My Cowboy Prince (*unedited)

Chapter 28

*shoutout to @twinkytweet

The sun hangs high in the sky casting its warm rays through the windshield. It's almost twelve and we're well on our way up to Devon House. Sasha's hands are expertly guiding the steering wheel of her Toyota while I ride shotgun in the passenger seat. I'm half-listening to my cousins chat animatedly about their plans for their round robin later on today. The rest of me though is caught up in a whirlwind of thoughts.

Yesterday, I found myself roped into Sasha and Amoy's plans of coming into Kingston. Saying no to these two is like trying to hold back a storm... so here I am.

So that's when I had texted Luke and suggested we meet today. It's better to rip the band-aid off sooner rather than later. I don't see the point in prolonging this uncomfortable tension.

I know I should just forget about him, move on, but the truth is, I still love him. It's so frustrating... it's so fucking frustrating that he has this pull on me, even after everything. The sooner I talk to him though is the sooner I can start to let go. I had told him to meet me at Devon House, it's a neutral place plus a pit stop for the cousins before we head over to the Bridget's store. If he doesn't show up at least I'll get a curry goat patty out of today.

Sasha notices my silence and asks if I'm okay. I nod, offering her a half-smile. "Yeah, just thinking."

She gives me a quick look before returning to the conversation with Amoy, but I can tell she's unconvinced. Hell, I'm not even convinced myself.

When we finally reach Devon House, the sight of the historic estate calms my nerves for a brief moment. Sasha pulls into a parking spot, and as the car comes to a stop, my heart does a little flip in my chest.

There, leaning casually against a white Range Rover, is Luke but something in his posture tells me he's just as nervous as I am. His black and white suit clings perfectly to his broad frame. It's the first time I've seen him in a suit but he wears it well. Too well. The top button is undone and his tie is missing. He looks so effortlessly handsome, like he stepped out of one of those magazine ads. My heart starts beating faster, so fast that I have to remind myself to breathe.

"A him dat?" Amoy asks, following my gaze.

I manage to nod but I am barely able to keep my composure here. My heart feels like it's going to beat out of my chest any damn minute now.

Sasha chuckles as she throws me a teasing glance. "Girl, yuh sure yuh nuh waan switch spots? If mi did know seh yuh did a keep man like dis up deh, mi woulda come to di States long time."

"Mi a tell yuh," Amoy chimes in, laughing. "If mi never have mi man, mi woulda give yuh some serious competition right now! Trust and believe cuz."

Sasha grins as she shakes her head. "She get weh man."

Oh Lord.

"Right??? Mi nuh waan mi man find out mi a say dis," Amoy jokes, lowering her voice even though we're still in the car. "but mi might haffi reconsider if a man like dat st---"

Sasha chuckles. "So you woulda give up Idris?"

"Yuh nah listen?" Amoy grins. She clearly finds this amusing.

Okay. That's enough...

I roll my eyes at their antics, but there's no denying the blush creeping up my cheeks.

"Please memba seh a di curry goat patty mi want," I mutter, trying to divert their attention as I wave them off and step out of the car.

"Yuh betta treat him good, yuh hear?" Sasha calls after me. Thankfully the parking lot is empty. "Him too fine fi lose."