Once the place cards arrive, I make sure to take them out of the box and set them on the glass table that's in the ballroom. Bridget told me that we can take care of organizing them by last name tomorrow.

I make my way to the kitchen, expecting it to be empty, but it's not. Lucas is surprisingly sitting at the island eating a bowl of pasta.

"Hey," I say when I walk in. "I didn't think anyone was home."

"Neither did I," he says. "Though I'd be lying if I said that this wasn't a nice surprise."

"I was working late," I explain. "Kind of shocked that you're not out right now."

"I'm planning on it. Just wanted to grab a bite before I got my night started."

"Oh," I say, my voice dropping in tone as disappointment takes over. I was secretly hoping he'd stay in.

Lucas looks at me and smiles, picking up on my dismay.

"Can I make a confession?" he asks. "Now that I saw you, I don't really want to leave anymore."

I can't help the soft smile that breaks out on my face, even though it contradicts with what I say next.

"You should go," I tell him.

"I should, huh? And what about you? Where are you going?"

"I'm heading out. It's late."

"It is late," he nods. "Which means you must be hungry."

"Starved, but I can wait until I get home."

"Nope, not happening, Lil. Not when we have a stocked fridge."

Lucas stands up and walks over to the see-through fridge. He removes the containers of leftovers that Bridget had mentioned from inside, looking them over. "Chicken cutlets, rice, sautéed veggies, roasted potatoes, and some kind of salad with avocado." He picks his head up to look at me. "Any of that interest you? If not, I can make you something from scratch."

"You cook?" I ask, scrunching my forehead.

"No, but I can try. If that's what you wanted."

"I appreciate the offer, but it's okay," I smile.

"The chicken cutlets were fire. I can heat them up for you."

"You sure?"

"No. I'm positive," he says, walking over to the oven and preheating it. "Sit back and relax, Lil. I've got it from here."

I watch Lucas attentively look everything over before removing the food from their respective containers. He sets everything down on a cooking tray, then turns around to find me still standing.

He walks over and pulls out the high-top chair that's tucked under the kitchen island. "Can you do me a favor, Lil? Can you please sit?"

I smirk at him and then do what he asks. And before I know it, Lucas has assembled a full plate of food for me.

"Ah, silverware," he snaps his fingers when he realizes that it's missing from my place setting.

He returns seconds later holding a fork, a knife, and a napkin.

"Thanks," I say when he places them down beside my plate.

Lucas brings his dirty dish to the sink before taking the seat next to me.

"You're not going to eat with me?" I ask him.

"I just had two plates of pasta."

"So? I've seen you eat before. You eat like a truck-driver."

He starts laughing and I don't know what's more adorable: the sight or sound of it.

I take a bite of the chicken cutlet, and he was right, it's delicious. Lucas watches me eat, a genuine smile on his face the entire time, and I don't feel weird or uncomfortable. In fact, I never do when I'm with Lucas.

"So, where are you off to tonight?" I ask him.

"Landon's. He's having a pregame before this party," he says, leaning over his crossed arms that are placed down on the table. "Wanna come with?"

I tilt my head and skew my lips. "I think I've had my fair share of parties these last couple of weeks."

"Lil, you went to a total of 2 parties in the span of 20 days. I wouldn't exactly call that 'fair share'.

"For your information, that would've been a major improvement for me back in Cambridge. I never went out."

Lucas squints his eyes at me and then shakes his head. "I don't like that word. Improvement. Sounds like there's something wrong with you."

"I'm human, Lucas, there probably is."

"No, I don't mean it like that. I just...I hope you don't think that you ever need to change who you are, Lil. For anyone or anything."

"I don't," I tell him. "Trust me, if there's one thing that I pride myself on it's not doubting who I am."

Lucas smiles softly, though I can tell that the gesture holds a lot of meaning. "Good," he says, waiting a few seconds before changing the subject. "You miss it? Cambridge?"

I nod my head and then say, "Every day. But I also like being here. To be honest with you, I didn't think that I was going to."

"Glad to know us Newport natives are making a good impression on you."

"Relax, Bennett. I wouldn't go that far," I tease.

He dips his head down and smirks, and it takes everything in me not to reach out and touch his face.

"I thought your mom wanted you to stay away from Landon. When did that change?" I ask.

"It didn't. She doesn't know that I'm going there tonight."

"Lucas," I shake my head, "would it kill you to follow the rules every once in a while?"

"Now, where's the fun in that, LilMillzzz?"

"The fun is in your mom not grounding you."

"I love my mom, but she's all talk."

"And your dad?"

"Not all talk," Lucas says, pointing a finger at me. "But he's clueless when it comes to my whereabouts."

"Because you make it that way."

He drops his shoulders and huffs. "Lil, I'm going to be 18 soon. I don't want to be told how to live my life. Don't tell me you blame me."

"I don't. I just wouldn't want you to ruin your life, either. Hanging out with the wrong people can do that, you know?"

"I'm a big boy. I take accountability for my own actions."

"Then maybe you should reconsider the actions that you take," I tell him, but he doesn't respond and I'm happy about it. His gaze simply holds mine and that's all that I want from him in this moment. Maybe he'll start listening to me for once.