Play The Part (Player Next Door Book 3)

64 | Restraint

Hello! This chapter is long in the making... Entering some new territory over here.... buckle up my friends...

Chapter 64: Restraint

I didn't know how quickly my night would turn.

But I guess that's a trait the Daltons have in common. They can turn anyone's life upside down.

I sat in my creaky wooden chair at the dining room table. My plate was half full of chicken I'm pretty sure my mother microwaved and mashed potatoes that still had little chunks of butter in it.

I glanced over at Luke, who was shoving the food around his plate, reluctantly answering all the questions being peppered at him. When my family gets a hold of him, it's like metaphorical claws sinking into someone – they just won't let go.

"What's the starting salary of a player in the NBA?" mom asked.

"I don't follow that part of the game so closely," Luke replied.

"You should," she said, "Life is not just a game. You have to make sure you're taken care of."

"He will be," Flora smiled, sipping her glass of water, "They get paid millions."

A loud bang sounded outside the street.

Luke looked up, trying to see his house across the street through our window.

"More mash?" I offered him, knowing full well it must be the party.

Jake's text flashed in my mind: Don't tell Luke

That's gonna be hard buddy, since he lives with you.

Su casa es mi casa and all that.

"Sorry," Luke dropped his fork on the plate and scraped his chair back, "My parents are out of town tonight and that sound is my half-brother is up to no good."

My mouth formed a little oh as I stared down at my plate.

He's not just a pretty face, my boyfriend.

"Well, I'm not the traditional family dinner kinda guy," Doz spoke up from his side of the table, "But if you need any greens or sugar tonight, just let me know."

"Will do," Luke said, standing up and I watched his tall frame eclipse us as he stepped out.

"Greens or sugar," Max murmured, trying to figure out what he meant, "What do you do, Doz?"

Doz straightened up, "I work in the fertilization business."

**

I went upstairs to my bathroom and stared at myself in the mirror. All of Flora's make up was laying out on the counter and in her makeup bag. I carefully ran my fingers over her bronzers and lip gloss, wondering which to try first.

I don't watch enough makeup tutorials to know exactly what to do, but I want to look pretty. Life would be so much easier if I did.

I sometimes wondered if Luke would think of me differently if I looked... different.

I made sure the door was closed and came back, lifting a stick of concealer more confidently and leaning towards the mirror to apply it.

Some liquid foundation, some bronzer to contour my cheeks and nose, eye liner to hopefully make my eyes look bigger.

I remember the time Luke called me a raccoon for my eye make up... so I went lighter on it this time.

The raccoon-light makeup look.