Viv closed her laptop and let out another dreamy sigh. She had yet to wipe the grin off her face after her moment outside with Duke. Already she was replaying the way he’d rolled down the window and let out a cheer. He loved her. And she loved him.
She guessed it didn’t matter what trick Sylvia tried to hide up her sleeve. Come next week, the gala would be a thing of the past. Sylvia would go on her merry way, and Viv and Duke wouldn’t hear another word about her.
Viv repeated those very words as she settled into bed and flicked off the lamp. Soon enough, Sylvia would be nothing more than a piece of her past.
Chapter 20
Duke pulled into Vivi’s neighborhood and glanced at the clock. Good thing he’d planned to pick her up as early as he had. He didn’t mind that she’d declined his offer for a limo or town car, but he couldn’t help but feel anxious as he considered what the LA traffic might be like tonight.
But there was more to that uneasy feeling than worry over the traffic. Tonight’s gala, a Stanford Alumni one at that, contained the same elements from that horrible prom ten years ago. He was taking the right woman this time, but that didn’t change the fact that he’d be announcing the scholarship award with none other than Sylvia Sampson. On a live stream, no less.
The woman was known for her hot temper and entitled ways. And Duke had turned her down on more than one occasion leading up to that night.
But what did that matter? They never had dated outside of that one night. He’d never been interested in Sylvia, and he didn’t owe her anything.
Duke nodded as the truth of that settled into his mind. She had no reason to embarrass herself or anyone else that night. Things would be just fine.
As he pulled up to the curbside, Duke recognized the SUV parked in the driveway. It belonged to Viv’s parents, Emilio and Anna, who’d be watching the boys tonight. He’d hit it off with the couple while Duke and Viv were dating back in college. This time around, they were as kind as they ever were.
The boys were first to open the door before Duke even climbed out of the car.
“Hi Duke,” Dante called as he bolted down the steps.
Diego was at his heels. “You’re taking my mom to a dance.”
“I sure am,” Duke said as the boys greeted him with a series of handshakes and fist-bumps they’d made up.
“My grandma says she’s taking a picture of you guys before you leave,” Diego said.
“Even though Mom says no ‘cause it’s too embarrassing.”
They trotted alongside Duke as he made his way up the stairs. “Here,” Diego said, pulling open the door.
But Duke shook his head. “Since I asked your mom to come on this special date with me, I’ve got to ring the doorbell before I go inside.”
“That’s how you’re supposed to do dates?” Dante asked with an eye squinted against the sunset.
“Yes,” Duke said.
The boys shut the door and hurried onto the grassy area out front. “Okay,” Diego said. “Good luck.”
Duke pressed the doorbell, then turned to glance over his shoulder at the boys. “Did you guys already see her dress?” he asked.
The twins nodded. “Yep.”
“It’s real pretty.”
Anna cracked open the door. “Don’t you look nice,” she said, motioning for him to come inside. The twins followed him in.
“Wow,” Anna said. “You two are going to make one gorgeous couple.”
“Ah,” Emilio said from the lounge chair in the corner. “He looks okay.”
Duke chuckled, familiar with the man’s humor by now.
“You getmein a tux,” he continued, “you’d really have something to look at.”
“Youdolook dashing in a tux,” Anna agreed.
