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Story: Duncan

“I love you too, Phoebe.”

Athena disconnected the call and watched me. She wouldn’t add to what Phoebe said. There was nothing to add. Phoebe was right. I needed to trust the universe and the path I was on.

“It’s time I went home.”

What? I said I needed to trust the universe.

I didn’t say that I would.

Athena just shook her head and walked to her room. Meanwhile, I stepped out onto the balcony and looked out over the remaining partiers that were making a valiant effort to keep things going.

A man stood across the street watching me. He was younger, maybe late twenties. I recognized him from the ball. He still wore his tuxedo, and his eyes moved from me to the people walking along the street, before moving back to me again.

He nodded, and I knew he was the man Duncan had asked to watch over me. I left the doors open and returned to my room.Exhaustion was taking over, but I pushed it aside as I packed my things.

Pulling out my phone, I booked the first flight out in the morning. Athena had made her choice to stay. Lying in bed, I thought about what Phoebe said.

And about what she didn’t say.

She knew I was scared. Hell, I knew I was scared. When I spotted Duncan at the ball, it never occurred to me that he was the man I was destined to meet. But Athena knew.

Wait, when did Athena know?

Scrambling from my bed, I rushed across the main area. I didn’t bother to knock as I barged into her room.

Jumping onto her bed, I shook her shoulder. “Athena. When did you know?”

“Know what?”

“Don’t play dumb. When did you know it was Duncan? You said you didn’t know who it was, only when.”

She sat up on the bed and gave me that smug smile again.

God, I hated that smile.

“I wondered how long it would take you to ask.”

I smacked her arm and growled, “Tell me.”

“When he accosted me.” She gave me her genuine smile then. The one that said all was right in the world.

“He accosted you?”

“On the street. He came up behind me and grabbed my arm to spin me around. He whisperedmo bandia. That was when I knew he thought I was you.”

“Athena, what do I do?” I sat beside her against the headboard. My thoughts were a whirlwind in my head. He sought me out when he mistook Athena for me. When he saw me at the ball, he didn’t hesitate to pull me into his arms.

“You know what to do, sister.”

“What if I’m wrong?”

“What if you’re right?” she countered.

“What if I get my heart broken?”

Her smile was sad as she looked into my eyes. “Your heart is already broken. Let him put it back together.”

Duncan’s words from the night we spent together came rushing to my mind.