Loving Stranger (Strange Date Peternoic x Reader)

Addiction

Peter loved to gamble it was how he had everything in his life. But it was an addictive activity that (Y/N) knew had to stop however the loving wife she was she never said anything.

Soon after the birth of Leo and Bobby Peter knew that they were not going to be financially stable, so he went back to his addictive ways even though he has never won.

This was the chaos he loved, a chaos that often got him into trouble. People's voices mingled with the slap of cards, the roll of the dice, the rustling of wheels. From his vantage, he could see the paths that were made between crowds, tables, and machines. Slot machines were some of the worst odds at a casino, and still he marveled at the throngs of people who occupied them day after day.

Peter sighed and leaned back in his chair, nudging his nearly empty glass to the middle of the table. He had no idea why he was torturing himself with the sights, the sounds of winning. Shaking his head, he stood up and grabbed his glass, finishing it off as he made his way to the bar.

"Can I get you anything else?" The bartender took his glass, dumped the ice behind the counter, and set the glass to the side.

"Coffee, please." Peter's voice was rough from the smoke filled room and the alcohol he'd just gulped. The bartender placed a cup in front of him and poured the coffee, smiling at him knowingly. Peter flashed her a hesitant smile as he returned to his table, intent on staring his addiction in the face a bit longer.

Setting his coffee down, he fished his lucky poker chip from his pocket and sat down. The chip passed easily between his fingers, from index to ring and back. A loud cheer reverberated through the building. Peter glanced into the casino and noticed the large crowd at a craps table the table nearest to the bar, nearest to him. His eye caught on a woman with black hair and wild clothes. His eyes widened when he saw who it was, and her gaze pierced his before he quickly turned away.

Jessica couldn't believe it; here he was, a gambling addict in a casino bar. She nudged Jackson with her elbow, tilting her head to the bar at his questioning gaze. Glancing at the bar, he turned back to Jessica and shrugged. Rolling her eyes, she lightly slapped his head and stepped away from the crowd. She made her way through the bar and to his table, sitting down next to him.

Peter's gaze was again locked on the movement of his hand the movement, and the poker chip itself, relaxed him. He felt Jessica's presence beside him and knew her eyes were also locked on his hand.

Ring finger, over middle, to index and back again.

"Peter?" Jessica's gentle voice broke him from his reverie, and he forced his gaze away from his lucky chip. She could see he wasn't in a mood to talk and, after glancing at his coffee cup, left to get a cup of her own.

In the moments after she left, Peter squeezed his eyes shut and scrubbed his hand through his brown hair and over his drawn face. He blinked and reoriented himself as Jessica sat down, shooting him a concerned glance. The craps table roared again, but Peter couldn't look wouldn't look away from Jessica's pointed gaze.

The semi-awkward silence was beginning to grate on Jessica. Slowly taking another sip of her coffee, she debated whether to call (Y/N). Jessica considered Peter a friend, but her friendship wasn't what he needed she had no idea what he needed. Setting down her cup, she grabbed her phone from her pocket. Flipping it open, she started to press the speed dial but suddenly stopped. She could feel Peter's gaze and it practically burned her skin.

"Jessica, please," Peter pleaded.

"You have a choice, either go home or I call (Y/N). I can't watch you torture yourself, and there's no way I'm leaving you here alone."

Peter sighed and flopped his head onto the table. Letting out a big breath, he sat up and looked around one last time. The craps table Jessica had just left roared again, this time drawing both their gazes. Jessica turned away, back to Peter, and watched the war that was happening right behind his eyes shame, desire, and self-hatred. Jessica put a hand on his arm, gently redirecting his attention. Peter nodded imperceptibly, and Jessica picked up her phone and dialed.

"I need a cab at Crown Casino, I don't know the address." After a second, a mumbled "thanks" and she focused on Peter again. "They'll be here in five minutes. Want me to walk you out?"

"Thanks, Jessica. I'll be fine."

Peter threw some bills on the table before walking away, not once glancing back. Jessica watched as his eyes scanned the casino for the last time that night. Crumpling a napkin and wiping the edges of her mouth, she threw it in her cup before taking both hers and Peter's back to the bar.

"Can I get two Jack and Coke's?" The bartender began making the drinks as Jessica leaned her forearms on the bar and looked around. Once her drinks were ready, she dragged a small tip from her too-tight jeans pocket, grabbed the drinks, and murmured a thank you as she strode toward Jackson glancing out at Peter one last time.

Leaning against a pillar as he waited for a cab to take him somewhere though he had no idea where Peter saw the cab slow to a stop a few feet ahead of him. As he walked toward it, the casino doorman opened the passenger door. Peter mumbled a thank you as the kid slammed the door shut and slapped the roof twice.