Chapter 457

Chapter 457:

I mumbled something that didn’t make sense.

“Go back to sleep,” he whispered.

I did.

When I opened my eyes, sunlight had already bled through the curtains. His side of the bed was cold.

I sat up slowly, my eyes gritty, my brain still not fully switched on. Last night’s messages came flooding back like a slap to the face.

I still hadn’t asked Ashton about the woman, the one Daniel couldn’t stop talking about. But after a full night’s sleep, it didn’t feel quite so urgent.

I’d ask when Ashton actually had five minutes to spare and when I wasn’t half-dead from waiting.

I’d barely reached the bottom of the stairs when Yvaine’s name popped up on my screen.

“Movie?” she asked the moment I answered. “No excuses. You’re coming. We hit the mall first, then dinner after. There’s a new sushi place on Fifth. Supposed to be decent p>

“Sure,” I said. “I’ve got nothing going on. Want to grab lunch first p>

She let out a long, irritated breath. “Can’t. I’ve got a blind date at noon p>

“A what?” I nearly missed a step. “You’re going on a blind date? Did you and Cade break up p>

“No. But I’m not marrying the guy. My parents don’t even know he exists. If they did, they’d lose their minds p>

Thinking back to my own first impression of Cade, I could sort of understand where her parents were coming from.

“I couldn’t get out of it,” she said. “They’ve been pushing for weeks. I said yes just to shut them up. I’ll smile, nod, and be out before dessert p>

Something clicked. “Wait. Your blind date wouldn’t happen to be a guy named Declan, would it p>

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“Might be?” she said lazily. “Didn’t catch the name. I was just told to dress nice and show up on time p>

“Wow,” I muttered, shaking my head. “Skyline really is tiny. Declan’s Ashton’s younger brother p>

“Half-brother, technically,” she replied.

“Wait, what? Huh. That explains why my mum kept going on about him being from ‘a good family.’ She made it sound like he shits gold. Is he… normal p>

“He’s alright. Bit of a thrill-seeker. Ashton says he’s obsessed with motorbikes lately p>

Yvaine snorted. “Perfect. If he’s just here to tick the box too, we’re golden. I’ll eat fast and get out. Meet you at the mall after p>

“Yep p>

I left the house at one, got to our meeting spot on time, and waited.

Ten minutes passed.

Then twenty.

I called her twice.

No answer.

The film was about to start when I finally saw her. She was dragging her feet across the pavement, shoulders slumped like a wilted flower.

I marched over. “You look like you got mugged. What happened p>