Her Home, His Heart | ✓

☆*✿TWENTY-THREE(23)❀*★

♪♪ You find it in your deepest friendship

The kind you cherish all your life

And when you cherish all your life

You've found that special thing ♪♪

ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ[Flying without wings] - [Westlife] 

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 The crashing of balls against pins and screams in victory echoed through the alleyway as Esmé and Kian walked into the bowling arena. Fresh scents of perfumes and colognes prevailing over the floor polish wafted through their nostrils once they reached the check-in counter. Neon dim lights shone at every corner lightening up the place while being a source of energy for the people present in the building. 

Esmé sent a last pleading look to Kian after they cleared them to go inside. She had spent the entire ride there convincing the stubborn doctor that she was fine and he shouldn't mention any of what happened to Petra just yet.

Kian huffed and stared at her with a glare of his own. He opened his mouth to reply but stopped as Petra shouting their names rang to their direction. They turned to see her was waving towards them.

A grin appeared on Esmé's lips hidding any trace of fatigue as she made her way to Petra. She spared no further glance to Kian, hoping he at least understood her. It was Petra's day at the moment; she wasn't about to turn an outing meant to lift Petra's spirit into a dulling moment of hers.

"You're late," Petra rebuked as they reached her. Her hands rested on her waist and her eyes squinted at them.

Esmé cracked at Petra's attempt to make a stern look. "You need to work on your stern look, Pet."

Petra gasped. Her hands flew to her mouth, letting her caramel hair that she let down bounce just as two people laughed behind her. Esmé's attention drifted to the other members of the small party.

"I always tell her that, but worry no more, my love. We all know that if she ever has kids, it's Uncle Ronnie that's going to discipline them." Ronnie pushed his chest forward with pride.

Hermione snickered at Ronnie's statement and so did Kian.

"Yeah, because I'd let any of my children come to close to you," Petra tittered. Her smile sat on her face as Esmé watched her.

If Kian hadn't informed her just how this was an escape for Petra, she would have missed the little strain in Petra's smile at how good she was acting.

"Never say never!" Ronnie grinned and directed them to their bowling lane. He picked up the shoes he had collected for Kian and Esmé and handed it over to them.

"Let's get the groove on and flex these muscles!" Ronnie yelled, throwing his hands up in the air. "Who thinks they can beat the master?!" Ronnie grabbed onto a ball by the side and moved to the bowling lane in front of them. He turned to the back and winked at Esmé right before he sent the ball rolling down.

"A split!" Hermione mocked just as the ball crashed against the pins leaving behind two pins at opposite ends standing tall. The others chuckled at Ronnie's petrified gaze.

"Is that the best the master can do?!" Petra stalked to over to Ronnie with a taunting grin. "Poor master. I pity the people who learn from you."

Esmé chuckled as Ronnie stalked back and gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Oh, come on, it was your first try."

"He's no amateur, so that was a major hit to his ego." Kian jeered as he leaned back, raising a brow at Ronnie.

"Piss off, man! My ego can take a hit."