Page 90 of Under the Influence

Duke and Val are a solid team. Each one is strong where the other one is weak. I doubt Val would have done well as West’s VP. They are too much alike and tend to solve problems by wrestling. With Duke, Val has a steady hand for his more exuberant tendencies. Meanwhile, Val pushes Duke out of his comfort zone.

Though I’ve also been known to push Duke from time to time, I prefer to act as his safe space. No matter how weak, grumpy, worried, or silly he feels, Duke never has to hide from me. He trusts in the magic between us. Nothing can make me turn on him. What we share isn’t temporary or fickle. We’re the real deal until our last breaths.

Looking back at the years I waited to find my dream guy, I’m horrified by how much time and effort I wasted. I could have simply sat on my ass, enjoyed my life, and waited until the day Duke moseyed into view. I should have trusted in my family’s magic.

That lesson is why I’m less controlling now. I trust myself and life in general much more than I did before meeting Duke. I give into my Earlham urges without fear. Whenever I begin to overthink life, I’ll look at my husband. His beautiful blue eyes will meet mine, and I quickly settle down and enjoy life rather than trying to control it.

Thanks to Duke, I’m the very best version of myself.

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THE END