Play The Part (Player Next Door Book 3)

89 | Plastic Crown

Diving right into prom 'cos you know, it's the prom chapter...

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Chapter 89: Plastic Crown

*Luke's POV*

I had to pick my chin from the floor.

From the first day I ever met her in a red-and-white polka dot shirt, to her turtleneck sweater at Austin's grotto party, the raccoon eyes for makeup and that Spongebob t-shirt clubbing in Dubai.

I've never been one to pay attention to women's fashion but

Millie's always been eye catching one way or another. This time, though...

Man.

I cleared my throat, suddenly feeling nervous around her. I wasn't used to feeling this way. I didn't really know how to behave.

She looked elegant.

That dress looked beautiful on her, would look beautiful off her, and just made me want to slide my hands all over her. The way the soft fabric slipped around her curves, I resisted.

Red is her color.

When did I become like this? I was suddenly conscious of how I'd kept her waiting, how I hadn't taken her to dinner beforehand. She'd been so excited for prom in her hyper caffeinated way and I hadn't taken it seriously.

My friends and I just saw this as a lame party. Maybe it's more of a milestone.

After Doz handed me some drugs in his way of cosplaying a parent, I took Millie's hand and held her door open.

She stepped out in front of me, and I noticed the two goons immediately shape up when they saw her.

Austin and Chad stopped slouching around, adjusting their shirts and tugging their collars in their pressed suits.

Millie didn't seem to notice the way they changed when seeing her.

She started walking to the car and us three boys just watched. The way she looked tonight made us all want to behave like gentlemen.

**

*Mllie's POV*

I stepped into prom, my hand wrapped in Luke's.

I noticed the eyes on us as soon as we walked in. Luke, Chad and Austin escorted me to prom.

Three tall, handsome men standing around me, protective without intending to be. Their contagious smiles and magnetic charm, the way they made any moment feel special with their presence.

When did I get so lucky?

The day I saw that raccoon, probably.

It was hard to believe this was the same gym where the basketball team practiced every afternoon. The glossy court floors were hidden beneath layers of soft, twinkling light.

Fairy lights strung high across the rafters, casting a warm golden glow that made everything feel softer, almost dreamlike. The school banners and scoreboards were draped in deep, silky fabric.

Preston Oakes written in large letters across them.

"Try to resist playing basketball tonight," I told Luke over the music, pointing at the basketball hoop pressed against the wall and draped in nice fabric.

Luke's blue eyes followed my finger before he looked back at me, "It didn't cross my mind."

The way he looked at me made my chest tighten, a slow heat crawling up my neck.