Chapter 39

After saying I hated my brothers again, Lucas and I headed back up to my room. The second we stepped inside, I let out an annoyed huff and flopped onto my bed.

"I can't believe Alex did that," I muttered, still rubbing at my lower back. "He's such a jerk."

Lucas sat down next to me, leaning back on his hands. "Yeah, but that's just what brothers do. Trust me, mine pull crap like that all the time."

I gave him a skeptical look. "Oh, really? Your brothers wedgie you in front of your best friend?"

Lucas smirked. "Well, maybe not that specifically. But they definitely embarrass me whenever they get the chance."

I rolled onto my side, scowling. "Still. He's the worst."

Lucas shrugged. "At least he didn't tell everyone about Muffin."

I groaned, grabbing a pillow and shoving it over my face again. "You're the worst, actually."

Lucas chuckled, nudging my leg. "Come on, let's go back downstairs. You need to redeem yourself after how bad you lost last time."

I sat up, glaring at him. "Excuse me? I beat you in half the rounds."

"Yeah, yeah," Lucas said, standing up and offering me a hand. "Let's see if you can do it again."

I swatted his hand away but got up anyway, following him down to the living room.

We played for a while, getting way too into it like we always did. There was plenty of smack talk, some dramatic groaning, and a lot of gloating—mostly from Lucas, which only made me more determined to beat him.

But after a while, Easton walked in and crossed his arms. "Alright, you two, enough sitting around. You can't spend the whole weekend inside."

Lucas and I exchanged a glance.

I sighed. "Do we have to?"

Easton raised an eyebrow. "Unless you want me to call Elijah and tell him you've been sitting in front of a screen all day instead of getting fresh air?"

I scowled. "Fine."

Lucas chuckled. "Guess we're going outside."

I sighed dramatically, but Lucas just nudged me with his shoulder as we got up. "Come on, Shorty. Maybe the fresh air will help you recover from your loss."

I shoved him. "Shut up."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lucas and I made our way upstairs to grab our hoodies, the cool air from outside already creeping in through the windows. I rifled through my closet, ignoring the neatly folded pile of my actual clothes and instead pulling out one of the many hoodies I had... borrowed from Lucas.

Lucas raised an eyebrow the second he saw me slip it on. "You do realize that's mine, right?"

I smirked. "No idea what you're talking about."

Lucas scoffed, crossing his arms. "That one wasn't even missing that long. When did you take it?"

I shrugged, pulling the sleeves over my hands. "Not important."

Lucas sighed, shaking his head with a fond smile. "At this point, I should just start charging you."

I rolled my eyes, grabbing my sneakers from the floor. "Yeah, yeah. Like you even miss them."

Lucas huffed but didn't argue. Instead, he grabbed his own hoodie—one he actually owned—and pulled it on before following me downstairs.

Easton was in the kitchen when we passed through, raising an eyebrow at us. "Try not to get into any trouble," he called.

"No promises," Lucas said, smirking.

I just rolled my eyes, dragging Lucas toward the door before Easton could decide he suddenly had a list of things for us to do.

The air outside was crisp, a soft breeze rustling the trees as we stepped onto the pavement. The sun had started to dip lower in the sky, casting everything in a golden glow. It was the kind of evening that made me feel... lighter. Like maybe today wasn't completely ruined by Alex and his annoying antics.

Lucas shoved his hands into his hoodie pocket as we walked. "So, what's the plan, Shorty?"

I side-eyed him. "The plan is that you stop calling me that."

Lucas grinned. "That's not happening."

I sighed dramatically but didn't push it. Instead, I nodded toward the park ahead. "Let's just go there. It's better than sitting around inside."

Lucas hummed in agreement, and we kept walking, the quiet of the street settling between us. For once, it wasn't awkward. It was just... comfortable.

The walk to the park wasn't far, just a few streets away, but the quietness of the weekend made it feel peaceful. Most of the houses we passed had cars in the driveways, the occasional sound of kids playing in backyards echoing through the neighborhood.

Lucas walked beside me, hands stuffed into his hoodie pockets, looking as relaxed as ever. "So," he said after a few minutes, glancing at me. "What's the plan? Sit around and freeze, or are we actually doing something?"

I shrugged. "Dunno. You're the one who got us kicked out of the house."

"Excuse me, Easton got us kicked out of the house," Lucas corrected, nudging me with his elbow. "I was perfectly happy kicking your ass at video games."

I scoffed. "You wish."

Lucas grinned. "I know."

I just huffed, shoving my hands deeper into my pockets. The park came into view—a decent-sized green space with a few benches, a playground, and an open field. There were a couple of kids running around, a group of teenagers kicking a football back and forth, and an older couple walking their dog.

Lucas stretched his arms above his head. "Alright, so what now? Wanna go challenge some seven-year-olds to a game of tag?"

I snorted. "As fun as that sounds, maybe not."

Lucas hummed, scanning the park. Then, his gaze landed on something, and his grin turned mischievous.

"Oh no," I muttered. "What?"

Lucas nodded toward the swings. "Race you."

I blinked. "What?"

"The swings. Last one there has to buy snacks later," he said, already moving.

I barely had time to react before he took off, sprinting ahead. "You cheater!" I shouted, running after him.

Lucas was fast, but I was smaller, which meant I could dodge around people more easily. I managed to catch up just as we reached the swings, practically throwing myself onto one as Lucas grabbed the one next to me.

He was breathless but still smirking. "Guess that means you're paying."

I glared at him. "No way. That was rigged."

Lucas just laughed, pushing off the ground and starting to swing. "Cope."

I huffed but kicked my feet anyway, letting the wind rush past my face. The sky was pale blue, the clouds thin and wispy, the crisp air making my cheeks sting. It was... nice.

Lucas glanced at me. "Not bad, huh?"

I shrugged, but a small smile tugged at my lips. "Yeah. Not bad."

We stayed on the swings for a while, rocking back and forth in a comfortable rhythm. The cold air nipped at my face, but the movement kept me warm enough. Lucas, of course, was completely unbothered, effortlessly swinging higher while I stayed at a slower pace.

After a few minutes, though, the peaceful atmosphere started to disappear. More kids arrived, their shrill laughter and loud shouting filling the air. A group of them took over the playground, their high-pitched voices practically piercing my ears.

I winced as one particularly loud screech made me flinch. "Alright, I'm done," I muttered, dragging my feet along the ground to slow myself down.

Lucas let out a dramatic sigh, kicking his legs forward one more time before hopping off mid-swing. "Getting old, Shorty?"

I shot him a glare. "No, I just don't feel like rupturing my eardrums."

Lucas chuckled, shoving his hands into his hoodie pockets. "Fair enough. So, what now?"

I hesitated before groaning. "Guess we're going to the shop."

Lucas grinned. "Glad to see you're accepting your defeat."

I rolled my eyes but didn't argue, already starting to walk toward the park exit. Lucas fell into step beside me, looking way too smug about the whole thing.

The shop wasn't far, just a few streets over, and we got there quickly. The small convenience store was quiet, the warm air inside hitting us the moment we stepped through the door. The shelves were stocked with all kinds of snacks—crisps, chocolates, sweets, and drinks.

Lucas immediately grabbed a basket and shoved it at me. "Since you're paying, let's get a good selection."

I scowled. "I hate you."

Lucas just grinned.

Despite my complaints, I grabbed a few bags of crisps, some chocolate bars, and a couple of bottles of soda. Lucas, of course, threw in extra things when he thought I wasn't looking.

When we reached the counter, I sighed dramatically, pulling out my wallet. My precious pocket money, gone.

The cashier rang everything up, and after reluctantly handing over the cash, I shot Lucas a glare. "You owe me for this."

Lucas took one of the bags from me, smirking. "Nah. I won fair and square."

I huffed but didn't argue, pushing the door open and stepping back into the cold air.

We walked for a bit until we found a small bench near the edge of the park, away from all the noise. It wasn't completely quiet—there were still people walking by, the occasional sound of traffic in the distance—but it was much better than before.

Lucas plopped down first, ripping open a bag of crisps and shoving a few into his mouth. "Not bad," he mumbled through a mouthful of food.

I sat down beside him, opening my own snack. "You're the worst."

"Yeah, yeah." Lucas nudged me with his shoulder, grinning. "But you like me anyway."

I rolled my eyes but felt my face heat up slightly. I shoved a crisp into my mouth to avoid responding, focusing on the snack instead of the way Lucas' golden hair caught the sunlight.

After a while, the cold started to settle in, making my fingers go numb despite the warmth of my hoodie. I pulled my sleeves over my hands, glancing over at Lucas. "It's freezing. Wanna head back?"

Lucas stuffed the last bite of his chocolate bar into his mouth and nodded. "Yeah, good call. I can't feel my nose."

I snorted. "Tragic."

We stood up, brushing crumbs off our laps before starting the walk back. The wind had picked up, and I found myself hunching deeper into my hoodie. Lucas didn't seem too bothered, though—he just walked with his hands stuffed in his pockets, his usual easygoing expression on his face.

About halfway home, his phone buzzed. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen before letting out a small sigh. "Gotta head home for dinner."

I nodded. "Alright. I'll walk you back."

Lucas smirked. "Awww, how sweet of you."

I shoved his arm. "Shut up."

The walk to his house didn't take long, and before I knew it, we were standing outside his front door. Lucas turned to me, grinning. "Guess this is where we part ways, Shorty."

I scowled. "Do you ever get tired of that?"

"Not at all." He held up the half-full bag of snacks. "You should keep the rest, though. Since you paid for them and all."

I rolled my eyes but took them anyway. "Gee, thanks for your generosity."

Lucas chuckled, then, before I could react, he pulled me into a quick hug.

I froze for a second before hesitantly wrapping my arms around him. He was warm, solid, and he smelled faintly like his usual mix of citrus and something clean, like freshly washed laundry.

"See you tomorrow?" he asked as he pulled away, his brown eyes soft.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak without making it weird.

Lucas smirked. "Try not to miss me too much."

I scoffed. "In your dreams."

He just laughed, stepping back toward his door. "Night, Shorty."

"Night," I muttered, turning before he could see the way my face was burning.

I walked back toward my house, my mind completely preoccupied with Lucas. The way he smiled, the way he smelled, the way he hugged me like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I was so lost in thought that I barely registered that I had made it home until I reached the front door.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside, kicking off my shoes. I was about to head upstairs when I spotted Easton in the kitchen.

Easton was just finishing up dinner by the time I walked into the kitchen. The smell of something warm and rich filled the air, and I dropped into my usual seat at the table while he moved around, plating up the food.

"Finally back, huh?" Easton said, setting a plate in front of me. "Took your time."

I shrugged, avoiding his knowing look. "Walked Lucas home."

Henry, who had just sat down, smirked slightly but didn't comment. Instead, he grabbed his fork and dug in.

Once everyone was seated and eating, Easton turned to Elijah who had come home while I was out. "So, how was Megan?"

Elijah perked up a little. "Good. We went into town for a bit, got some food, just hung out."

Miles smirked. "Hung out, huh? That what we're calling it?"

Elijah shot him a look. "Yes."

Henry snorted. "Bet he spent the whole time staring at her."

Elijah rolled his eyes. "Do you guys ever get tired of being annoying?"

"Nope," Alex said, popping a piece of food into his mouth.

I stayed quiet, keeping my head down and just eating my food. I didn't want to say anything that would upset Elijah, not after today. I still wasn't thrilled about him spending time with Megan, but at least for tonight, I'd keep my thoughts to myself.

The conversation moved on, shifting to random topics about school and football. Henry, of course, managed to bring up his amazing goal again, and I had to resist the urge to groan.

Once dinner was over, everyone drifted into the living room. Easton put something on the TV some action movie, judging by all the noise but I was too tired to focus.

I leaned back into the couch, my eyelids getting heavy, but before I could actually fall asleep there, I pushed myself up.

"I'm heading up," I mumbled, stretching my arms.

"You tired already?" Henry asked, raising an eyebrow.

I shot him a look. "I was out all day. Unlike some people, I didn't sleep in."

Henry just smirked. "Excuses."

Rolling my eyes, I trudged upstairs and into my room.

I wasn't quite ready to sleep yet, so I grabbed a book from my nightstand and flopped onto my bed, pulling the covers up. The room was dimly lit by my bedside lamp, the soft glow making it feel extra cozy.

As I read, I absentmindedly nuzzled into my hoodie—Lucas's hoodie. The fabric still smelled faintly like him, that mix of citrus and warmth that was so him. It was comforting, even if I'd never admit that out loud.

Eventually, my eyes started to droop, and I set my book aside, curling up under the blankets.

With my nose buried in Lucas's hoodie, I let sleep take over.

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Word count: 2449

Hey Guys Thanks for reading this story so please be nice and kind. I am sorry if there are any spelling mistakes or bad grammar.

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*EMMA HETHRON*