Chapter 13: Used To Be A Certified Ladies' Man
As soon as they started driving, silence fell between them. It was exactly as she expected, quiet and distant.
Lara stared out the window, watching the city pass by as the minutes stretched on. The only sounds filling the car were the hum of the engine and the occasional honk from other vehicles.
She had always been used to Lucas's cold demeanor, but there were times when the silence between them felt suffocating.
It took nearly half an hour to reach the café due to traffic. The moment Lucas parked, Lara unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the door.
She hesitated briefly before bending down slightly to look at him. "Thanks for the ride. Drive safe," she said softly and without waiting Lucas' response—not that she expected him to—she shut the door close.
Lara straightened her back, took a deep breath, and stepped inside the café. The warm scent of freshly brewed coffee and baked pastries greeted her, mingling with the soft hum of jazz music playing in the background. The cozy atmosphere, filled with the quiet chatter of customers, instantly made her feel at ease.
Her eyes swept across the room, searching for a familiar face, but neither Ali nor Duke had arrived yet.
She glanced at the time on her phone, she was early. With a sigh, she sent a quick text to Ali.
Lara:I'm here. You better get here fast.
Sliding her phone back into her bag, she walked up to the counter to place her order.
"One avocado frappe and a blueberry cheese waffle, please," she said with a polite smile.
The barista nodded. "Of course! That'll be ready in a few minutes."
Lara stepped aside, waiting near the counter, her gaze flickering toward the entrance every time the bell above the door chimed. She wasn't particularly surprised that Ali was running late. Ali was late to everything. But Duke… well, she wasn't sure what to expect. It had been years since she last saw him.
Soon, her order was ready. She picked up her tray and made her way to a table by the window, settling into the cushioned seat. The sun streamed through the glass, casting a golden glow on the café's rustic wooden interior.
She took a sip of her frappe, scrolling through Instagram mindlessly, watching reels while taking small bites of her waffle. It wasn't until she swallowed the last bite that someone suddenly slid into the seat across from her.
Expecting Ali, she barely looked up until a deep, familiar voice broke through her thoughts.
"Mind if I sit with you, gorgeous?"
Her fingers froze around her cup. Her head snapped up so fast she almost gave herself whiplash.
Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Oh my God! Duke?!"
Though she had been expecting to see him today, she still couldn't help the shock that flashed across her face. It had been so long since they last met, and seeing him in person felt... surreal.
Duke chuckled, his deep, rich laughter sending a wave of nostalgia crashing over her. "Hi, Nics."
Lara's jaw dropped. "Oh my God, it really is you!"
Without a second thought, she practically jumped out of her seat, rushed around the table, and threw her arms around him. "You idiot! You just disappeared! Do you know how much I missed you?!"
Duke let out a soft grunt at the impact but laughed as he wrapped his arms around her. "I missed you too," he admitted, his voice laced with warmth.
She pulled back slightly, smacking his back in mock annoyance. "You should've called me! Or at least texted! Do you know how long I waited?"
Duke grinned, holding up his hands in surrender. "I know, I know. That's on me. I'm sorry, okay?"
Lara narrowed her eyes at him before finally huffing. "You better be sorry."
Duke's lips twitched as he reached out, ruffling her hair like he always used to. "Still the same, huh?"
She swatted his hand away, scowling. "And you're still annoying."
They both laughed, the years between them melting away as if they had never been apart.
Finally, she returned to her seat, still eyeing him with a mixture of disbelief and excitement.
"You look different," she observed, giving him a once-over. She had seen his recent Instagram photos, but seeing him in person was another thing entirely. He was taller, more refined, exuding a confidence that hadn't been there before. His time in New York had definitely done him good.
Duke smirked. "Good different or bad different?"
Lara pretended to scrutinize him before leaning back in her chair. "I'll admit it, you look good. My mom wasn't lying when she said you got more handsome."
Duke chuckled. "I'll take that as a compliment."
She rolled her eyes but smiled. "Honestly, though, New York seems to be working wonders on you."
Duke leaned back, his gaze thoughtful. "It sure does. I think I've found my second home."
Lara tilted her head. "Do you like it that much?"
He nodded. "I do. The city, the people, the energy, it's different, but in a good way. At first, I wasn't sure if I'd stay, but now… I don't know, I can actually see myself there for the long run."
Something in his tone made Lara pause.
"You're not planning to stay there forever, are you?" she asked, a hint of worry creeping into her voice.
Duke looked at her, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then, he smiled. "I don't know yet. But let's not talk about that now. We have a lot to catch up on."
Lara wanted to press him for more details, but she relented. Instead, she smiled genuinely. "Anyway, I'm glad to hear you're doing well. I'm really happy for you."
Duke smiled back. "And you? How's married life treating you?" His eyes flickered toward the wedding ring on her finger.
Lara felt her throat tighten. Her fingers curled slightly, instinctively hiding the ring from view. For a moment, she hesitated, but she forced a smile onto her face.
"It's fine. We're doing good," she lied smoothly.
Duke studied her for a second before nodding. "That's good. I'm happy for you."
Lara quickly changed the subject. "Enough about me. What about you? Any special someone in your life?"
Duke's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Actually, yes. I do have a partner."
Lara's face lit up with excitement. "Really?! When can I meet her?"
Duke chuckled, his amusement clear. "It's a he."
Lara blinked. "... Huh?"
"My partner is a man," Duke clarified casually, as if he had just told her the weather forecast.
Lara gawked at him. "Wait, what?"
She stared at him, momentarily stunned. Out of all the things she had expected, this was not one of them. Not because she had anything against same-sex relationships—far from it—but because this was Duke they were talking about. The same Duke who had always been surrounded by girls back in college. He was practically a heartthrob. Never once had she seen even the slightest hint that he would end up with a man.
Her silence must have lasted a beat too long because Duke's expression faltered. His usual confidence wavered, replaced with uncertainty.
"Are you... disgusted?" he asked, his voice quieter than before.
Lara's eyes widened in horror. "No! Never!" she said immediately. "Why would I be? I'm not a close-minded idiot. I fully support LGBTQ+ relationships. I was just surprised! You didn't exactly give me time to process!"
Duke exhaled, relief flooding his face as his shoulders relaxed. "Good. You have no idea how worried I was. You know how some people here still react badly to these things."
"Well, I'm not 'some people,'" Lara huffed. "I was just caught off guard. Like, how? When did this happen? You used to be a certified ladies' man!"
Duke shrugged, a soft smile playing on his lips. "It just happened. I fell in love. That's all there is to it."
Lara's expression softened. She could see it in his eyes—the quiet, steady kind of happiness that came with being with someone you truly cared about.
"Well," she said warmly, "I hope I get to meet him soon."
"You will," Duke said. "I was actually planning to introduce him later."
Lara clapped her hands excitedly. "Really?! That's great! I can't wait to meet him!"
Just then, a familiar voice cut through their conversation.
"There you are, woman! You told me to hurry, and yet here you are, comfortably eating without me?"