Chapter 19 Solana
A FEW DAYS LATER…
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 never understood 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.
"What's going on, Sweets? I only came over because the boys told me you still hadn't left. You were supposed to have been gone, so I figured something was wrong."
I continued to lay against his shoulder, loving how attentive and in tune he was with me. Finally, I pulled back to look at him.
I released a breath. "I was trying to lock my phone and accidentally opened Instagram."
I went into everything I had seen. Duke sat quietly. My only tell that he was bothered was the subtle tightening of his mouth or the flare of his nose.
"You know I would never allow anybody to fuck with you, right?" he asked.
I nodded without needing a second to think about it. I trusted him and his word.
"But that doesn't stop those old fears from coming back. I experienced a lot. I just want to know how to protect myself. You aren't always going to be there, so I should know how to handle things on my own."
Duke nodded, then rubbed his forehead.
"What do you mean protect yourself, baby? In what way? You can't fight or something?" he asked.
I swatted his shoulder and giggled for the first time since he got there. Duke smirked back at me.
"I can fight. But I don't know if hand to hand is going to work against a man. I want to learn how to shoot a gun and I know you can teach me. I see you put your gun by the bed every time you stay over."
Duke lifted a brow and leaned back against the couch. He tilted his head to the side, searching my face for any sign that I was just talking. When he was sure I was serious, he released a sigh and rubbed my thigh.
"I got you. First lesson starts tomorrow, but right now I'm dropping you off at Miss Lottie's. I'll pick you up later so you can come lay with me tonight," he said, standing to his feet.
I squealed and wrapped my arms around his neck as he stood with me. I thought it would take more convincing to get him on board, but I should have known better. I placed a series of kisses against his cheek, then the tip of his nose, his forehead, and finally his lips.
He patted my butt. "Where's your purse with your keys, Sweets?"
I pointed toward the counter near the vacant spot where my table used to be. His mouth quirked up looking at the area.
"We can get you a new table tomorrow too," he said.
Duke grabbed my purse and placed it on his forearm, then pulled out my keys to lock the door behind us.
"We're leaving my phone. How am I supposed to tell you when I'm ready to go?" I asked.
"You gone be alright. You need a time out from that phone anyway. I know what time I'll be ready to come lay up with you," he said with a smirk.
"Sir, please." I laughed.
Once Duke was certain everything was locked up and secure, we made our way to my car. I handed him the keys, then pulled them back against my chest with a raised brow and a smile.
"Wait, do you even know how to drive a car?" I asked.
Duke looked off with a smile and rubbed his chest.
"Of course I do. Let me see those. We're only taking your car because I told the boys I'd be right back. I'll pick you up on my bike though."
"Mm-hmm," I hummed, then handed over my keys.
Duke opened the passenger door for me, then walked around to the driver's side. He glanced at the key, then back at the steering wheel with a squint.
"Damn, where does this go again?" he questioned.
I tried to hold back my smirk as he finally looked up at me with a smile, then started the car. When I first saw Duke in front of those food trucks, I would have never assumed this was what he was like. In an instant, he had turned my day from sour to something worth smiling about.
Now more than ever, I was looking forward to hanging with the girls, even though I was late.
Ten minutes later, we pulled up in front of The Blooming. Duke pulled into the driveway, parked, then walked around to open my door. The moment I stepped out, he placed two fingers beneath my chin and tipped my head back.
He kissed me like I was the finest set of china, then pulled back with a smile.
"Have a good time and tell them I said what's up," he said, then gestured toward the window.
I turned to look and Jessa tried to quickly close the curtain. Duke and I laughed before he kissed me once more. I moved away from the car to stand on the porch as he walked back around to the driver's side.
"I'll be back to grab you later, Sweets," he called as I waved.
I watched my tail lights until he turned the corner, then released a sigh as I turned to walk up the rest of the steps. I hadn't even touched the doorknob before Jessa pulled it open and crossed her arms against her chest.
"You're so gone, and now we see why you were late."
I waved her off and stepped around her with a laugh.
"He's actually not the reason. But it's definitely a long story that we're going to need a drink to hear."
Miss Lottie walked in with a wide smile and her arms open. I walked into them and wrapped my arms around her. Her hugs always felt like love. She rubbed my back, then led me into the kitchen with Aubree and Jessa following close behind, ready to hear everything.
I went through the story of what happened with my social media and the stalker narrowing in on my location, then how Duke was going to teach me how to protect myself. Everyone stayed quiet and offered advice when I was done. But I was glad we didn't stay on it too long.
I needed a moment away from it to have a good time, and they gave me exactly that.