Chapter 5
962 Words
The next day, I changed my outfit three times.
Three.
Times.
The first outfit was too casual.
The second looked like I was trying too hard.
The third was somewhere in the middle.
I stood in front of my mirror, staring at myself.
“This is stupid,” I muttered.
My phone buzzed.
I grabbed it.
Lord Void: You coming?
I smiled.
Darling Starling: Yes.
Lord Void: Good.
I stared at his name.
For some reason, my nerves were getting worse.
I grabbed my bag and headed downstairs.
Mum was in the kitchen.
“Where are you going?”
“I'm meeting Ava.”
It wasn't exactly a lie.
Ava knew where I was going.
She had practically interrogated me about it.
“Don't stay out too late,” Mum said.
“I won't.”
I grabbed my keys and left.
The entire walk to the park, I kept checking my phone.
Nothing.
I wondered what he'd look like.
Would he be tall?
Short?
Quiet?
Loud?
Would he look completely different from how I'd imagined?
I had pictured him so many times that I knew whatever I saw wouldn't match.
When I reached the park, I slowed down.
There were people everywhere.
Children running around.
People walking their dogs.
A couple sitting on a bench.
I looked around.
No sign of him.
I checked my phone.
Five minutes past five.
I sent a message.
Darling Starling: I'm here.
No reply.
I waited.
Five more minutes.
Still nothing.
I looked around again.
Then I saw someone sitting on a bench near the trees.
Dark hoodie.
Jeans.
Phone in his hand.
I couldn't see his face properly.
I took a few steps closer.
Then stopped.
My stomach dropped.
No.
There was absolutely no way.
I knew that face.
I'd seen it at breakfast.
I'd seen it in the kitchen.
I'd seen it across the dinner table.
Duke.
Duke Hayes.
He looked up.
His expression changed immediately.
“Millie?”
I froze.
“Duke?”
He stood.
“What are you doing here?”
I stared at him.
“What are you doing here?”
“I asked you first.”
“I...”
My brain stopped working.
I couldn't exactly tell him I was meeting someone from an app.
Not Duke.
Absolutely not.
He looked confused.
“You came here alone?”
“I can take care of myself.”
“That's not what I asked.”
“I know.”
He looked around.
“Who are you meeting?”
“Nobody.”
His eyebrows lifted.
“Millie.”
“I'm meeting someone.”
“Who?”
I looked away.
“I don't want to say.”
He stared at me for a second.
Then his expression changed.
“You're meeting a guy?”
I didn't answer.
“That explains the suspicious behaviour.”
“I'm not suspicious.”
“You're standing in a park looking like you're waiting for someone.”
“I am waiting for someone.”
“Who?”
“I just told you I don't want to say.”
Duke sighed.
“Fine.”
He sat back down.
I looked at him.
“Why are you still here?”
“Because you're meeting someone you refuse to tell me about.”
“So?”
“So I'm not leaving you here alone.”
I stared at him.
“You can't be serious.”
“I am.”
“Duke.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“No.”
“Go home.”
“No.”
“You're being annoying.”
“I'm aware.”
I crossed my arms.
He looked at me.
“Call them.”
“What?”
“Call the person you're meeting.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't want to.”
“Then text them.”
“I already did.”
“Call them.”
“Why?”
“So I know they're actually coming.”
I stared at him.
He stared back.
He was being impossible.
“Duke, please just leave.”
“No.”
“You're genuinely irritating.”
“Thank you.”
“That wasn't a compliment.”
“I know.”
I groaned.
He looked at me again.
“Call them.”
“I said no.”
“Millie.”
“Duke.”
“Call.”
“No.”
“Call.”
“Stop.”
“Call them.”
“Will you shut up?”
“Not until you call.”
I glared at him.
He didn't move.
Fine.
I pulled out my phone.
“If I call him, will you stop?”
“Yes.”
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
I opened the app.
My hands suddenly felt sweaty.
I found Lord Void's profile.
I pressed the call button.
The ringing started.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Duke sat beside me, waiting.
I looked at him.
He looked back.
Then suddenly...
A phone started ringing.
Not mine.
Duke's.
He frowned.
Slowly, he reached into his pocket.
I stared at him.
He pulled out his phone.
The ringtone continued.
My eyes dropped to his screen.
Duke looked at the incoming call.
Then at me.
Then back at his phone.
The world seemed to stop.
My mouth fell open.
He looked completely confused.
“What the fuck...?”
I stared at the username displayed on his phone.
Lord Void.
My heart dropped into my stomach.
I looked at Duke.
Duke looked at me.
And suddenly everything we'd ever said online came rushing back into my head.
Every conversation.
Every joke.
Every stupid flirt.
Every time I'd told him something I would never have said to his face.
Every time he'd called me Darling Starling.
Duke's eyes widened.
I covered my mouth.
“Oh my f*****g luxurious God.”
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