Page 13 of Duty Became Desire

“I need to pick up some things for my mom.”

Once more, that did a number to my stomach, but I vehemently refused to focus on the why.

Chapter nine

Alec

Ilet out a breath as I lay in bed, grateful for the day off from school. A three-day weekend is always welcome, and this one was much needed.

The kids all seemed to be in more of an uproar and I wasn’t sure why. But the days seemed to drag on, and I still hadn’t made it down to the city clerk’s office.

At the rate I was going, I wouldn’t be divorced till I was fifty!

Not that she was horrible.

Okay, she wasn’t horrible all the time.

Like the other day. We got along great. Though, it sure seemed like I surprised her a lot and I’m not sure why that was.

I mean, okay, she didn’t know a lot about my life, and I don’t blame her. But she seemed surprised that I maybe wasn’t this jerk she pictured. And I wasn’t. Not all the time.

Just to her.

Because she pushed. Far more than she should.

But I think she also enjoyed it too.

I scrubbed my hand over my face, groaning at the phone dinged. With a scowl, I reached over, frowning as I saw the notification.

Hey, I know you’re off. Think you could do me a solid and check some food locations for the wedding?

Isn’t this your job?

Yes, but we’re both slammed. And it’s not like we don’t trust you, you know?

It’s my day off, dude. One of the few I get.

I know Alec, but you’d be doing me a favor.

I rolled my eyes, already knowing this day wouldn’t be fun.

Fine, send me the locations.

Great. Sky’s in town, she’ll join you. Just call it your duty as our best friends.

I glared at my phone before tossing it aside. I didn’t need to see her right now. And honestly, this kind of felt like we were being pushed together. Which, for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why they would be doing that.

Thirty-five minutes later, I pulled up to the little bistro that was my first spot. I entered the place, seeing Skylar there, who quickly turned around as the door sounded.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded, hands on her hips.

“My lucky day, I guess?”

“Really? We’re going to start that way?”

“I didn’t start that way, Sky, you did. I just walked through the door.”

She huffed but didn’t say anything for once. Because she knew she was in the wrong. She didn’t need to be prissy.

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