The drive away from the meeting spot was filled with a heavy silence. Marie kept glancing at the rearview mirror, her brows furrowed, while Angie stared out the window, unusually quiet. Cole sat in the back, scrolling through his phone, his fingers moving absentmindedly over the screen. But none of them were truly present. The absence of Romaine lingered in the car like an unanswered question.
Why did he stand them up?
The tension stretched between them, thick and unspoken, until Marie suddenly clapped her hands, shattering the quiet.
"Alright! Enough sulking. Let's get ice cream and forget today's drama, yeah?"
Her attempt to lift the mood was met with nods and murmurs of agreement.
Romaine could wait.
As they pulled into Forbes' Creamery, Kylie's gaze wandered out the window—only to land on a familiar figure leaning against a sleek black car.
Her heart stuttered.
Alec.
Their eyes met, and a flutter stirred low in her chest. He didn't belong here—this wasn't his scene. Yet here he was.
This was their spot, a tradition stretching back before high school. And in all those years, she had never—not once—seen him here.
Quickly, she looked away, feigning indifference as she followed Marie and Cole inside.
The moment she stepped in, something—or rather, someone—new caught her attention.
A girl stood behind the counter. Stunning, with deep brown skin and long braids cascading past her waist.
Marie, of course, wasted no time making her presence known.
Leaning lazily against the counter, eyes gleaming with mischief, she smirked. "Sooo, babe, when did a gorgeous little thing like you start working here? I gotta thank Mrs. Forbes later."
The girl—Daneka, according to her nametag—blinked, momentarily thrown off by the sudden flirtation.
Marie pressed on, undeterred. "Do you have a boyfriend? Not that it matters." She whispered the last part under her breath.
But they all heard it.
Daneka stared, momentarily dumbfounded, before choosing the safest route. "Um… what can I get you?"
"The chocolate in front of me looks real delicious, so how ab—"
"Jesus, Marie," Cole cut in, sighing. "Can't you see there are other people waiting in line?"
Marie pouted. "You're no fun."
"And you're not even gay," Cole pointed out.
Marie shrugged nonchalantly. "I've been bent."
Kylie and Angie giggled as Marie turned back to Daneka. "I'll have that chocolate with strawberries and marshmallows on top, gorgeous."
When collecting her ice cream, she made sure to wink.
Daneka merely shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. Clearly, she wasn't taking Marie seriously.
Cole sighed dramatically behind them. "This is why we can't take you anywhere."
By the time Kylie got her order, she had almost forgotten the reason for her nervousness—until the door chime rang.
She didn't need to turn around to know who had just walked in.
The hushed whispers from a nearby table of girls confirmed it.
Alec.
And Nicki.
Her stomach twisted.
Without hesitation, she made a beeline for their table, sliding into the seat beside Marie, her focus locked on her ice cream as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world.
But her resolve faltered.
Just for a second, her eyes drifted.
A mistake.
Alec's gaze met hers instantly, catching her in the act.
Kylie's breath hitched.
She tore her gaze away, stuffing a spoonful of ice cream into her mouth as if that could erase the moment. The coldness did nothing to cool the warmth creeping up her neck.
Why am I embarrassed? It's just eye contact.
And yet, her heart still hadn't slowed.
---
The ice cream parlor buzzed with noise, but Kylie barely heard it over the pounding of her heart.
A presence settled beside her.
A hand—warm, steady—rested lightly against her waist.
Not forceful. Not demanding. Just there. A silent claim.
Alec.
Her breath hitched.
She should have pulled away, should have put space between them, but she didn't. Couldn't. Because something about his touch, the quiet certainty of it, held her still.
Her spoon scraped against the bottom of her cup, but she barely noticed. Her thoughts were tangled, a mess of emotions she didn't have the time or energy to sort through.
"I—I'm going to the bathroom," she blurted suddenly, pushing herself up from the booth.
She didn't wait for a response. She just needed to breathe.
Inside the small restroom, she gripped the sink, inhaling deeply before splashing cold water onto her face.
It didn't help.
Why was he doing this?
Why now?
Her emotions were already tangled enough—did he really have to make it worse?
By the time she stepped out, she had managed to steady herself.
Or at least, she thought she had.
Then she froze.
Alec was there.
Leaning against the opposite wall, arms crossed, his dark eyes fixed solely on her.
Waiting.
For her.
"Kyl," he murmured, his voice low, rough around the edges.
The way he said her name sent warmth curling in her stomach, an unfamiliar mix of anticipation and nervousness.
He pushed off the wall, stepping forward, his presence closing the space between them inch by inch.
Her back hit the wall before she realized she'd been retreating.
His hands lifted, palms bracketing the wall beside her head, caging her in without really trapping her.
He was close.
Too close.
The scent of his cologne—clean, warm, intoxicating—wrapped around her.
She should have said something, done something.
But all she could do was stand there, pulse roaring in her ears.
Then, his voice dropped even lower, softer.
"Go out with me."
Her breath caught in her throat.
"W-what?"
Her eyes searched his face, expecting amusement, some kind of teasing smirk that would tell her this was just another one of his games.
But it wasn't.
There was no playfulness in his gaze. No arrogance. No smugness.
Just sincerity.
Just him.
"Could you… repeat that?" she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.
Alec's fingers brushed against her waist, featherlight.
"I'm asking you to go out with me."
Her stomach twisted, her heart slamming against her ribs.
Why?
Why now?
Why, after all this time, after all the ways he had ignored her before?
And yet, in spite of the confusion buzzing in her head, in spite of every logical reason to say no—
Her mouth moved before she could stop it.
"Umm… okay."
Alec exhaled, a slow, almost relieved breath, and then—
His lips curved into a small, knowing smile.
Not cocky. Not smug.
Just satisfied.
"Good."
Before she could fully process what had just happened, he reached up—fingertips skimming her jaw, tilting her face ever so slightly—before leaning in and pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead.
Kylie's breath hitched.
The warmth of his lips lingered long after he pulled away.
She could feel his gaze on her, studying her reaction, that small smirk still playing at the corners of his lips.
"Cute," he murmured before stepping back, his fingers trailing from her waist as he put space between them.
Her legs felt unsteady as she walked back toward the table.
By the time she sat down, her ice cream had completely melted.
And yet, she barely noticed.
---
Kylie sat on her bed, phone pressed to her ear, as Marie's excited voice filled the room.
"HE FINALLY ASKED YOU OUT?! ABOUT DAMN TIME!" Marie practically screamed.
"Do you have to tell the entire neighborhood?" Kylie groaned, glancing toward her bedroom door.
"You do realize who he is, right?"
Kylie hesitated, biting her lip.
"He's your brother's best friend."
The weight of those words settled heavily between them. Memories surfaced, unbidden.
A year and a half ago.
"Stay away from him, Kyl." Michael's voice was firm as they watched Alec sink another three-pointer on the court. "He's my friend, but I will break it off if you get involved with him."
Kylie had scoffed at the time. "I don't even like him like that."
"It's not you I don't trust—it's him."
When Alec had glanced her way, Michael's eyes had darkened.
Back then, it hadn't mattered.
Now?
Her stomach twisted.
Michael would not be happy.
And speaking of him—
Three knocks sounded at her door.
The code.
"I'll see you tomorrow, my bear. Love ya."
"Love ya too, girl."
Kylie sighed, ending the call and opening the door to find her brother standing there.
"What do you want now?" she asked, folding her arms.
Michael gave her a sheepish look before dropping a bomb.
"Could you, uh... buy a Plan B for me?"
Kylie's soul left her body.
She stared, horrified.
Michael just sighed. "Listen, I was gonna pull out, but she—"
"I DON'T NEED DETAILS."
"Didn't Mom tell you not to bring any more girls into her house? And how did you get her in without me noticing?" Kylie asked, exasperated. "You know what, give me your keys."
He smirked. "So... you'll do it?"
Kylie groaned. "You're buying me tacos, cookies, and chocolate cake."
"Deal."
"For a month." Kylie continued. "Why don't you use a condom, idiot!"
"It feels better without, plus..."
Before he could finish, Kylie started making sounds and covering her ears, regretting asking him.
As she grabbed her jacket and keys, her mind drifted back to Alec. She knew pursuing anything with Alec would be complicated, but the pull was undeniable.
"Let's get this over with," she muttered, pushing thoughts of Alec aside as she followed Michael out the door.
---
As Kylie trudged to the pharmacy, hood pulled low over her face, a single thought echoed in her mind:
My life is a mess.
She purchased the Plan B pill, along with a few other items to avoid suspicion in case her parents returned unexpectedly. The embarrassment she felt under the cashier's scrutinizing gaze was palpable as she placed the pill on the counter. She vowed to repay her brother for this humiliation threefold.
Sighing in relief upon exiting the store with the paper bag in hand, she collided with someone, causing the contents to spill onto the sidewalk.
"I'm so sorry," she began, bending down to gather her things, only to freeze when she saw who she'd bumped into.
Jay Parkens.
And in his hand?
The Plan B pill she'd just bought.
Her cheeks flushed crimson, and she wished the ground would swallow her whole.
"Uh, this isn't... I mean, it's not for me," she stammered, snatching the pill from his grasp.
Jay raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"None of my business," he said, handing her the remaining items.
"Thanks," she mumbled, stuffing everything back into the bag. "I, uh, have to go."
"See you around, Kylie," Jay called after her as she hurried away, her heart pounding in her chest.
She couldn't shake the mortification that clung to her like a second skin.
She clench her teeth and fist, remembering who put her in this situation.