S O P H I A  H O N E Y

WE STEP out of the photo booth, the curtain swaying shut behind us like it’s trying to trap the heat we left in there.

The air outside feels cooler, but my skin is still tingling everywhere his fingers have been. My legs feel like they might give out if I take one wrong step, and I’m almost certain my face is betraying far too much for someone who’s supposed to be acting casual in public.

Theo bends down to pick up the slushie he dropped earlier, completely unbothered, like he didn’t just have his hand between my thighs minutes ago. He straightens up, smoothing his hair back with his fingers and wiping at the lipstick stain I’d left on his mouth during our kiss. There’s no trace of nerves in him—just that insufferably smug look.

The photo booth spits out two strips of glossy pictures, and Theo plucks them from the dispenser without glancing at them. He slides them into a small paper envelope with a casual flick of his wrist.

“Souvenir,” he says, smirking at me.

My eyes widen in horror. “What? No way.” I reach for them, but he lifts his hand high over his head. I didn’t even stop to think that the booth had been taking pictures the whole time—pictures of that.

“Theo, give it to me.”

“No.” His voice is firm, teasing. “You’d tear them to pieces.”

“Not might—I will tear them to pieces,” I snap. “Are you crazy? Why on earth would you keep something like that?”

“You see my point,” He clicks his tongue. “Sweetheart, you need to calm down.”

“I am not calming down.”

He tilts his head, looking far too amused for my liking. “I know you’re like this because of Ryan, but I promise you—he hasn’t noticed a thing. We’ve been acting like we can’t stand each other. Isn’t that exactly what we wanted?”

I hesitate. “…I guess.”

“Good. So here’s what we’ll do.” He rests his hands on my shoulders, steadying me as he slides the envelope into the inside pocket of my jacket. “We keep it hidden for now, since Ryan’s probably looking for us and might call again. When we get home, you can give them back to me. Deal?”

It’s not a deal I like—I still want to destroy them—but arguing right now will just draw more attention.

“Fine…” I mutter, and he rewards me with a kiss to the forehead.

“That’s my girl.”

After a quick call to Ryan to find out where he is, we follow his directions through the crowd. The closer we get, the more the massive screen comes into view—bright, towering over rows of parked cars. Blankets are spread across the grass in front, couples nestled together under the glow of string lights. The smell of buttered popcorn and sweet cotton candy drifts through the air, and the soft buzz of chatter hums all around us.

It feels more like a picnic under the stars than just a movie night and I wonder if Theo would like to go on a picnic date when we are alone. Just the two of us.

You know he'll say yes to anything you say, stop thinking too much. My conscience says and I feel warm.

“Over here!” Harley waves, her hand shooting up from a blanket near the middle. I wave back, trying to ignore the way my pulse picks up. The closer we get, the more aware I am of Theo beside me—of Ryan’s eyes possibly watching for something.

The closer we get, the faster my heart races.

“Breathe, love,” Theo murmurs, leaning in so only I can hear. His voice is low and warm, and I know he can feel the way I’m tensing. “Breathe.”

I nod, doing as he says, and he adds, “Good girl.”

He seriously has the worst timing when it comes to saying things like that.

“Where’ve you two been?” Ryan asks immediately, eyes flicking between us.

Theo drops down onto the blanket beside him without missing a beat and I sit next to him. “Walking around.”

Ryan turns his gaze on me, one brow arched. “Thought you went to a photo booth.”

“Uh… yeah, we did.”

“Where are the pictures, then?”

“The booth was crap,” Theo cuts in smoothly before I can trip over my own words. “We took a few shots, but they came out black.”

“Really?” Harley frowns, looking at Ryan. “The booth we went to was fine.”

“Yeah,” Ryan agrees, his tone flat, and then falls silent, his attention lingering on Theo for a moment longer than I like.

“Oh—look,” I say quickly, seizing the moment to change the subject. “The movie’s starting.”

The massive screen fades to white, faint static and muffled sound buzzing from the speakers as the opening credits roll. Around us, the crowd quiets, couples leaning into each other. Ryan tosses a big blanket over himself and Harley, and then hands me and Theo separate smaller ones.

I glance around. Girls are curled into their boyfriends’ sides, heads resting on their shoulders, wrapped together under shared blankets with easy smiles on their faces.

I want that. I want that now.

I want to hold Theo too. Just lean against him like the other girls here while he wraps his arm around me and says sweet words.

“Soph?” Harley’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. I turn to find her watching me closely, her brows drawn together. “Are you okay?”

“Do you still feel dizzy?" Ryan asks. "Here, have some water,” Reaching for a bottle from the small pile of snacks in front of him.

Before his hand reaches it, Theo’s does. He picks it up first, his movements smooth but a little too quick, and offers it to me.

“Are you okay?” Theo asks, his voice quieter, eyes locking on mine with worry.

“I’m fine,” I say, taking the bottle from him. The cool water slides down my throat, but the heat in my cheeks doesn’t go anywhere.

I set the bottle back down, and when I do, I can feel Ryan’s eyes flicking between us—just for a second—but long enough for my stomach to twist.

Theo doesn’t notices and I don't say anything after that. I keep my focus on the movie ahead and just enjoy the moment.

With each scene, my eyes lingers but every time Theo shifts beside me, my attention goes with him.

His knee brushes mine under the blanket Ryan gave me, and I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep my body from leaning in. It’s ridiculous how badly I want to be closer to him when Ryan is sitting barely an arm’s length away.

“Cold?” Theo murmurs, so low only I can hear.

I shake my head, though my toes are freezing. “I’m fine,” I whisper back.

“Liar,” he says, and before I can argue, he tugs the edge of his blanket so it drapes over my lap too. He shifts closer to me and slides his hand unto mine, his thumb strokes the back of my hand.

"Your hand's fucking cold, love." He mutters.

I keep my gaze fixed on the screen, but my heartbeat’s too loud in my ears.

Harley leans against Ryan, laughing at something on-screen, and Ryan’s arm curls around her shoulders. I feel his eyes sweep over to me briefly, maybe noticing how stiff I’m sitting. Or maybe I’m imagining it.

Did he notice how close Theo is now?

Theo doesn’t make it easier. Every so often, he leans just close enough that his shoulder brushes mine, or his breath ghosts my ear when he says something about the movie. It’s harmless to anyone watching… but my body knows better.

When the movie finally ends and the lights around the lot flicker back on, the crowd immediately begins to stir. Blankets are folded, snacks packed away, and the hum of voices rises as people start moving toward their cars.

Ryan stands, stretching his arms over his head. “Alright, let’s head out before traffic’s a mess.”

We gather our things and fall into step, weaving through the slow-moving crowd. Harley and Ryan walk a few paces ahead, deep in their own quiet conversation, which leaves me just enough space to lean toward Theo.

“I’m this close to freaking out,” I whisper, holding my thumb and forefinger barely an inch apart.

Theo glances down at me, that maddening grin tugging at his lips. “This close?”

I swat at his arm. “You know what I mean.”

He chuckles, "Alright, give me the envelope."

Without even thinking, I pull the envelope from my jacket and hand it over. “Please burn it, will you?” My voice is low, desperate.

“Sure,” he says, slipping it into his own pocket. Then his grin deepens. “But only after I get tired of looking at the pictures.”

I narrow my eyes. “And when will that be?”

“Hopefully never.”

By the time we reach the parking lot, Ryan clicks his key fob, and the car lights blink in response. He tosses the keys at Theo without hesitation. “You drive. My eyes are killing me.”

I slide into the backseat with Harley while Ryan claims the passenger seat. Harley starts talking about a scene from the movie she loved, her voice animated, and I chime in with my own thoughts.

“Ah, Theo,” Ryan says suddenly, cutting into the conversation.

Theo hums in response, eyes fixed on the road.

“Did you text your girlfriend after the movie?”

The word girlfriend makes my whole body go still. My ears perk like I’ve just been caught doing something I shouldn’t.

“He has a girlfriend?” Harley lowers her voice, but the surprise in her tone is impossible to miss.

"Yeah." I reply.

“Oh, wow.” Harley laughs awkwardly. “I guess it was my eyes after all. Sorry for thinking he was into you. Must’ve been a mistake.”

It wasn’t.

My fingers curl into my lap. Why can’t I just shout that he’s mine? Why can’t I tell her the truth instead of letting this stupid act go on? I’m such a coward.

“Do I need to?” Theo asks, making a turn onto the main road.

“I mean, you don’t need to,” Ryan says. “But you must have told her you went out with us today.”

“Of course I did.” Theo’s tone is so smooth, so effortless. “I tell her everything, and she’s fine with it. She even wished she was here with us so we could all go on a double date.”

I do. A real double date. Not this… whatever this is.

"By the way." Theo adds, "why the questions?"

Ryan shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Just making conversation,” he says lazily.

My gaze flicks to the mirror at the same time Theo’s does, and for a brief second, our eyes lock. His stare is steady, unreadable, and it sends a ripple of unease straight down my spine. I look away quickly, focusing instead on the stream of cars zipping past in the other lane. The road’s been busy ever since we left the movie site—headlights flashing, horns blaring, engines roaring past.

Then, without warning, a weird sputtering noise rattles through the car.

Ryan groans. “Oh, come on. I thought I put enough fuel in this thing.”

Theo chuckles under his breath as he eases the car toward the shoulder. “Guess we’ll find out.”

We roll to a soft stop on the side of the road. Cars whiz past, most of them coming from the same direction we were—people clearly leaving the movie site like we had. A crowd lingers on the other side of the street, probably waiting for rides, and someone’s horn blares impatiently nearby.

“Come on,” Theo says, putting the car in park. “Let’s check it out.”

Ryan mutters something and hops out, slamming his door shut.

They hop out, Ryan slamming the door behind him. I notice Theo tug his sleeves up until they stop neatly at his elbows, revealing tanned forearms. His eyes catch mine briefly—this time with a sly, knowing grin—before he turns away to pop the hood.

From inside the car, I can hear them tossing words back and forth—alternator, spark plug, filter—like they’re speaking a language I’m supposed to know but don’t.

“Could be the fuel line,” I hear Ryan say.

“Nah,” Theo mutters,“If it were the line, it would’ve sputtered a lot more before cutting. Might just be air in the system—or you forgot to close the damn gas cap again.”

Ryan snorts. “I didn’t forget the gas cap.”

“Do you have any idea what parts they’re even talking about?” Harley says as she leans towards me.

I chuckle, shaking my head. “Not a clue."

Dad and Ryan always talked about cars and sports my whole life, but I always pretended to listen or found an excuse to leave before he got started.

“Same here,” Harley whispers, grinning. “But in a way, I find it hot. Ryan sometimes talks about cars and even though it’s tiring, he sounds so hot in a nerd type of way that I want to tear his shirt and —”

“Sister here,” I interrupt, clearing my throat before she can finish. I’m already this close to gagging.

Her cheeks flush and bites her bottom lip. “Sorry. Must be weird hearing someone talk about wanting to do stuff with your brother.”

“It’s… I guess it’s okay since you really like him and you two are dating.”

“Thanks, because I like like him a lot.” She fiddles with her fingers, stealing glances toward Ryan. “I was thinking of telling him that I love him.”

My eyes widen. “You haven’t told him yet?”

She rolls her eyes with a small laugh. “We haven’t exactly been dating long enough for that. I have to be totally lovesick to say it… which I already am.”

“So… you want to tell him today?”

“Yes. I was thinking after he drops me off, I’ll tell him. But…” She hesitates, her voice dipping.

“But what?”

“What if he doesn’t feel the same.” She sighs and leans her head back against the seat, looking suddenly small. “What if he doesn’t say it back? We started dating because we like each other. What if he just… likes me, not loves me?”

“Harley.” I turn in my seat to face her. “I’m positive he feels the same way.”

Her eyes search mine, full of hope but edged with fear.

I’ve seen that fear before.

“You think?”

I nod. “Definitely. He looks at you the way—” I stop myself just in time.

“The way what?”

The way Theo looks at me...

“The way any guy in love would,” I tell her instead. “Trust me. Ryan loves you.”

Harley is practically glowing when she looks at me. “I’d do it then,” she says brightly.

“Really?” I grin back at her.

“Really,” she nods, and we both smile like we’ve just made some unspoken promise.

The warm moment is cut short when a sharp hiss escapes Ryan. “Fuck.”

“What’s going on?” I push my door open, climbing out and pulling my jacket tighter as a wave of cold slips under my clothes.

“Oh, nothing. Just this stupid car being fucking useless right now.” Ryan curses under his breath, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

“Babe, is everything alright?!” Harley leans her head out the window, her voice laced with worry.

“Yes, babe,” Ryan turns toward her, his expression softening. “Everything’s fine. Just a little trouble—think it’s the spark plug trying to—”

“Not a car expert here,” she teases with a small laugh.

“Right, sorry,” he smirks. “Theo’s almost got it done though.”

“I do not,” Theo calls from behind me, voice dry. I feel him step close—too close—before his lips press a quick kiss to my cheek. My breath catches, but I manage a small chuckle since Ryan isn’t looking.

“Uh, let me try the engine,” Ryan says, heading for the driver’s side. He slides in, turns the key, and a few tense seconds later, the engine roars to life.

“Thank goodness,” Ryan mutters.

Theo shuts the hood with a metallic thud, and Ryan steps out of the car—only to pause mid-step. He bends down, reaching for something on the ground.

Ryan straightens slowly, holding the small picture frame between his fingers. His brows knit in confusion, then his eyes widen. Shock flashes across his face—swiftly replaced by pure, burning anger.

My stomach drops. My heartbeat stutters, then slams against my ribs.

No. No, no, no…

“What the…” His voice is low at first, then it explodes. In the blink of an eye, his hand snaps forward, and the crack of palm against skin rings out sharp in the cold night air.

Theo’s head jerks sideways from the blow, and he stumbles back, hitting the ground hard.

“You’re screwing my fucking sister?!"