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Duke’s face went even redder. “I never wrote any fucking note.”
“I saw you put it in her backpack.Meet me next Friday at the Starbucks on Langley.” Dad pointed at me. “My God. You knew she was underage.”
“I didn’t write that,” Duke protested.
“Hold it, Dad.” I stepped up to him. It finally made sense. “You have it all wrong. I’m the one who wrote that note and gave it to him.”
Dad’s face fell. “You wrote it?”
I nodded. “I had a little crush.” I looked over at Duke. “Even way back then.”
“I stuffed that note in her backpack because I wasn’t interested,” Duke said, now calmer than before. “At least not then.”
Dad went pale. He looked down at the ground for a long moment before finally meeting my eyes. “I’m so sorry, Munch…” He caught himself. “Serena.”
“Arrested? I can’t believe you.” My anger ramped up my volume. “He didn’t do a thing or even try.”
“You’re my daughter. I was protecting you. I’m sorry.”
That was as much of an apology as I’d ever heard from my father, but it wasn’t good enough. Shaking my head, I moved out of the way. “I’m not the one you owe an apology. Make it a good one.”
He stepped forward. “Duke, I’m sorry. I hope you can accept my apology for being so wrong about you. I got carried away. Maybe you’ll understand someday if you have a daughter.”
Duke took a deep breath and nodded. “It’s in the past, Lloyd.”
That was the first time I’d heard Duke call Dad anything butsir.
Dad smiled, the color returning to his face. “If there’s anything you ever need—anything at all I can do to make it up to you.”
Duke nodded, and a few seconds later, he pulled my father aside and whispered something in his ear.
Dad glanced my way. “You got it,” he said with a wide smile. “Now, I’ll be on my way and leave you two kids alone.”
Duke grinned suspiciously.
“What’s going on?” I yelped when he lifted me up and onto the bike’s seat.
“Close your eyes.”
“No. Tell me?—”
“Close your eyes before I paddle you.”
I gave in.
“Okay. Open now.”
I gasped. Duke was on one knee, holding up a gorgeous ring, a diamond flanked by emeralds on either side.
“Serena, you’ve made me believe that love is worth the risk.”
I teared up.
“I’ve known since you first put my brother in his place that you were the one for me. Serena Marie Benson, will you make me the happiest frogman on Earth and marry my pathetic ass so we can have little frogman babies?”
I jumped off and into his arms. “Yes. A hundred times, yes.”
“The emeralds are to match your eyes.”
