You're to Blame(57)

“I’m capable of loving someone.” He turns his back, but freezes for seconds before returning to the kitchen.

Lydia and Rachel exchange similar, dumbfounded expressions. As if they’re on the same wave length, they level me with a matching set of wide eyes.

“As long as I’ve known Duke, he’s never divulged any part of himself to anyone other than us at Murphy’s.” Lydia huffs out a breath of air, relief in her eyes for the small part of Duke he revealed. “I wonder what’s gotten into him.”

“I think the real question is who.” A thoughtful frown pinches Rachel’s eyebrows together.

My eyes burn with unshed tears at how real this all has become. Rachel scoots down the couch, resting her hand on my knee. I take a long, deep breath to calm my nerves.

“Lasagna is in the oven.” Duke steps out and picks up the empty tequila bottle.

Lydia smacks at his hand. “Do us a favor and go grab us another bottle?”

He pushes her off and raises an eyebrow. “Don’t you think you’ve had enough?”

“It wasn’t full when they got here.” She reaches in her pocket and pulls out a wad of cash.

Duke holds his hands up. “Don’t worry, Lyd. I got it.” His emerald eyes search mine. When they connect, a bolt of electricity shoots through me. “Come with me.”

“Go with him.” Rachel nods her head in his direction.

Gut check time, Charlotte.

“Why should I?” I challenge, crossing my arms over my chest. Lydia and Rachel volley their attention between Duke and me.

“I don’t know.”

“I think I’ll stay here then.”

“Please.” His eyelashes flutter, like he’s trying to hold back tears, but a guy like Duke doesn’t cry. He sure as hell doesn’t cry in front of a room of girls.

I push off the sofa, toss my purse strap over my shoulder, and stomp towards him.

The hallway is quiet and empty when we step out. There’s enough distance between us to let others know we aren’t dating, but enough energy between us to let anyone with half a brain notice there’s something going on.

“After you.” Duke pushes the door, and I step out into the cool night air. He ushers me to the side of the apartment building, hurrying to the passenger side door to pull it open. Always a gentleman.

“And here we all thought chivalry was dead.” I slip under his arm. The subtle scent of his cologne wafts in the air between us. The mix of lemon and cedar wood is intoxicating and brings me back to the night we spent together. Days later, his aroma lingers on my clothes.

Duke’s lips move slowly as he scurries in front of the truck. His eyebrows furrow deeper with every step he takes. The driver’s side door slams when he’s tucked behind the wheel.

“You okay?” I lift my knee onto the seat. As if he can’t feel my stare, Duke remains stoic as he cranks the key in the ignition. I’m like a pot of boiling water, ready to blow my lid off, while he keeps his cool.

“Yeah.” He looks over at me. “Why do you ask?”

“You were having a silent conversation with yourself.” I turn down the music. “And on top of that, you basically ignored me after sleeping with me, so I figured your silent treatment had something to do with that.”

“Just a lot on my mind is all.” Did he seriously bypass what I’ve spewed at him?

“Anything you want to talk about?” Sarcasm drips like honey from my mouth. This guy cannot be serious right now.

“You’re the last person I can talk to about this,” he admits, immediately shaking his head, clearing whatever thoughts plague him.

“Try me.” I cross my arms over my chest and lean against the cool window.

“I don’t let many people in, Charlotte, okay? So quit pushing.” Duke slams his palm against the steering wheel. His anger is new, but anger is something I can work with. At least it’s something.

“So, what are we doing here? If you have no intensions of letting me in, what the hell are we doing?” The muscles in my jaw quiver. I’m afraid of his answer and what it will mean.

“I’ve let you in.” He glances at me for a split second, and then his focus returns to the sidewalk.

“You think this is you letting me in, what we’ve been doing?” I ghost a finger between the two of us, talking to the side of Duke’s face. “We slept together, Duke. You never called.”

“What else did you think this was?” His knee shifts onto the seat, mirroring my position. His eyes are dark and smoldering. My heart pounds, and blood rushes to my head, making me dizzy. Did he just say what I think he said?

“You pussyfooting around. You pulling me and pushing me away. Now the question is why. You didn’t seem to regret us being together the moment you slipped inside of me, and you sure as hell didn’t when we woke up the next morning.” Be strong. Don’t cry, and sure as hell, don’t let him see you upset if he wants to play this game.

“I have no reason to pull you in, Charlotte.” He says my name like butter on hot toast. It melts on his tongue until it’s a delicious mess.

“Will you quit saying my name like that?” I slam my fist on the seat between us. “And yes, you have a reason to pull me in. Don’t act like you don’t feel this.”