Play The Part (Player Next Door Book 3)

86 | A Peanut Would Know

Let's just say, I know a little peanut who's going to be happy by the end of this chapter...

Chapter 86: A Peanut Would Know

We arrived on Dupont Avenue.

How happy I was to be home. It was a late Sunday morning, the sun was shining and people were out on the street. Kids playing in the lawn, parents running groceries. It felt friendly.

Mrs Dawson hovered around her son as he slowly got out of the car, wincing from the pain.

He refused her help, as stubborn as he always was.

A neighbor waved at the Dawsons as she passed by.

"Thank you, Millie," Mrs Dawson smiled at me, closing the car door behind her, "It was sweet of you to stay all night with us. I know your mom must be worried sick about where you are."

Nope, not one bit.

"Sure," I lied, "I'm glad Luke's going to be ok."

"He needs a lot of rest now," she looked gently at her son, "And you do too, Millie. Make sure you catch up on sleep. You've got SATs and all this intense college stuff coming. You have a future too."

I nodded, understanding that it would be appropriate if I went home now.

I went to kiss Luke on the cheek and struggled to avoid touching him. I didn't want to hurt him, but at the same time, I don't have good balance when I lean forwards.

He steadied me and kissed me on the lips.

"See you soon," he spoke.

"See you soon."

I blushed and scuttled across the street, headed towards my house where I was sure there would be no food in the fridge and probably no one noticing I had left.

**

~Luke's POV~

We entered the hallway, and I kept walking. I didn't want to speak with anyone.

There was a delivery of candles at the base of the staircase. Charlotte's order for her self-care days. I gripped the railing and was about to start the climb, feeling my leg already tense up.

"Don't tell your father about the hospital," mom said in a loud whisper, as she took her shoes off at the entryway.

I stopped to look back at her, "You didn't tell him about my leg?"

"No," she said, shrugging off her jacket and placing her handbag down, "He would've freaked out."

The study door was closed. He was likely inside.

Mom walked towards me as I thought about it. We didn't have any big games left this year, so she's smart to bank on this flying under the radar. It would've created another war in this household.

She tugged me back, grabbing my arm, "This girl is going to kill you, Luke. She's sweet, but look at what's happening to you."

"This didn't happen because of her."

"This wasn't happening before her."

**

~Monday morning~

"Good morning, good morning!" I sang, hopping out of the passenger seat of Luke's black jeep wrangler, two coffee cups in hand.

We had enough time to visit Max at the Coffee Bean this morning.

Something about passing out at 4pm on a Sunday afternoon and waking up at 6am the next day just really gives a pep in my step.

I highly recommend a fourteen-hour hibernation session.