Fourteen

Present Day.

Courtney wasn't quite sure how it happened, but she woke up in someone's bed with the sunlight shining through the window, still completely naked. She figured Duncan must have driven them back to his home and carried her inside while she slept.

He walked in holding two cups of coffee and gently placed one on the bedside table, sipping the other.

"Morning princess," he greeted her with a smirk. She smiled up at him.

"Good morning." Wrapping the sheets around her body, she sat herself up and grabbed the coffee Duncan had put down beside her.

"Hey, who said that was for you?" he teased. She shot daggers at him and he laughed as she sipped the coffee. They sat in silence as they drank, and Courtney was thankful that it wasn't awkward like she had expected it to be.

"So... Do you wanna do something to day?" Duncan asked, avoiding eye contact. It was clear he'd forgotten how to flirt with her, either that or he just wasn't sure if how he'd done it when they were teenagers was appropriate now.

Courtney bit her lip but didn't reply.

"There's a cafe round the corner you might like," Duncan suggested, hoping Courtney's silence didn't mean what he thought it meant. "They've got some good food." It was strange how much he had changed since they were teenagers. He wasn't as bold or reckless as he used to be, and Courtney was glad he'd been able to grow up. Even if it had meant losing the only real father figure he'd had, and almost his mother.

"Duncan..." Courtney started hesitantly.

"What?" Duncan demanded. All she had to do was say his name and he could tell something was wrong. "You've got what you wanted and now you're going back to your husband?"

"I just don't think it's a good idea," Courtney sighed. Everything that had happened the day before was a blur and that's not something she was used to.

"Right," Duncan scoffed. "I guess I'm an idiot for thinking you'd want anything to do with me now."

"That's not what it is," Courtney defended.

"Are you sure? Because last night you seemed pretty desperate for me and now you're blowing me off," Duncan snapped. It wasn't like him to be angry. He had always been able to play it cool. "Did you finally realise your parents were right? That I'm just some low-life who's only good for a bit of fun before you can get on with your life?"

"Don't you dare bring my parents into this," Courtney warned. "You know I never thought that of you and I still don't. But I don't want to go for coffee with you today because I've completely lost control of my life and being around you isn't helping me get it back on track."

This time it was Duncan's turn to be silent. His expression showed he still wasn't completely convinced, but he was waiting for an explanation and he wasn't going to interrupt while she gave him one.

"My husband is cheating on me with some woman he works with," Courtney admitted. "I'm seeing a therapist because I don't know how to handle him since he's so much older than me, and I feel like I'm going nowhere in my job. It's my worst nightmare." She put her face in her hands and sighed. "I'm a total mess and coming back here hasn't helped."

Duncan nodded in understanding. He sat down on the bed next to her and put his arm around her. "How long are you in town for?" he asked.

"Two more days," Courtney replied.

"Just let me know when you're ready to see me again," Duncan requested. "I don't want you to disappear without a goodbye. I don't think I could handle it again." Courtney nodded and he kissed her head.

"I'll call you tomorrow," she agreed.

"Okay," Duncan whispered. "I love you."

He loves me? Courtney thought as she drove around the town, trying to collect her thoughts. What was he thinking telling me that? As if things aren't confusing enough.

She knew that she still loved him too, but she didn't know him anymore. How could it work between them now? But she couldn't get the question out of her mind: Would we still be together now if things hadn't happened the way they did?

On the other hand, she also still loved her husband. But he was cheating on her and she didn't know how much longer their relationship would last, or if it was fixable. All she really knew on that front is that if they weren't going to work things out, she wanted to be the first to leave. No way was she letting herself be embarrassed by him leaving her. But even if she did leave Robert, was getting with Duncan straight away really the right thing for her? Courtney hadn't been single in five years and maybe that's what she needed, to be alone and figure out what the next step in her career was instead of focusing on trying to get a marriage to work.

She'd been driving around for almost two hours, so she decided to get out at the park and just sit for a while. She breathed in the fresh air and soaked in the sunlight. At that moment, she knew exactly what it was she wanted.

Without even thinking about it, Courtney got back in the car and drove to Duncan's house. He answered the door almost immediately.

"You're back," he said in surprise.

"Shut up and kiss me," Courtney demanded. She grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled his lips to hers, kissing him ravenously.

"Does this mean you've made up your mind?" Duncan smirked, quickly shutting the door.

"Nope," Courtney said with a shrug, pulling open his shirt. Duncan frowned.

"I'm not exactly peachy with this arrangement," he told her, holding her by her shoulders at arms length. Courtney folded her arms.

"I have no idea what I want in the long term," Courtney told him, the words sounding strange to her own ears, since she always knew what she wanted in the long term. "But right now I want you."

Courtney stared at him until he shrugged in understanding, releasing her shoulders. As soon as he'd let go of her, Courtney jumped on him, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck.

In the back of his mind Duncan almost knew he was going to get heartbroken from this all over again, but for now this was exactly what he wanted too.

Hey everyone! Sorry it's been so long since my last update, I've recently gone back to uni and it's been pretty hectic to say the least. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter and hopefully it won't be as long until my next one.