I'd Give Up Forever To Touch You

Chapter 4

The hunt for them didn't last long since they were all playing a very competitive game of monopoly, judging by more than one set of crossed arms and frowns at least. "Having fun guys?" Laughing I turned the corner to the dining room where they were set up across the table. Luke's head whipped up as he smiled at me. "Hey Jules, have a good nap?" Tilting his head like a puppy, at me. Everyone else looked up and gave me a variety of greetings.

"I slept great, didn't even think I was tired." Shrugging, trying not to look at Luke too much or else my embarrassment may eat me alive. I took up the seat next to Reggie, who was angrily looking across the board, 5 properties sat in front of him but none of them very good on their own, the only set he had were the brown ones each had one house.

"You guys finish up the rooms without me?" I was a little guilty asking, I told them I'd help, and I go and fall asleep. "Yeah, we even got our laundry in our rooms, on the beds but still counts." Reggie offered proudly, rolling the dice and moving the 7 squares it told him too. Landing on Alex's property and owing him a hundred dollars, muttering something about a rigged game.

"Which rooms did you pick?" Doing my best not to laugh at Reggie's annoyance at this board game. "Reggie chose the one beside the bathroom, I got the one beside it and Luke took the office room." Alex explained, adding Reggie's money to his growing stack of cash. I looked over at Luke who was resting his chin in his palm as he studied the board, trying to figure out his strategy.

"You didn't want one of the beds? Or did you lose whatever bet that decided on the bedrooms?" I laughed; Luke shrugged as Carlos was arguing a trade agreement for some properties with my dad. "I figured they wanted it more, I'm not too upset about it, the couch is pretty comfortable." He seemed to be trying to change the topic, something is bothering him about it though. I let him slide on it for now, maybe I'll ask him later if I get him alone.

I came downstairs too late to join this game, but it wasn't long before Alex absolutely wrecked everyone. I got to join the next game, my monopoly strategy is easy but effective get the railroads, then the dark blues and greens and take over from there, landing as many houses onto the properties as I can once I get a set. Just one wrong move onto one of these spaces and it can bankrupt almost anyone, then I get their lands.

Playing everyone's emotions was easy enough. Dad and Carlos are used to my tactics and don't fall for them anymore. Generally, just trying to charm my way into a better exchange in my favor. By the end of the game, I had won by a landslide, Alex, Luke and Reggie seemed shocked by the ruthless way I play. Dad had been taken out of the game pretty early so he made dinner for everyone, fettucine alfredo, garlic bread and salad.

After we all helped clear the table, dad asked us to take over the rest of the cleaning so he could edit some photos from his shoot today. Luke and I put the leftovers away and scraped the dishes clean into the trash before handing them to Alex and Reggie to wash. Luke grabbed the trash, and I grabbed the recycling before heading out to the cans at the side of the studio, Luke following behind me.

We hadn't even reached the driveway when I spoke up. "So, you seemed to be avoiding something earlier. When we were talking about the rooms. I wanted to see if you wanted to talk about it." Biting my lip a little, taking the steps down the front walkway to the driveway. Luke shifted the trash bag on his shoulder a little bit and kind of shrugged. "It's not really anything to talk about, I just like the couch." Luke walked a little way ahead and tossed the bag into the can before holding open the recycling can lid for me to dump the cans content inside. 

Placing the now empty can on the ground to look up at Luke, my arms crossed at him. "Luke, I don't really believe that." Seeing his face though, I dropped my hands with a sigh, knowing I can't force him to talk about his feelings. "But if you don't want to talk about it, with me, then that's okay." Staring at Luke as he dropped his eyes for a second and kicked his feet. "It's not that, it's just," Luke was fidgeting like there was a tag in his shirt that was bothering him. "I'm used to the couches, I guess." I could still feel there was something more, like having a word at the tip of your tongue.