boxer ⋆ luke hemmings ✔️

28. Intimacy.

With his rolled up sleeves, a loosened tie, drink running through his veins and his jaw clenched in determination, Luke Hemmings looked nothing less than a tired CEO just waiting for his apprentices to meet a deadline long since overdue.

Sophie saw him before anybody else did, and immediately, her eyes lit up. It was obvious that he was coming towards them, and although she knew they had to be careful, she was just itching to get away from the waste of space standing right in front of her.

Rick Morane was trying to talk, to flirt and to speak to her in the best way he knew how; by initiating flattery. Only she wasn't buying it, not one bit, and neither was Chase.

"Give it up, man," Chase shook his head, folding his arms, "You're not going anywhere near her,"

"Oh, bud, come on!" Rick hit him playfully on the arm, "I just escaped my teens the other day, and you never even showed up to my party. And now you're gonna stop me from telling a girl that I'm sorry? What happened to us, huh?"

"You turned into a fucking jerk,"

"Ah, besides from that," Rick smirked, "But anyway, it was my birthday, bro! The least you can do is to give me one wonderful gift of getting to spend some alone time with-"

"She's not a prize, you asshole," Chase snapped, shoving him back as the guy began to creep closer, "You seriously need to stop. How many blunts did you smoke before you got here?"

Rick ignored him, instead diverting his focus on Sophie, "Come on, sweetie. I just wanna talk to you,"

"I don't want to talk to you," Sophie muttered back. She couldn't bring herself to look at him; the mere sight of the guy simply made her want to slam her head face-first into the wall.

"Alright, then. We don't have to talk," the devious tone in his voice shone through, and she found herself holding back a gag.

"Don't," Chase warned, eyes darkening. Rick took no notice of him, his focus aimed purely at the young girl in the black dress.

"You won't be doing much talking, anyway. Not if you're with me," Sophie could feel Chase tense as Rick carried on, "Baby, your lips would be preoccupied with something el-"

"You're disgusting," Sophie interjected, utterly revolted by both his words and his undermining confidence in them. It was as if the boy had somehow convinced himself that there was a way of persuading her, and although it was comical, it also made her stomach churn.

She glanced over to where she'd last seen Luke, her heart falling to the pit of her stomach once she caught sight of an empty garden- bar the gazebo, whose main inhabitants were a sleeping Michael and a pacing Ashton. Disappointment flooded her face, for the one man she wanted to see the most was nowhere to be found.

Maybe she was wrong. Perhaps he hadn't been coming towards her, far too concerned with the complications of their hidden relationship to interject a hushed conversation between her and some guy. A guy who Luke didn't know, Sophie might add. It was only understandable that the boxer would stay away.

She understood him, but couldn't help but resent him too. The one time she needed Luke the most was the one time he had suddenly disappeared.

Sophie sighed, taking a step back from Chase and Rick. They were arguing, and although neither of their attention's had been fixated on her anymore, their eyes still flickered in her direction.

"Where are you going, Hood?" Rick asked, crossing his arms. He broadened his shoulders- though Sophie had to admit, Luke's in a relaxed state were much broader- and planted his feet at equal lengths apart on the gravel, attempting to look intimidating.