Chapter Six

Tilly

I stare at my phone, a soft smile stretching across my face as I read Duke's latest message. It's another one of those sweet notes that make my heart flutter —he hopes I've had a great day and misses the sound of my voice. It's the little things. I reply quickly telling him that I miss his smile.

We've been texting back and forth for days. The team's been out of town and we haven't seen each other since that night in the parking lot. There have been lots of hours of video calls and texts between us though. He got home late last night and doesn't have a game or practice today. I've been waiting to see if he'll want to see me.

When he asks me to dinner at his house, I hesitate for barely a moment, excitement dancing through my body. The idea of spending time with him, just the two of us, feels both thrilling and terrifying.

The day passes in a blur of lesson plans and pop quizzes, but the anticipation of tonight keeps me floating. I'm nervous, though. What if it doesn't go well? I shake my head, banishing those thoughts. I grab a light jacket and make my way to my car, trying to focus on the road and not a thousand butterflies flying around my stomach.

As I pull up to his house, I can't help but admire the warm glow spilling out from the windows. I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself, and knock lightly on the door. It opens immediately, and there he is, in a fitted black T-shirt that hugs his arms just right, a playful grin spreading across his face.

"Hey, beautiful," he says, stepping aside to let me in. I blush, feeling a rush of warmth at his words.

"Hi!" I reply, trying to sound casual, but my voice comes out a bit breathless.

Delicious smells waft toward me as I enter. "It smells amazing in here!" I say, peering into the kitchen where I can see a pan sizzling on the stove.

"Steak and salad," he says, his voice full of pride. "And a little surprise for dessert."

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh, What's that?"

He winks, and my heart skips a beat. "You'll see."

We settle into the cozy living room, chatting easily as he pours us each a glass of wine. I can't but admire how his eyes light up when he talks about hockey —his passion is infectious. I share stories about my students, and how sometimes they surprise me with their brilliance and creativity.

"Teaching high school must be quite the challenge, he says, his tone earnest. "I can barely handle a bunch of guys on the ice."

"It has its moments," I reply, taking a sip of the rich red wine. "But honestly, it's the rewarding moments that make it all worth it. Like when a student finally gets a concept they've been struggling with."

He nods, his expression softening. "I get that. There's something about knowing you're helping others that makes you feel like you're doing something important."

The conversation flows effortlessly, and soon he disappears into the kitchen to finish dinner. I take the opportunity to look around his living space. It's warm and inviting, decorated with photographs of his hockey days and some art that suggests a creative side I'm eager to learn more about.

As I look at the pictures, I imagine him as a kid, dreaming of playing professional hockey and working hard to achieve his goals.

"Dinner's ready!" he calls, and I snap back to the moment. He plates our meals and I can't help but admire his cooking skills.

As we sit down at the table, I feel a flutter of excitement. The food is delicious —rich and flavorful. We clink our glasses together, and I can't help but laugh when he pretends to be a sommelier, describing the wine with exaggerated flair.

"I can't believe you're a math teacher," he says, teasingly. "What's your secret? I can barely add two and two without my phone."

I chuckle, leaning forward, enjoying the moment. "Well, it helps to love what you do. I always tell my students that math isn't just about numbers. It's about problem-solving and critical thinking. It's a skill for life." I lean even closer to him and whisper. "And sometimes your phone is dead and you need to know how to do it without a calculator."

He laughs, "You're amazing, you know that?"

Heat rushes to my cheeks. "Just doing my best."

After dinner, we move to the living room with our wine. I catch a glimpse of a beautiful cake —rich chocolate, gleaming with ganache. It's from my favorite bakery, something I had told Duke about in passing. "That's the surprise?" I ask, my eyes wide with excitement.

"Only the best for you," he says, standing up to cut us each a slice. As he serves the cake, I can't help but think how sweet he is. We talk and laugh, the wine lowering our inhibitions, and soon the conversation shifts to deeper topics —including what we hope for the future.

With every passing moment, I feel closer to him. The way he looks at me sends shivers down my spine. After we finish the cake, he moves closer, resting his hand on my thigh. I can hardly breathe.

"I love spending time with you, Tilly," his voice low and sincere. "Especially without the masks on."

I look into his beautiful face, a shy smile creeping onto my lips. "I feel the same way, Duke."

He moves even closer and my heart races. His hand brushes against mine, and the air thickens with unspoken words. I lean in slightly, and he takes that as a cue to close the distance. Our lips meet softly at first, and I melt into the kiss. It's sweet and tender, a promise of something deeper.

As the kiss deepens, I feel his warmth enveloping me. My hands find their way to his hair, and he wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me closer. It's intoxicating, everything I've wanted and more.

After what feels like an eternity, we pull apart, our foreheads resting together. "Wow," I whisper, breathless.

"Yesh, he murmurs, brushing a thumb across my cheek. "I've been waiting days to do that."

"I can't help but laugh softly, my heart soaring. "Same here."

We share another kiss and it feels like a perfect moment suspended in time. Every touch ignited a fire inside me, and I realize just how much I've come to care about him. Each moment deepens our connection, and I feel myself falling, more and more.

"Tonight has been perfect," I say softly, feeling a sense of contentment wash over me.

"It doesn't have to end. I want you to stay with me, princess." Duke says, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead.

I didn't plan to stay with him tonight, but now I don't want to leave. I don't know what I'll do about Ryan and the connection between him and Duke. We haven't talked about it at all, but for tonight I don't care.

"I'll have to text Paisley, so she doesn't worry," I tell him.

He smiles down at me. "I know. You take care of that while I clean up the kitchen. Then we can go upstairs."

There must be something that crosses my face, because Duke leans down, kissing my forehead. "I know we rushed to the physical side of things at the masked party, but that's not who I am and I know that's not who you are. We don't have to do anything you don't want to do tonight. I just want to hold you in my arms. Sometimes I still feel like maybe it's just a dream that I found you again."

I wrap my arms tightly around his waist and place my head against his chest. "You can't say such sweet things, Duke, between that and the chocolate cake I may never leave."

"That's the plan, princess. That's the plan."