s he watched Selene sm

talking to her as if their conversation was meant to be something private. Even worse, Conn

owned d

espite knowing she was already in a relationship. This wasn't some harmless admiration;

e the irritation on Duke'

otting him, and she quickly said goo

rs in her hand and, without a second thought,

walked beside Selene, his mind

confident smirk on his face-it was

im?" Duke asked, his voice

hed, clear

What do you want me to do? Igno

ng, forcing her to

ed the teacher to

olled he

rry, I can't work with Connor because my boy

is frustration

. He's been chasing you for months, and he doesn

r arms, her patie

nk I like him? Duke, I chose you. Why are yo

ger faltering as he sa

him. He thinks he can win you

er head, her v

about what you think. And right now, you'

nning a hand th

I just... I do

closer, her exp

some damsel in distress who needs s

s jealousy still lingering,

st hate seeing h

ly, reaching out to

't have to worry. Yo

, feeling a litt

he tries anythin

e?" Selene interrupte

ckled. "

hed, shakin

ridicu

her into a quick hug.

er eyes but did

efore you start planning

e tension finally ease a

or her sleeping area, leaving Duke standing in the small living space. He glanced around, taking in the f

ehind the curtain, her voice slightly muffled

or the last subject," Duke rep

d items on the small table, stacking old

s crept in when moments like this arose. But he had always be

to graduate," Selene called out, her voice tinged with

over, offering her a teasing smile before cupping

eager, but just as he started deepening the k

lways admired about her-her

destly and maintaining a sense of propriety th

or peer pressure, always choosing

come with me?" Duke asked

shook h

r, and Alliyah left early today. She usually gets home late,"

ible Selene was, always making sure thi

at Selene's house, Selene frequ

Selene, which was something

d lower in the sky. When he arrived, he found his mother busy in the kitchen, stir

y, stepping forward to kiss th

ings on a nearby

served, glancing at him briefly before ret

the last class," he explained, lea

y two bedrooms-one was his, and the other belonged to his parents. He had no siblings

er asked, settling beside him

s coming up soon. I'll need to pay

ed, her face so

from his office. Hopefully, he'll have

ted that his parents had to take on the financia

, I'll find a job right away so I

a reassuring han

ut it, son. We'll get thro

st the chair, the weight of his

ally want to ease thin

strands of hair from his forehead like

cus on finishing school. Ev

himself. He didn't want to speak up, afraid it might come across