Lucas woke up to the sound of someone clearing their throat. He cracked one eye open and squinted into the sunlight spilling through the living room window. Laurel stood over him, arms folded, eyebrows arched in a way that made him feel like he'd been caught doing something worse than sleeping on her sofa.

"Lucas," she said softly, but with that mum-tone that could cut through steel. "Why are you on the couch?"

Lucas rubbed his face, trying to piece together the fragments of last night as he groaned. "I was just...tired," he said finally, voice rough. "First flat surface I saw, I was out."

Laurel's expression softened, just a little. "You planning on staying for a bit longer?"

He blinked at her. "Uh..."

"I'm going to a bookseller's meet-and-greet in New York tomorrow. Couple nights, maybe three. Steven could use the company."

Lucas pushed himself upright, running a hand through his messy hair. "That sounds...cool," he said. "You should go. And yeah, sure. I'll stay."

Footsteps creaked on the stairs and Steven appeared, hair sticking up like he'd wrestled with his pillow and lost. He froze when he saw Lucas sitting there.

"Hey," Steven said carefully. "You crashed here?"

"Yeah," Lucas said, keeping his tone casual. "Thanks for ditching me, by the way."

Steven winced. "I'm sorry, man. I...my head wasn't in the right space last night. I just needed to get out of there."

Lucas stared at him for a moment. He could've said a lot - about the panic attack, about the way the night spun out of control - but instead, he just nodded. "It's fine."

Relief flickered across Steven's face. "You sure?"

"Yeah," Lucas said. "I get it. You're all good."

He reached over for his phone, seeing if there were any unread messages. What surprised him was a notification that Chloe had followed him and a DM from her.

@chloe.robinson
Hey Lucas, do you want to meet up and talk?

His first instinct was no. God, no. Talking meant feelings, and feelings meant a mess he didn't want to clean up. But he felt bad for completely ditching her, out of embarrassment, after all her help and leaving her on her own.

After a long minute, he finally typed out a response.

@lucasbeck
yeah, sure.
meet you at the mall in half an hour?

@chloe.robinson
Sounds good! See you in a bit :)

Lucas shoved the phone back in his pocket just as Laurel reappeared. "Breakfast?" she asked brightly.

He stood, stretching his back. "Thanks, but I'm heading out."

Lucas drove to the mall and found Chloe waiting in the middle of all the shops, two cups of coffee in her hands.

"Hey," she said when he walked up. "This one's for you."

"Thanks, you didn't have to," he muttered, dropping into the seat across from her.

Chloe's expression softened. "How are you feeling? Honestly."

Lucas stared at the table. "Fine."

"Lucas," she repeated, her tone slightly more firm, telling him that it was okay to talk about it.

He blew out a breath. "Last night was...bad. Sorry about that. I didn't mean to..."

He trailed off, searching for the word. Break? Shatter? Freak out like a kid?

"...lose it."

Chloe looked at him softly. "It's nothing to be ashamed of."

"Feels like it."

"It shouldn't. You've been through a lot. Keeping it bottled up, it's not good for you. If you ever want to talk to someone about anything, I'm here."

Lucas managed a crooked smile. "Future therapist talking over here."

She rolled her eyes, but she smiled too. "That is the career I'm looking to get into."

And somehow, Lucas talked. Chloe made him feel comfortable and listened to in a way no girl his age ever made him feel. He spoke about Susannah, about how losing her felt like losing the sun. About how he couldn't do relationships because the idea of losing someone again made his chest ache like a bruise.

"There's a reason I don't do relationships," he told her. "It's not because I don't want to. I just - what's the point? People leave. Or they don't care enough to stay. So why set yourself up for that?"

She listened like every word mattered. "That sounds lonely. You deserved to love and be loved. Fear doesn't change that."

He swallowed hard and looked away. It was different with Chloe, initially he thought she was just another girl he was going to hook up with at a party, but it turned out to be something entirely different. Lucas felt like he had a new friend, a friend different to all of the friends he had back in New Haven. Someone who listened to him, someone that helped him and someone who saw him as more than just the 'hockey guy'.

They wandered the mall after that, Chloe tugging him into a bookstore because "books are therapy," which he didn't argue with.

He was scanning a shelf of sports biographies when a familiar voice came from behind him.

"Lucas?"

Steven stood there, arms full of textbooks. "What are you doing here?"

"Expanding my horizons," Lucas said sarcastically.

Chloe had just reappeared, holding a book in her hand that she was just about to explain to Lucas when she saw Steven. "Oh hey, Steven."

Steven looked confused seeing the pair together but greeted her nonetheless. "Chloe? Hey."

As they were talking, Steven's gaze snagged on someone in the distance. Taylor, Starbucks cup in hand, was walking to the exit when she noticed Steven.

Steven began walking over as Lucas turned around and realised who was there. His stomach did something weird, which he immediately ignored.

"Taylor," Steven said as he approached. "What are you doing at a bookstore?"

"Just grabbing Starbucks," she said breezily.

"Where's, uh...where's my sister? Isn't she supposed to be with you?"

Taylor hesitated for a moment. "She is. She's just...grabbing Auntie Anne's."

"Oh," Steven hesitated, then blurted, "I'm sorry, by the way."

Taylor blinked. "About what?"

"You and Milo breaking up."

Taylor's eyes widened ever so slightly before she composed herself. "Yeah, I'm really...pretty devastated, you know."

Lucas froze. Breaking up? After last night? That didn't track. Yet something in him felt happy to hear this news. He couldn't explain it, but it felt like a relief.

"You and Milo broke up?" Lucas said, his voice sliding into sarcasm like a reflex. "That's surprising, considering you were practically swallowing his tongue last night."

Taylor shot him a look. "Leave it to you to make kissing sound disgusting."

"No, no, no, the two of you kissing is," Lucas said before wincing, realising what he had said. "Was. I'm sorry. Anyway, you could do better."

"Milo is the best guy I've ever dated."

"Is?" Lucas raised an eyebrow.

"I mean - was. I just...yeah, I don't know. Like, maybe we'll get back together."

"Great. Awesome. No, I mean, he's just so great, you know," Lucas' tone dripped with sarcasm he couldn't quite hide.

Steven cleared his throat to change the subject of the conversation. "Uh, isn't my sister waiting for you or...?"

"Yeah," Taylor said quickly.

"Actually, I kind of need to talk to her if you-"

Taylor cut him off, sharp. "No. Steven, she is still mad at you about the party, okay? And if you talk to her now, you'll spin her out. Right now I'm the one who gets to spin out. Yeah, because of the breakup. So...ciao."

She strutted off, Starbucks in hand, whilst Steven and Lucas exchanged a look.

"What was that?" Lucas muttered. "Belly's with Taylor?"

Steven shrugged, frowning. "No idea. Yeah, my mum said she and Belly had an argument and then Belly went to stay at Taylor's after the party because of the break up."

"I see," Lucas said, not entirely convinced.

Steven pulled out his phone to text Belly, distracted, and Lucas took that as his cue. "I'm out. See you later. I'm gonna give Chloe a lift home."

Lucas drummed his fingers against the steering wheel, the hum of the engine filling the silence between them. He glanced at Chloe, who sat cross-legged in the passenger seat, already reading a book she had bought from the bookstore.

"Wow, am I really that boring to talk to you have to read your book?" Lucas joked.

"I'm just waiting," Chloe replied without looking at him.

"For what?"

"For you to admit it."

Lucas squinted. "Admit what?"

"That you like her."

He snorted. "Who? Taylor? Please."

He turned his focus back to the road, shaking his head. "She's just some girl I hooked up with. End of story. Just an inconvenience that she turned out to be Belly's best friend."

Chloe turned, finally looking at him. "Uh-huh. You sound super convincing, by the way."

"She means nothing to me, of course I don't like her!" Lucas told Chloe.

"Then why are you so defensive?"

"I'm not! Look, yeah, she's...good-looking but that's it. Nothing else."

"Look, Lucas," she began. "Just because you hooked up with someone doesn't mean they can't be more than that. You should try seeing Taylor as a person, not just...you know."

She waved her hand vaguely but Lucas got what she meant.

"I do see her as a person," he argued.

Chloe's voice was calm. "What's so scary about admitting you might like someone?"

"Because it's stupid," he snapped. "Because every time I care about someone, I lose them. So, yeah - I don't do feelings. End of story."

"So you reduce Taylor down to just a pretty face?" Chloe challenged. "That's not fair on her."

Lucas sighed exasperatedly. "Well...no, I don't like it when you put it like that! Yes she's good looking, and I guess she's funny."

"And?" Chloe pressed.

"And...she wasn't like most girls I've...been with," he admitted slowly, like the words were being dragged out of him. "She - uh - she challenges me. Calls me out."

He quickly turned to look at Chloe. "But I don't like her. I don't do relationships. You know that."

Chloe shrugged. "You deserve to be happy, Lucas. And sometimes that means taking a chance."

"I am happy."

"Really? You're going to live the rest of your life just playing hockey and never love anyone?"

He opened his mouth to argue, then shut it. For once, he didn't have a comeback. For someone he had just met last night, it felt like him and Chloe had been friends their whole lives.

"You're annoying," Lucas said finally.

Chloe laughed. "So are you. And to think I was once attracted to you."

"Ouch," Lucas feigned hurt. "That hurts."

"Yeah," Chloe said, totally unfazed. "Then I realised there was so much more to you than just being attractive."

"So much for my ego," Lucas replied.

"Oh, don't worry," she said. "You're still objectively good-looking. Just very emotionally damaged."

"Harsh."

She gave him a look. "It's the truth! Plus, therapists don't date their clients."

Lucas burst out laughing. "Clients? Is that what I am to you?"

"Pretty much. You owe me like, five hundred bucks for this session."

"I'll pay you in hockey tickets," he said.

"No deal. I hate hockey."

stevo
Did you know Belly was at Cousins? With Conrad and Jere?

lucas
no
i didn't actually
why???

stevo
No clue, Taylor just told me

lucas
oh, that's strange

stevo
Why were we kept out the loop??

lucas
no clue
do u think we should head up there

stevo
Yeah, tomorrow?

lucas
ok. i'll drive

Laurel brought her suitcase downstairs to the front door, greeted by Lucas and Steven who were currently having breakfast together. The two boys glanced up when they saw Laurel prepare to leave.

"I'm headed to the train station," Laurel said, putting her shoes on.

"Uh, kick ass," Steven replied. "Or, I mean...you know, whatever you're supposed to do at these things."

Laurel chuckled. "Your guess is as good as mine. Have you heard from Belly today? I'm only getting one-word texts."

"Uh, yeah. Yes, me too."

"You think I should call her?"

"No, no, no, she's fine, mum," Steven said, straightening slightly. "I actually got her up to three-word answers this morning, so she's coming around. Like, she'll probably be back from Taylor's soon."

Laurel tilted her head, half-convinced. "Okay...well, I'll only be gone a few days, but remember, trash goes out Wednesday and the grass needs cutting. And honestly, Steven, it would be nice if you could put your clothes away."

Lucas smirked, eyes flicking up from his phone. "Don't worry Laur, I'll keep him in check."

"Shut up," Steven shot back. "I love you, mum."

"Yeah, I love you, too. Bye."

"Have a safe trip," Lucas said, smiling at her.

The door closed behind her with a click and Steven immediately changed the topic. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah," Lucas said easily. "Just say when."

"Soon," he replied, pausing thoughtfully. "Probably should fill Taylor in, though."

Lucas hesitated for a beat, Chloe's voice echoing in his head, urging him to try see her as more than just a hook-up. He didn't want to be a guy who reduced girls down to just their looks. It was never an issue until Chloe called him out on it.

"I can call her," he said casually. "If you give me her number."

Steven stared at him like he'd just announced he was joining a knitting club. "Really? You two talking now?"

"We're not not talking."

Steven snorted but handed over the number before heading upstairs to grab his stuff. Lucas stared at the digits for a second, exhaled, then hit call. Taylor answered on the third ring, her voice wary. "Uh...hello?"

"Hey. It's Lucas...Lucas Beck."

There was a pause. "Who gave you my number?"

"Steven. Relax, I didn't hire a private investigator."

"Shame. That would've been more interesting. What do you want?"

Lucas moved over to the couch, staring at the ceiling. "Just wanted to let you know, we're heading up to Cousins."

"Seriously? I told Steven to let Belly handle it on her own."

"And that's great, but...look, I want to be there for all of them. It's the first time at the beach house without Aunt Susannah. It's going to be all...different, y'know?"

There was a pause. Then Taylor's voice softened just a little. "Wow. Didn't know you were such a sentimental guy."

"I'm not sentimental."

"Sure. Or maybe you just have FOMO. You're mad Jeremiah didn't call you and neither of them filled you in."

There was truth to Taylor's words, yes it had stung a bit when Lucas found out his cousins had headed to the beach house and neither of them had thought to let Lucas know.

"I just care," Lucas countered. "With everything that's gone on. I care, that's all."

"That's...actually kind of sweet. Okay, so what'd you tell Laurel? Because I can't cover for all of you."

"I wasn't calling to ask you to," Lucas said. "Some book thing in New York for a couple days. You're safe."

There was a pause before Taylor spoke again, decisively. "I'm coming with you."

"Wait - what? I thought you hated Cousins."

"I don't hate Cousins. I hate the annoying rich people who leave me naked in the woods. Big difference. And there's no way I'm staying home while everyone else is up there."

Lucas laughed, the sound spilling out before he could stop it. "Fair enough. I'll come pick you up."

"Good. And tell Steven I'm texting him a list of things to bring for Belly, because she's probably been living in the same t-shirt the entire time."

"That's...actually really kind. You're a good friend, Jewel."

The nickname slipped out before he could even stop himself. "Right," he said quickly, changing the subject. "We'll be there in ten, be ready."

And he quickly hung up, feeling slightly warmer than he did before. Steven emerged back downstairs with a bag. "All set. Everything good?"

Lucas nodded, pocketing his phone. "Yeah. Taylor's coming, by the way. And you're going to have to go upstairs and pack some stuff for Belly."

"Oh man. Road trip just got interesting."