As Laurel drove the two boys back to Philly, Steven sat shotgun, scrolling on his phone whilst Lucas was in the backseat texting Taylor.

"I still can't believe the two of you are heading off to college in two months," Laurel said, her voice warm but tinged with that bittersweet nostalgia adults always had when kids grew up too fast.

Steven groaned loudly. "Oh, god, please don't remind me. I'm already so behind on my summer study list."

Laurel arched a brow at him. "It's one week into summer."

"Exactly," Steven said, sitting up straighter, as if that somehow made his argument better. "You know you gotta keep your eye on the ball, mum. High school was a cakewalk compared to Princeton. And I just spent the last week screwing around so I gotta really, you know...buckle down."

Lucas looked up from his phone, joining in on the conversation. "Same. I haven't been training or hitting the gym like I should've. Haven't even thought about hockey this past week."

"Well, screwing around is exactly what you should be doing," Laurel said, surprising both boys. "Relaxing, getting drunk, lying to the adults, hanging out with your girlfriend, driving to the beach..."

Steven whipped his head toward her. "Who are you, and what have you done with my mum?"

Laurel laughed, a soft, knowing laugh of someone who's seen every version of you. "I'm just channelling my inner Susannah."

She glanced in the mirror again, her eyes settling on Lucas with a teasing glint. "And for the record, the girlfriend part was aimed at you, Lucas."

Lucas blinked, sitting up slightly. "Who says I have a girlfriend?"

"You let Taylor drive your car," Laurel said, giving him a knowing look in the rearview mirror.

"Plus you haven't taken your eyes off your phone since we left Cousins," Steven grinned. "Or maybe the fact you beat up her ex-boyfriend after confessing your feelings for her?"

Lucas rolled his eyes but felt heat creep up his neck. "I'm not trying to move that fast. But...maybe there's something there."

Laurel looked at Lucas again. "Now that you mentioned hockey, when's draft night again? You must be excited."

"End of June Laur," Lucas answered. "I guess I'm excited, nervous too."

"You're the projected number one pick bro," Steven told him. "Who got the first pick in the lottery, anyways? That'll be where you're off to."

"Oh crap, I haven't even had time to check, that must've been why the group chat was going off," Lucas replied, referring to his hometown hockey group chat. He clicked on the notifications on the chat, only to start grinning like a manic.

"Holy. Fucking. Shit."

"What?" Laurel asked, concerned.

Lucas smiled. "The Islanders got the first draft pick since 2009."

"No fucking way bro," Steven exclaimed. "You're going to the Islanders? That's incredible!"

It was his childhood team and his dream team to play for, he couldn't believe his luck. He always thought he'd start out at another team and then get traded to the Islanders.

"Hopefully. Let's not get too ahead of ourselves."

"My boy's gonna play for the fucking Islanders!" Steven cheered.

"Language!" Laurel scolded, though she didn't really mean it. "I'm very proud of you, kiddo."

Lucas was appreciative but there was something that had been on his mind that he wanted to talk about. Chloe had encouraged him to be more open with his feelings so other people could understand him more. So when he spoke again, his voice was quieter. "I'm...trying to be better about stuff...like being open, I mean. With my feelings."

He hesitated. "Like...the draft. I want everyone there. All of you. You guys are my family. It's a big deal, and..."

He trailed off, then forced himself to finish. "When I found out you went to Jere's graduation, Laurel, and not mine..it stung. I get it, I do - he's Aunt Susannah's kid and I wasn't at Cousins for two years. But it would've been nice to see you there."

The car grew quiet as Laurel's hands tightened on the steering wheel before she exhaled slowly.

"Oh, Lucas," she began. Her voice was soft and filled with guilt. "I'm so sorry. I honestly...I wasn't sure if you wanted me there. I didn't want to overstep."

Lucas shook his head. "I always want you there. You're family, like another aunt. You and Aunt Susannah have always been there for me."

His throat felt tight, the words heavier than he expected. "I just...thought you should know."

Laurel reached back, placing a hand on Lucas' knee and squeezing it briefly before returning her hand to the wheel. "Thank you for telling me. And I promise, I'll make it up to you. Draft night - I'll be there. No excuses."

"Good. Cause it's gonna be huge."

The car returned to a comfortable silence before his phone started ringing. He looked down at his phone and saw Conrad calling him.

"Con?" Lucas answered.

"Lucas! You with Steven?" Conrad asked, his tone happy.

"Yep," Lucas answered, putting the phone on speaker.

"What's up Conrad," Steven greeted.

"You two better get ready to visit me in California!" Conrad said jubilantly.

The car erupted into cheers as Conrad confirmed his exams went well.

"Let's go!" Lucas cheered.

"Congratulations, Connie," Laurel smiled from the driver's seat.

"It was my flashcards wasn't it?" Steven joked. "You can thank me later."

Once their call had ended, Lucas saw a new notification come through on his phone from Taylor.

jewel
you got plans tonight?

beck
nope, was just gonna chill w steven
why? dying to see me already?

jewel
you wish

beck
ouch. but i've been dying to see you
got time for me in your busy schedule jewel?

jewel
you can meet me at the pizza place at 8

beck
i'll see you then

Later that evening, Lucas was getting ready, his heart beating faster than it did during any hockey game. In his mind, this was his first date with Taylor and he wanted to look the part so he dressed up in something a bit nicer than a hockey jersey and shorts. He borrowed Steven's car to drive to the pizza place, a small bouquet of roses in the passenger seat.

The bell dinged as he walked in, scanning the tables for Taylor. When he saw her, he froze. She sat at the table, laughing with three other girls. His flowers suddenly felt heavier in his hand as he awkwardly walked over. She looked up mid-laugh, her expression faltering as soon as she saw him.

"Uh...hi," Taylor said, eyes widening.

Lucas forced a smile, lifting a hand in a half-wave. "Ladies."

He shifted the flowers awkwardly. "I, uh, didn't know this was a group date," he joked, though his laugh came out nervous.

"I never said this was a date," Taylor said quickly.

"Oh. Cool," Lucas nodded like he wasn't dying of embarrassment inside.

One of her friends, leaned forward, eyeing the flowers. "Those are pretty, Lucas."

"Oh yeah, roses because you said um..." his mind went back to their conversation  at the Country Club but he didn't really want to call Taylor a bad bitch in front of her friends. "Nevermind...here you go."

"Thanks," Taylor murmured as he handed them over, cheeks flushing.

"So," Lucas said, desperate to steer away from humiliation. "How's my car?"

Taylor inhaled sharply, eyes going wide.

Lucas froze. "What? What happened?"

She burst out laughing. "Nothing! I'm just kidding. Zero dents, scratches, moving violations. Totally fine. I'm getting it washed in the morning and then it's all yours. Thanks for letting me use it."

"Anytime," he replied, his voice softening. Just for a second, it was just them until another girl cut in.

"So, Lucas," she said with a smirk. "Have you heard Milo's new stuff?"

Lucas blinked. "What?"

Taylor groaned, giving her friends a look. "Oh my god...okay um, Milo came back from the party in Cousins and he wrote an entire diss album about you."

"It's pretty brutal," one of her friends added.

Another nodded. "How's your jaw, by the way? Sounds like he hit you pretty hard."

Lucas stiffened, jaw clenching. "What? No. That's...he didn't-"

He huffed, running a hand through his hair. "He's just jealous. Him and his stupid ass music."

"Okay!" Taylor said loudly, cutting in before it could spiral. "Can we not talk about Milo's dumb ass right now, please? And thank you?"

The girls exchanged looks, then stood. "We were just leaving anyway," one said, grabbing her bag. "Nice meeting you, Lucas."

Their tone suggested the exact opposite.

When they were gone, Taylor sagged back in her seat. "Should we go too?"

"Feels like I just got here," he said. "We could stay, get some frozen custard."

She smiled faintly. "Okay. So...how happy are you that there's finally progress with Belly and Jeremiah?"

Lucas shrugged. "I try not to involve myself. They're both my cousins."

"Come on," she teased. "You have to be Team someone."

"Nope."

They went up to get some frozen custard and when she wouldn't stop pestering him, Lucas finally gave her an answer. He sighed dramatically. "Fine. I always thought Belly and Conrad would end up together."

Taylor gasped. "Wrong answer. Team Jellyfish forever."

Lucas scoffed. "Firstly, Jellyfish is a stupid name. Secondly, Jeremiah has never once properly settled down, I know that because me and him are alike. He's not the guy for her."

"Seriously?" Taylor said, her tone coming across quite harsh.

"What?" Lucas said, taken aback.

"Conrad's been nothing but awful to her. Do you remember what he was like last year? Completely broke her heart."

"Give him a break, his mother was dying."

"So was Jeremiah's."

"This is a stupid thing to argue about, it's not your relationship so why do you care so much?"

Taylor glared at him. "Belly's my best friend, I'm just looking out for her."

"Whatever, it's Belly's choice," Lucas sighed. He didn't think that tonight would be all about another relationship and not their own - if they were even in one.

"This isn't how I pictured our first date. Just fighting the whole time," Taylor muttered when she put some toppings on her dessert."

"I thought this wasn't a date," Lucas retorted, still slightly pissed at the earlier interaction.

That was obviously not the right thing to say as Taylor just glared at him.

Lucas quickly tried to diffuse the situation. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Come on, Taylor - bickering is what we do. It's fun."

"Not always," she scoffed before turning to the cashier and walking off. "He's paying."

As Lucas paid and walked to Steven's car, he couldn't stop thinking about how disastrously the night had ended. They'd argued over Belly, Conrad and Jeremiah like middle schoolers debating their favourite pop band.

When Lucas entered the house, Steven was waiting inside the kitchen, leaning against the counter with a soda in hand. He looked up the second Lucas walked in.

"So," Steven said, smirking. "How'd it go? She melt into your arms? Declare her undying love?"

Lucas dropped his keys on the table and let out a laugh, dry, humourless. "Yeah. Totally. Right after we fought about who Belly should end up with."

Steven blinked, then laughed so hard he nearly choked on his soda. "On your first date you argued about my sister's love life?"

Lucas shrugged, leaning against the counter. "It wasn't a date. I walked in and her friends were there. They don't seem to like me."

"Well Taylor's probably said a few things from last summer," Steven told him honestly.

Lucas figured. "And apparently Taylor is Team Jellyfish."

Steven shook his head, still grinning. "What kind of name is Jellyfish? For the record, I'm Team Conrad. They're soulmates. It's written in the stars, dude."

"I don't like picking, I wanted to stay impartial. I love them both equally, they're my cousins. But she forced an answer out of me and I said Conrad."

Lucas joined Steven at the kitchen counter, offering him a bite of his frozen custard which Steven gladly took.

"Oh, and apparently Milo wrote an entire diss album about me."

Steven froze, eyes lighting up like Christmas morning. "What?"

"Yeah," Lucas said, grabbing a glass and filling it up with some water. "Filled with some bullshit about how he beat me up."

Steven laughed. "That's hilarious. Do you know the name?"

"No, and I don't care."

Steven typed something in, humming under his breath. "Oh my god. Let's listen. There's a track called Puck Boy Down."

The opening of the beat played with Milo's stupid ad-libs and stupid voice rapping lines such as: "He's got the looks but no luck, this hockey boy's all outta puck." and "I hit you and send your face flying, so hard even your momma is crying."

Lucas pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is fucking pathetic."

Steven was doubled over laughing. "You're officially in a diss war. You need to write a response."

"Not happening," Lucas muttered, scrolling through his phone. His stomach sank. Every message he'd sent Taylor - left on read.

beck
hey sorry about earlier
doesn't matter what team we're on
i just wanted to see you
taylor?
k i see how it is
won't text u anymore
[read]

Lucas stared at the screen for a long moment before shoving his phone into his pocket and exiting the kitchen. "I'm crashing for the night, see you in the morning."

The next morning, Lucas decided to take matters into his own hands and head over to Taylor's to collect his car. He needed it as he was planning on going to New Haven to grab some things and Taylor didn't seem like she was going to drop it off.

His hands were shoved deep into his short pockets as he approached her house, his car just opposite her house. He noticed that Taylor was already outside, tossing a duffle bag into the trunk of her car, packing for volleyball camp.

"Taylor," Lucas called out, his voice neutral.

She turned around, crossing her arms, unimpressed. "What are you doing here?"

"Getting my car back," Lucas said bluntly. "Since you forgot to drop it off."

Without a word, she tossed him the keys. He caught them easily, staring at her. "That's it? Really? You're not even gonna apologise for bailing on me last night or ignoring my texts?"

"No," she said simply.

Lucas laughed in disbelief, shaking his head. "Wow. Awesome. Thanks."

He turned to leave, but her voice stopped him.

"Wait - wait, wait." Taylor exhaled, her voice softer now. "I'm...I'm sorry, okay? I just got freaked out."

Lucas turned back slowly. "Why? Cause I bought you roses? Thought you loved when Milo did all that romantic crap."

"That was Milo," she said quietly.

Lucas tilted his head. "Did I embarrass you in front of your friends?"

"Yes."

He flinched like she'd slapped him. "Wow. Okay."

He started walking away again.

"No, no, no!"

She jogged forward, grabbing his arm. "Not in the way you think."

"Then in what way?"

Taylor swallowed hard. "Look, you were right, Lucas. I was one of those girls who got attached after one night with you, okay? It was my first time. It was special. And I kept thinking about it after it happened - it was a big deal to me. I tried to play it off, like I didn't care, but I did. I had a crush on you. I didn't even tell Belly until after we kissed last summer. It was just embarrassing."

Lucas scoffed. "That's really fucking mean, Taylor."

She scrunched her eyes, trying to find the right words to say to Lucas. "No, it was embarrassing because of how much I liked you."

She looked at him, her voice honest. "I didn't think I'd see you again, that it was just going to be a stupid crush that disappeared. But when I saw you two weeks later and found out you knew Belly, and you were in Cousins, it was too much for me. Even after we kissed at Belly's birthday last summer and you ditched me, I was still like: Hey, I like you. I felt so stupid."

Lucas stayed silent.

"I've always had the power in relationships," Taylor continued. "Because I care less than the other person. But with you? I cared too much. And it scared the hell out of me. You're going to college soon, and I don't want to get hurt."

He stepped closer, his voice low and steady. "Taylor, that's not gonna happen. You're different. At first, yeah, maybe it didn't mean something. But it does now. You're the first girl I've ever actually...felt something for. And I want to make this work."

Her breath hitched.

"If anything," Lucas added softly, his hands reaching out to touch her face. "You're gonna be the one breaking my heart. Not the other way around."

And then he kissed her, slow at first, then deeper, something he had wanted to do since he'd watch her leave Cousins.

When they pulled apart, Taylor let out a shaky laugh. "Team Laylor?"

Lucas laughed, forehead pressed against hers. "God, that's a terrible ship name. But yeah. A thousand percent."

They kissed again, more passionately, Taylor pressed gently against her car.

"I should go," she murmured. "Volleyball camp and all."

"You got room for one more?"

She tried to keep her face neutral, shrugging like it was no big deal. "Yeah, maybe."

But the smile tugging at her lips said otherwise.