I nodded and turned to look down at her.
“I was just a kid, man. And shit, I’m just a man now. But I’ve always needed my parents. I think Grams and Pops made it easier for you to forget about me. I appreciate you for leaving me with them. That’s the one good thing you did for me, outside of giving me life.”
I paused, then turned back to the water.
“I used to think once you got out of college you’d come back for me. That we would get our own place with Colby. I don’t know why any of that even mattered.”
“You were just a kid, that’s why. And so was I. When I found out I was pregnant, I had been careless. I was forced to keep you. I wanted to do all the things the other girls were doing in high school. My parents told me having you would be my lesson. In a way, I resented them and blamed you. I rebelled so badly when you were a baby, which is why Mom and Dad took over. I just wasn’t mature enough, and it seemed to carry into my adult years because they kept that role with you.”
She paused.
A few tears slipped from my eyes, but I wiped them away quickly. I stayed quiet and let her finish. I knew I needed to hear all of it if we were ever going to be more to each other.
“I remember when I gave birth to you and looked down at you. Your eyes matched mine. I loved you immediately, but I was also a teenage girl who was spoiled and used to getting her way. It didn’t make for the best mother, and I can acknowledge that. I wanted to rebel against my parents forcing me into motherhood.”
I glanced down at her with a raised brow and she lifted her hands in surrender.
“I know, all I had to do was stop. But I say all of this to say — you never deserved the bare minimum from me. You deserved a present mom and a present dad. Colby is just as irresponsible as I was. I want to change, Duke.”
I clasped my hands in front of me and nodded.
“They got in yo’ ass, huh?” I asked.
Heiress nudged my shoulder and chuckled. “Hell yeah. But I deserved it. The things they said to me, I think I had been waiting to hear for too long. I took advantage of them being there every time I fell. I hope you can give me the chance to try. I’m going to mess up, no question. But I’m going to give it everything I have to be your friend, at least.”
“All I’ve ever wanted was for you to try. It’s not going to be that hard. I’m a grown man now, Heiress.”
She smiled and opened her arms. “Are you too grown for me to hold you for a minute?”
She bit her lower lip, then let it go and gave me a closed-lip smile. I could tell she had shed a few tears too. We needed this moment. I nodded and turned to wrap my arms around her. She was small, her head laid against my chest and her arms tight around me.
We stood that way for what felt like forever until she finally let go. I glanced down at my watch and realized an hour had passed. I had one more stop to make, and I hoped Solana was willing to hear me out.
“Let me get you back to the house. I’ve got one more stop to make.”
Heiress walked alongside me back to the bike with an extra pep in her step.
“Would this stop have anything to do with the woman whose helmet you had me wearing?” she asked.
I handed her the helmet and helped her with the strap before grabbing my own.
“Maybe,” I grumbled, and threw my leg over the side of the bike.
Heiress stood beside it with a big smile.
“Will I get to meet her soon?” she asked.
I lifted a brow, helmet still in my hands.
“Don’t push it. Get on the bike, please.”
I put my helmet on, then held the bike steady as she climbed on behind me with a giggle. I shook my head, made sure she was secure, then pulled out of the gravel lot.
Tonight would serve as a new beginning for Heiress and me. I just hoped I hadn’t pushed Solana too far in the meantime.
AFTER DUKE LEFT…
I groanedas I leaned against the window and watched Duke leave. All I had to do was say what he wanted to hear. But I couldn't. Henderson was in rare form, but he wasn't entirely a bad guy, which was why I didn't find it strange to take his suggestions into consideration.