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“Ah, well—”
“Did you play in college,” Piper asked. “Or because you were a star in track you couldn’t?”
“She did a few times, but just for fun, and was good at it,” Hugo said, still watching Luke and Joe walk away.
“I haven’t played in years.” Why did she feel a little bubble of excitement at the prospect?
“Is your head up to it? If not, you can ref.”
“What’s wrong with your head?” Hugo asked.
“She was assaulted,” Piper said.
“And you didn’t tell me?” Hugo looked devastated.
“I’m okay. See, standing right here before you.”
“Cool then, and those shorts and shoes will do. We’ll give you a top.” Piper raised her hand, then followed her cousins inside. “Come down to the rec center at two.”
She’d never felt this comfortable or accepted in Chicago.
“So it seems there is a great deal you need to tell me,” Hugo said, giving her the eye. “Starting with the assault.”
“I didn’t want to worry you.”
“Let me ask you a question, Luna.”
“I’m not going to want to hear it, am I?”
“If I was assaulted, would you want to know?”
She nodded.
“Why?”
“Because you’re my best friend and I love you,” she said, feeling guilt settle on her shoulders.
“As I love you. You and I are partners, Luna. You don’t need to keep stuff from me, just as you don’t need to do everything alone. You can show weakness and ask for help; no one will see you any differently.”
Charlie drove into the Lodge parking lot in that moment.
“Hugo! What are you doing here?” She leapt out and hugged him.
“I was worried about our girl.”
“With every reason,” Charlie said. “Now get in, and we’ll go get food before the game.”
“I’ve been telling her off for not letting me know that she’d been attacked.”
“You didn’t tell Hugo?” Charlie looked horrified.
“Can we get food,” Luna said, getting in the back seat of Charlie’s car, seeing as Hugo, clearly angry with her, was now settled in the front. “And I do ask for help,” she protested, but it was a weak one.
“No, you don’t. And you work twelve-hour days, which is why these things are happening.”
“What things?” Charlie asked.
“Hugo—”
