My cheeks reddened at the thought of my lunch break with Duke. He had plans to replace it. We just hadn't gotten around to it yet between both of our businesses.
Jessa's brow rose and Aubree chuckled, then quickly placed her hand over her mouth.
"I don't even want to know," Jessa decided, then set the bag on the counter instead.
Aubree placed her bottle of wine and the glasses on the coffee table in front of the couch. I walked over and pulled a few platesand silverware from the cabinets. We moved around my small kitchen filling our plates and wine glasses.
"Start with the manager situation, then go into Duke. I'm sure they go hand in hand," Aubree said as Jessa and I walked over to the couch. She grabbed one of the chairs from my now broken table set, turned it to face us, and placed her wine glass on the table while starting on the tortellini Jessa had brought over.
The aroma had my stomach growling and reminded me I was supposed to be having ribs with Duke tonight. I took my first bite and practically moaned as the flavors hit my tongue. Aubree nodded across from me and pointed at her plate with her fork.
"Miss Lottie does not play games in that kitchen."
"Right. I'm shocked there was any food left over," I added.
Jessa danced in her seat and took a bite, as if she hadn't already eaten this same thing earlier.
"Okay, stop stalling. You know I left Michael B. to be here, so let's hear it."
I laughed, then finished my bite before going into how my manager showed up, how he grabbed my wrist, and how Duke walked back into the shop and checked Henderson without hesitation.
"Wait, that's Duke for you and he had every right to look at that man sideways. I met him and he weird as fuck," Jessa interrupted.
I released a sigh because I knew Henderson was an acquired taste. But most managers acted that way. They were focused on the money, and I always felt Henderson at least gave some thought to how I was doing. He cared, to an extent. It was the reason I had texted him before I left.
"He's just an acquired taste. I feel like anyone from the outside would seem off to y'all here. I'm sure I seemed strange when I first showed up."
Aubree held up a hand, then leaned forward to take a sip of her wine.
"That's not the same and you know it. You were only off because you were hiding something, which his weird ass might be doing too. I've never met the man, but I don't like that grabbing situation one bit. I wish Duke would have handled him."
My eyes went wide. Aubree wasn't usually the one with that kind of energy, but it was clear that men getting handsy was a sore spot for her.
"I can agree he crossed a line when he did that. He's never done anything like that before so I didn't think much of it. But he let my arm go real quick when Duke walked in."
Aubree rolled her eyes and looked back at her plate. "I'm sure he did," she mumbled, then took another bite.
I went back to telling them about the disagreement Duke and I had surrounding my wanting to go back on the jet tomorrow. How he asked me to stay and I couldn't find the words to give him. Then how he called off our evening and left, even after I tried to pick a fight. Jessa shook her head and Aubree took another bite of her food.
"I can see where he's coming from. You don't owe anybody anything, but that includes Duke too. I don't want you to go back either, but I can see why you might feel like you need to," Aubree finally said.
Jessa leaned forward and placed her plate on the coffee table, then turned to look at me. She reached out for my hand, so I set my plate down and placed my hand in hers.
"You know I see you as a sister. I'm not taking sides, but I think it's Duke's fear for your situation that had him acting that way. The fact that he still didn't disrespect you, even when you were pushing to get into it with him, shows that man loves you."
A tear slipped down my cheek. I knew it was fear driving his reaction. I just wanted him to understand where I was coming from.
Jessa reached out and wiped my tears away.
"You know men, especially men like Duke, are protectors first. That man probably looked into your past situation the moment you told him everything. The idea of you going somewhere he couldn't protect you the same way he can here probably sent him somewhere else in his head."
"Yeah, I can see that. But I don't plan to be there long. I just need a few days to close everything out the right way. I'm tired of hiding in plain sight. I want my life back and all the money I worked my ass off for, without people tracking my every move."
Jessa released my hands and Aubree handed me a tissue. I dabbed my eyes and turned to face them both.
"Which is why I say Duke will get over it. It wouldn't shock me if that man shows up downstairs tonight to apologize. I say go. But when you get there, take a little of the Solana you built here with you. Don't let that slimy manager convince you to do a single thing you don't want to do."
I looked over at Aubree to see if she had anything to add. She crossed one leg over the other, then pointed at Jessa.