Courtney walked into Duncan's apartment looking around at Duncan's decor.

It was nice, simple, and cozy. She wasn't surprised when she saw most of the furniture was black.

She sat down on the nearest couch awkwardly not knowing what to do or say. Duncan went to the kitchen and returned with cold bottled water for both of them.

"Thank you," Courtney said slightly surprised at his hospitality.

Duncan smirked knowing exactly what she was thinking.

Duncan sat in the love seat next to the couch she was sitting on " so what were your plans?"

" What ?" Courtney asked confused.

"I mean your all dressed up Princess." He said taking a sip of his water.

Courtney rolled her eyes at the memory of Abraham and the ceremony.

"I went to an award ceremony with Abe. He won an award." Courtney shrugged trying not to sound sour.

"Did you have a good time, you know besides all the snobby people?" Duncan joked.

Courtney rolled her eyes "I had a good time actually." She bluffed.

Duncan raised an eyebrow " you and I both know that's bullshit."

"Fine, I didn't it was horrible. But what does it matter." She snapped. Duncan noticed how defensive she was getting towards the topic so he switches the convo.

"How long have you known Geoff and Bridgette?"

Courtney looked up at him confused but thought about it " I've known Bridgette since kindergarten and I knew Geoff since 6th grade."

Duncan smirked, " I know Geoff longer" he teased.

"Oh yeah ? How long have you known him?" Courtney challenged.

"Kindergarten." Duncan boasted.

Courtney scoffed "whatever. And how long have you known Bridgette?"

"6th grade. He had a huge crush on Malibu and would always talk about her." Duncan chuckled shaking his head at the memories.

"How ironic how much of a match they are." Courtney smiled.

"Geoff swore it was true love back in elementary."

"Not surprised Bridgette said the same thing but in 7th grade." Courtney laughed.

"God they were so whipped over each other I swear."

"How about Trent and Gwen?" Courtney asks.

"What about them?" Duncan questioned.

"How long have you known them," Courtney stated.

"Oh. Well, I've known them both since kindergarten, I went to school with them through college." Duncan shrugged.

"So was it the same for them? How Geoff and Bridgette were." Courtney asked relaxing into the conversation.

"Not really. At first, it was but then they broke up cause Trent was obsessed with the number 9. She started liking me and we had a one-night stand but I wasn't really interested. She's on and off with Trent." Duncan explained.

"Does she still like you?"courtney asked curiously. If she did still like him it would explain why she noticed Gwen looking at her like a hawk when she's around Duncan.

"Probably. Why are you jealous or something." He smirked tauntingly.

"Um no. I was just wondering!" Courtney exclaimed in disgust rolling her eyes.

"Hey, you never did tell me what's your profession?" Courtney asked. She did wonder how he could afford this place. It was top-notch and expensive.

"I'm a part-time tattoo artist and a mechanic." He said shrugging not trying to get into the details.

"Explains why you have a bunch of piercings and tattoos." She said.

"Nah I had these piercings since I was a teen. The tattoos came later." He smirked proudly.

"You should've seen my mom's reaction she went crazy." Duncan snorted walking to the kitchen.

"How did she react?" Courtney said slightly intrigued.

"She wanted me to tell me who gave her the tattoo so she can arrest them and yeah lots of other mood swings." Duncan chuckled at the memories.

"Was she a cop?" Courtney asked.

"My whole family was and is," Duncan said opening the cabinet.

Courtney thought about what he said. He seemed like a rebellious teen and it makes sense since his family were cops. Lots of led rebel against their parents when they aren't getting enough attention or when something changes in the family dynamic and others. She wondered what his reasons were.

He came back and brought a bowl full of chips. Courtney again was surprised cause the chips were one of her favorites, lays.

"Thank you." She said eating them.

"No problem." He shrugged stretching.

Courtney eyes immediately went to his toned arms. Flashbacks of his body at the gym flooded her brain and she felt herself get hot.

God, she needed to get out of here "may I use your bathroom." Courtney asked standing up looking at the suddenly more interesting floor.

"Yeah, it's down that hall," Duncan said pointing to the hall on his left.

Courtney grabbed her water and went to the bathroom without a word. She locked the bathroom door and looked at herself in the mirror.

What the hell was that. She opened the water and gulped it down then proceeded to place it on the counter. She accidentally knocked the cap on the bathroom without realizing it.

When she finally calmed down she grasped the doorknob and took one more breath and opened it but pausing to grab her water bottle.

Courtney walked out of the bathroom and went to the living room but she didn't see Duncan anywhere. She sighed hoping she could control her thoughts when he came back.

"Princess I was-"

Courtney jumped hearing a voice turning behind her squeezing the water making it shoot out.

"Ahh," he yelped as the cold water hit him going all over his face and shirt.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry you startled me!" Courtney exclaimed. Way to go Courtney.

Duncan wiped the water from his eyes " it's fine."

Courtney looked down and blushed as she noticed his shirt was now see-through and was clinging to his body.

"I was just wondering if you wanted to watch something while you wait for him to come back." He asked referring to her husband.

While he waited for her to answer he took off his shirt and used the dry part of the shirt to pat down and dry the water.

Courtney felt her whole face go red "I uh y-yeah sure." Even though she desperately wanted to look away she couldn't his body was fucking amazing.

Duncan looked up and saw a red-faced Courtney and saw exactly what she was looking at. He just smirked, "so what do you want to watch?"

"Um..." Courtney trailed off finally snapping out of her trance and looking up to Duncan's smirking face.

Her phone on the table blared as she got a call. She swears she was going to die of embarrassment if that phone wouldn't have rung.

Thankful for the distraction she grabbed her phone and saw Abrahams's name.

"Hello?" She answered the phone Duncan went somewhere out the living room.

"I'm here and I don't see you? Did you go to Bridgette's?" Abraham asked.

"No, I'll be there in a second. Unlock the door for me." Courtney said before hanging up.

Duncan returned from what she assumed to be his room with a black shirt on.

"He's back so I should get going," Courtney said grabbing her purse. Duncan nodded with a hint of disappointment in his eyes.

"Alright." He replied walking to the door and opening it.

Courtney walked out but told him to thank you for the last time before entering her apartment.

———————————————————

Things have been tense between Abraham and Courtney since the dinner. Today was the day Abraham prepared to leave. His flight leaves at 4 pm and it was currently 1 pm.

Courtney walked in the door of their apartment to see Abraham standing with a rose.

Courtney looked at him confused "what's this about?" She said closing the door.

"I know you've been upset since the dinner but I want to leave on good terms." Her husband explained walking up to her to give her the rose.

"Look this is sweet but you treated me like shit at that dinner. A simple rose isn't gonna fix that." Courtney informed him walking past him.

Abraham however grabbed Courtney and pulled her close "look I know I haven't the best person to be around right now it's just work stressing me out. I have to deal with "her" coming around now and my new position at work I'm just stressed out just please have faith in me I'll work on myself and I'll do better." He said to her kissing her forehead.

Courtney sighed and looked at the rose and smiled slightly. "I guess I can give you a chance." Courtney smiled.

Abraham beamed and hugged her "life is too short to be upset. I just do what makes me happy and live in the moment. You should try it. Who knows what could happen."

Courtney hugged him back "do you have your stuff packed?"

"Yes, I do I just wanted to spend time with you before I head out in 3 hours."

——

The next day.

Courtney was in her room asleep. She worked overtime and had to drop off some things to Bridgette's.

Her phone started ringing. She sleepily sat up debating if she should answer the phone but just turned over. She figured she'd just ignore it But her phone wouldn't stop ringing.

Courtney groaned and sat up looking at the caller ID.

It was the credit card company.

She sat up and answered the phone tiredly.

"Hi this is Mavis and we're here to ask about an expensive purchase? We tried calling the number 442-679-2350 and could not get ahold of Abraham so we're called you miss."

Courtney knew it was Abraham that made a big purchase he always bought stuff when he was out of town but she couldn't help but wonder what it was.

"Okay well, where was the purchase, and where was it?" Courtney asked.

The sounds of clicking of a keyboard were heard before she spoke "Well the purchase was made in San Diego at a restaurant at 'ADDISON RESTAURANT' with a reservation for 2. It all cost about 6,357.99 cents. Then the second big purchase was a week and a half booking at a hotel called Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa and it cost about 12,465.00"

Courtney almost dropped the phone in shock. What the hell was he doing spending nearly 19,000? And why was there a restaurant for a table for 2? It had to be him because San Diego was where he was going for his work trip. The next question that popped up in her mind was doesn't his work firm cover the cost of hotel meals and a place to stay?

"Ma'am?" Mavis said on the line.

"Uh- sorry what did you say?" Courtney snapped out of her thoughts.

" do you authorize these purchases?" She asked again.

"Y-yes my husband and I are on a trip." She said to the lady.

"Okay thank you and sorry for wasting your time have a good day," Mavis said.

"Yeah you too," Courtney muttered hanging up the phone.

She didn't know what the hell was going on but she had a pretty good guess and she was going to get to the bottom of it.

She went to her iMessage on her phone and went into the group chat that had Heather, Bridgette, and herself in it.

Courtney: Ladies clear your schedules for about 3 days.

Heather: why?

Bridgette: okay but what Heather said.

Courtney: I'm following Abraham and I need you two to help me.

Bridgette: okay when do you want us to go?

Courtney: right now!!!

Heather: ugh fine but just know I'm not driving

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A/N: this chapter is a tad bit shorter then my other chapters and there's a good reason for that. Anyways tell me what you think

Cherrygems: thank youuuuuuu. I was trying to broaden our duncney stories

Sidzi: hello there!!! Will be updating soon I already have over half of the next chapter written