Dallas
How arethe boys doing?
Mom
They’re great! Just fell asleep after a sugar crash. Ice cream!!!
Dallas
Do you want me to come pick them up or for them to stay there?
Mom
They can just sleep here. That’s why we got a place with two rooms. Have fun!
Dallas
Thanks, Mom. Love you.
“I’m so sorry. I need to head back now. Can we grab a drink another time?”
After Scott drops me off at the bunkhouse, I find myself on the front porch of the main house. It’s pitch-black out here. I stand there for a few deep breaths before finally finding the courage to lift my fist to knock.
“He’s not home.” A voice speaks from the darkness to my left.
I scream, nearly jumping out of my skin. “Holy shit! You scared the daylights out of me, Duke Redford!”
He chuckles, moving closer. His heavy steps bring him right up next to me, and my eyes finally adjust to the pitch-black. I can barely make out that he’s shirtless and looking down at me. I can smell the bourbon on his breath.
Maybe coming here was a mistake.
I don’t really know how Duke acts when he’s drunk.
He’s always safe though, and somehow, I instinctively know he is now, even while inebriated.
“How was your date?” he asks. His tone of voice is clipped, but I can make out his expression of intense curiosity.
“It was fine.”
“Fine?”
“Yes. Fine.”
“Why are you here then?”
I open my mouth, but no words come. I don’t know how to answer him.
Finally, after a few seconds, his hands find mine in the dark. I squeeze his hand and try again.
“I didn’t want to sleep alone tonight,” I finally confess. It’s only half the truth.
I can’t see much, but I can see the smug smirk on his lips.
“Then why didn’t you go home with him?”
“Should I have?”
His hand tightens on mine. He pulls me toward the front door and opens it, gesturing for me to enter. When the light from the hallway pours over us, I realize that he’s still wearing his dirty work jeans from earlier. I walk inside, and he follows.
