Page 89 of Judging Duke

“On my way back to Liverpool. What are you doing later?”

“You?”

“Ha, excellent answer. Would you like dinner first?”

“I’d love dinner first. I know this Indian restaurant if you fancy it?” I told him where it was and agreed to meet him at seven. We didn’t need to book. I knew the front-of-house manager.

We arrived at the restaurant and hada fabulous meal—lots of food, a few bottles of beer and I felt more relaxed than I had in a long time.

“How were your parents?”

“Upset. Sad. Feeling like they failed.”

“What the hell did you say?”

“I told them about being raped, explained why I hadn’t returned home. I found out they hired a PI to find me and a psychic. If I’d have only known.”

“But you didn’t and you can’t change the past. Isn’t that what you told me before? Look to the future, Duke, not at the past. We can’t change it, but we can do something about what happens next.”

Amazed at his words, I reached across the table and took his hand. “That was what I needed to hear. So many times I’ve wondered how things would have gone if I’d have just gone home. I don’t even know now why I didn’t, but I can’t change it.”

“Nope, you can’t. You’ve done all you can for now. Time to rebuild. Now let’s go home. Your place, I think. It’s closer.”

It had been a busy day for us both. Simon’s bombshell that he wasn’t going to be supporting his family as much, my confession to my parents. It’d been a lot to contend with, and when we got home, we lay in bed, holding each other tight.

“Can we just do this tonight? I know I said we could do more.” I kissed his shoulder, content just being here.

“I’m pretty exhausted actually. It’s been a long day for us both,” he said, snuggling into my side.

“Thanks. It’s not all about sex, is it?”

“Sometimes it’s about finding comfort in the people around us. That’s all. Now, go to sleep, Duke.”

I stayed awake for a while longer, hearing his soft, regular breaths in my ear, wondering what the future had in store for us.

Little did I know tomorrow would be a turning point.

CHAPTER TWENTY

DUKE

The buzz of my phone on the nightstand woke me the following morning. Simon mumbled in his sleep, and I leant over, placing a quick kiss on his lips.

“Answer it, Duke.” He turned over, taking the covers with him, leaving me mostly exposed to the cool morning air.

I grabbed a hoodie, answering my phone as I tried to step into a pair of sleep shorts.

“Hi, Barbara. What’s up?”

It was early even for her, being an hour ahead.

“Duke, my boy. It’s Cyril.” I stopped dead in my tracks, forgetting the clothes in my hand.

“What’s happened?” A spear of dread pierced my stomach, my heart fluttering in my chest. This was the call I’d been dreading since we saw her last in France.

I knew then she was unwell, but she’d insisted nothing was wrong.

I should have listened to my gut, but instead, I’d trusted her. She’d given me no reason to do otherwise.

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