, trying to contain my smile as best as I could. He turned around and led me to the register. A few folks were waiting on their orders, sitting on the side with a ticket in hand, so Duke was able to head right up to the counter.
“What’s up Duke!” the handsome brown skin man with shoulder length locs said.
Duke reached out and dapped him up.
“What’s up Jay. Big Moe got you running shit tonight?” Duke asked.
“Hell nah, you know he don’t trust nobody with this place. He’s in the back cooking the ribs. I’m sure he will be up here in no time. It wouldn’t surprise me if he heard you back there. But you want the same shit?”
Duke chuckled and nodded, then turned to look in my direction. “You sure you don’t want any?” he asked.
I waved him off and smiled. “I’m good.”
He turned his attention back to Jay and pulled a few bills from his wallet to cover everything. Jay handed Duke a receipt.
Duke’s hand settled at the small of my back as he guided me toward the back door. We stepped out onto a patio where a few older men were gathered around a game of dominoes. The moment they saw Duke, they smiled and called out to him.
“Ain’t seen you in a minute, man,” the older man with the red bucket hat said.
“Man, it’s been too long. How Miss Mattie doing?” he asked him.
“She good, at bingo every other day.”
Duke chuckled and then dapped them up before leading me to a small picnic table off to the side. “No Letting Go” by Wayne Wonder was playing low. Any time I heard this song, I couldn’t help but to sing and rock my hips. Duke shocked me when he joined in singing along with me.
“Uh huh, what do you know about Wayne Wonder?” I asked.
Duke chuckled. “I know enough. Not to mention, I own a bar, Sweets.”
“I’ll give you that.”
We sat silently for a moment and just bobbed our heads to the music. Moments later, an older man walks outside with a white bandana wrapped around his head. He was holding a container of ribs; I presumed. Duke stood from the table and dapped him up before taking the food.