Luke dropped me off at the front of my house before driving off to basketball practice. I was still a bit tipsy from Chad's pool party. I wandered up to my front door and started poking the garden gnomes. One of them had a creepy looking face so I turned him away to face the wall. "Millie. You live here?" I jumped up, picking up a garden gnome for self-defence. Who is sneaking up on me? "Jake! You almost gave me a heart attack!" Jake chuckled and said, "I didn't realize we were neighbors. I just saw you now from my house." I'd totally forgotten that Jake was a Dawson... and therefore my neighbor. "You should come over some time," he offered, "Maybe for dinner. Are you free tonight?" Tonight is... soon. I didn't want to say much. I was tipsy, and I didn't want to open my mouth and make a fool of myself. It didn't matter how I behaved around Luke. He's seen my crazy. But Jake. Handsome, nice Jake. I wanted to be on my best behavior around him. "Tonight?" I repeated. "Yeah," he said, tilting his head as he picked up on my slurred words, "Maybe after you take a shower?" "Yes, yes, a nap," I nodded, trying to maintain composure as I retreated to my front door. I was dreaming of a nap. "And maybe without the garden gnome?" "Oh right, yes, right," I nodded and put it down, almost tripping over another one in the process, "Stay there, gnomey." Jake watched me with an amused expression on his face. He wasn't leaving, partly out of entertainment and partly out of concern. He. wanted to make sure I got in ok. "And Millie?" "Yes, Jake?" "Was that my brother you were with?" Oh. Yes. I slept two hours and woke up hungry. The buzz from Austin's lemonade had waned, and I went down somberly to the kitchen. No one was home yet. I opened the cabinet, searching for boxed mac'n'cheese. I know Jake had invited me to his place but (1) I'm sure he's forgotten and (2) I'm hungry now. The doorbell rang. He hadn't forgotten. Jake had come to pick me up. He must have known I wouldn't appear without his insistence. With great sadness, I left the mac'n'cheese box on the counter and Jake escorted me across the street to his home. "It's date night tonight," he explained as I stepped into their home. I froze. Date night?! Is this a- "For my parents," he hastily corrected himself, "Sorry, not for us. My father and step-mother are at a restaurant tonight." I relaxed at that. This was the first time I've ever stepped foot in the Dawson home. Luke had never invited me and neither had any of his family members. I've known them my whole life and they never once extended an invitation. Now Jake was here for one month and he invited me for dinner. Kindness. It's underrated. "Thank you for having me over. I wish I brought a gift or something," I said. I was annoyed at myself for sleeping instead of buying flowers or chocolates or something. "I have some mac'n'cheese that I could-" "That's very sweet of you but no need," he smiled sincerely at me, "I'm happy you're joining us." I seriously need to forget about this mac'n'cheese. We walked into their dining room where five plates were set. Baked lasagna was in the middle, with steam rising from the surface. It must have just come out of the oven. Their home was so nicely decorated. The curtains matched the carpet and beautiful family photos decorated the walls. "My half-sister and brother will be here soon," he said, "Do you like lasagna?" My mind was stuck on his first sentence. The half-brother part. Luke. I'd forgotten that he would be here. The doors swung open behind us and I jumped. False alarm. It wasn't him. Phew. Two girls walked in. I recognized his sister immediately by her long, flowing, blonde hair. She was holding a large bowl of salad. I also recognized the other girl. She was the same one I had seen the morning Luke picked me up (in Chapter 29). Her hair was also blonde, though it looked dyed, and she was carrying roasted brussel sprouts. "Who is this, Jake?" his sister asked before approaching me directly, "I've seen you before with my other brother." I noticed that she didn't refer to Jake as her half-brother, the way he had talked about her. "I'm Millie. I live next door." "Really? I used to never see you and, suddenly, you're everywhere," she laughed. In that moment, I realized that Luke's charm was a family thing. They all had it. A smile that lets them insult you without you even realizing it. "I'm Charlotte Dawson and this is my best friend, Nicole," she introduced herself and her friend. Charlotte leaned in and kissed me on either cheek, in the European way. She then set the salad on the table and Nicole set down the brussel sprouts. I made a mental note to sit far away from those. "Where's Luke-" Nicole had barely uttered his name when the front door slammed open. Jake called out, "You're late!" "Give me five minutes! I'm going to take a shower." That was Luke. Undoubtedly, unquestionably Luke. I'd never really seen him interact with his siblings before; he tends to keep private about that. "Let's get started then. My brother can join us when he's ready. Would you like anything to drink, Millie?" Charlotte asked me.