Lucas laid sprawled across his bed, phone balanced on his chest, one arm thrown over his eyes. The morning light poured in through the blinds, slicing thin stripes across the floor. His head throbbed - not from the beer, but from the constant replay of last night.

Taylor. The bedroom. Belly's face when she'd walked in.

He exhaled sharply, dragging his hand down his face. She was already gone, he'd heard her leave earlier. She hadn't said goodbye, and Lucas didn't make the effort.

Probably better that way.

Still, his thumb hovered over his phone screen as he tried to formulate a text to send to her. Don't lead her on, don't make it worse. That's what he kept telling himself.

She was Belly's best friend and it was messy already. If Belly thought he was playing games with Taylor's feelings, he'd never hear the end of it.

He typed. Deleted. Typed again.

@taylorjewel

@lucasbeck
last night was a mistake
[not sent]

The first message was too blunt. He erased it.

@lucasbeck
we shouldn't have gone there
[not sent]

It was slightly better, but it still felt harsh. He sighed, contemplating his decisions before typing out a message he thought was better. He read it over twice, jaw set. It sounded good enough - honest, but not cruel. He hit send before he could overthink it again.

@lucasbeck
we shouldn't do that again. you're important to belly, and i don't want to make things weird, last night was a mistake
[seen]

As expected, she saw his message within a couple minutes and didn't reply.

Lucas tossed the phone onto his bed and leaned back into his pillow, telling himself it was over. She was heading back to Philly and he could just avoid her and never see her again. Just like the original plan was.

But something felt...off.

Why did this feel different? He'd been with plenty of girls - summer flings, parties, nameless hook-ups that faded into nothing. He never went back twice. That was his rule. Clean breaks, no complications. No making unspoken promises and letting girls think that it could ever be something more.

And yet with Taylor, he had. Twice.

He told himself it was just proximity - they were both in Cousins, a mutual physical attraction, the dangerous pull of shared history (even if that history was short). But still...it still felt different.

He shoved the thought away. There were plenty of other girls out there. There was no reason to get worked up over one from Philly.

Suddenly, the door slammed open and in walked Belly. She stood in the doorway, arms crossed, expression set like stone.

Lucas propped himself up on one elbow. "Morning to you too."

"Don't morning me," she snapped.

He sat up fully, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, you're pissed. I get it. Let it out."

Belly took a step into the room, eyes narrowing. "I know what you're like, Lucas. I know the type of guy you've become. And while I don't agree with it, fine - whatever. Be that guy. Just don't hurt my best friend."

Lucas leaned back, exhaling slowly.

"You know she's gonna be attached," Belly continued. "You were her first time. That always means something to some people, no matter how much they pretend it doesn't."

Lucas' chest tightened as he avoided Belly's gaze.

Belly looked uncomfortable, like she hated even talking about this. "I'm not gonna get into the details - gross now that I've found out it was you. But Taylor told me...even when you were drunk, even though it was just some hook-up for you, you were kind. You listened. You didn't push her into anything. And that made it special for her. So yeah, I think she's gonna feel something."

Lucas swallowed, he didn't realise it was that serious for Taylor. She was playing it off as though it meant absolutely nothing to her. Lucas didn't want to annoy Belly by telling her that the truth: that in that moment, Lucas had no special feelings. It was all purely physical and there was nothing romantic about it.

Lucas Beck didn't do romance.

"I feel bad. I do. I won't go near her again. I don't want to lead her on."

"Good."

Belly hesitated, then tilted her head. "Can I ask you something?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Depends."

"Why are you like this?" she asked - not sharp, not accusing, but almost curious. "Why don't you ever...do relationships?"

Lucas stared at the floor. "That's a long story."

"I've got time."

He shrugged. "I'm not built for it. I don't do commitment. People leave. They always leave. Might as well keep it casual from the start, so it doesn't hurt when they do."

Belly's voice softened. "Because of your parents?"

Lucas gave a half-smile, humourless. "They're divorced. Don't even like me much. They've been my how-to example for love. Then there's Aunt Susannah and Uncle Adam. Divorced too. I've never actually seen a relationship work. Why would I think I could pull it off?"

Belly frowned but didn't press.

"I like temporary," Lucas said simply. "It's safe. No one can disappoint you if you never expect them to stay."

She lingered a moment longer, then nodded slowly. "Well...you never know unless you try."

With that, she left the room. Lucas sat in silence for a minute before Susannah's voice floated up the stairs.

"Lucas! Come down here a minute!"

He put a shirt on before he made his way down, finding her stood by the door.

"Will you let me paint you?" she asked, smiling.

Lucas grinned faintly. "Sure. You know I like this tradition."

They headed outside and sat in their usual spot, brushes and a blank canvas already waiting for them. He settled into the chair, letting her arrange him how she wanted.

"You've got something on your mind," she said as she began to paint.

"I've always got something on my mind, Aunt Susannah."

She didn't push, just kept working. It was almost as if she knew that if she just stayed silent, Lucas would open up to her.

And she was right. After a long moment, he said quietly. "Do you think some people just...aren't meant for love?"

Susannah glanced at him, brush poised. "Why would you say that?"

"I guess the temporary's all I've ever known," he admitted. "Commitment feels...impossible. And I don't like the idea of someone leaving? So I keep my distance."

Her expression softened, and she set the brush down for a moment. "When you were little, Lucas, you had a heart so full of love that you wanted to share with anyone and everyone. I was so lucky Conrad and Jeremiah got to grow up with you."

She sighed, almost wistfully. "But the older you got, the more you learned about your parents...the more they started isolating you. Little by little, that love you gave so freely...you started locking it away. You stopped believing in it."

Lucas looked down at his hands, exhaling shakily.

"You're not broken," Susannah said gently. "You're just...careful. And maybe one day, you'll meet someone who makes you want to take that risk again. You're not unable to love or be loved, Lucas. I know that for a fact, when you love someone, you love with every fibre of your being - I'm lucky enough to be one of those people."

Lucas gave his aunt a soft smile, a real smile. "You know I do love you very much, Aunt Susannah."

"I love you too, my sunshine boy."

The fourth of July had been a pretty crazy night for Lucas. He remembered bits of it, someone was making cocktails, there were fireworks and way too many shots. He remembered having a vague conversation with his uncle, Adam. He was asking about Lucas' hockey - D1 potential, scholarships, scouts. Lucas vaguely remembered nodding along, half-drunk and trying to seem coherent while Adam rambled about discipline and how college athletes were built different.

Everything after that was a blur.

It was a good night though, and he very much enjoyed himself. He lived for these parties, there wasn't much on going on for him right now. Without hockey, Lucas turned to alcohol which was a rather unhealthy habit.

It was a new morning in Cousins, Lucas woke up with no idea what time it was but he had a feeling it was quite late. Unless he was dreaming, he heard everyone get ready earlier in the morning and the house was weirdly quiet.

He grabbed his phone and the messages in their group chat confirmed his suspicions.

Fisher/Conklin/Beck clan

stevo
We've all gone out Lucas. At the club working

jere
same

bells
me too, got dance rehearsal

con
Out sailing

lucas
great. see u all later then

Lucas dragged himself upright, pulling on a clean T-shirt and shorts before he headed downstairs in search of water and some food. Halfway through his breakfast (granted it was closer to lunch now), a burst of laughter floated in from outside. He frowned, setting the glass down and glancing toward the back deck.

Through the sliding doors, Laurel and Susannah were sitting in the sun by the pool, shoulders brushing as they whispered and giggled like teenagers. And - unless Lucas' brain was playing tricks on him - they were sharing something small and gummy-looking between them.

He slid the door open and stepped outside. "Wow. And here I thought we kids were the bad influence."

Both women jumped. Laurel actually dropped the gummy, then scrambled to pick it up.

"Lucas!" Susannah pressed a hand to her chest. "We thought you were at the club with the others."

"Missed the memo," he said with a faint grin. "But hey, I won't tell...if you give me one."

Susannah's eyes narrowed in mock warning. "Nice try. You're too young. And an athlete. You need to take care of yourself."

Lucas leaned against the door. "It's the off-season. What's life without a little fun?"

Laurel chuckled. "We shouldn't be such bad influences."

"Come on Aunt Susannah," Lucas said, putting on his most charming smile. "For me?"

Susannah hesitated, then sighed and passed him one. "Fine. But if your parents ask-"

"They won't," Lucas said, popping it in his mouth and sitting down with them.

He sat with the two adults for a while, soaking in the sun whilst his aunt directed a question at him.

"So, Lucas. What are your plans this summer?"

He shrugged. "Honestly, no clue. Everyone's busy. Jere and Steven are working, Belly's got that Deb Ball, Conrad's...Conrad."

"Have you thought about getting a job?" Laurel asked.

"Not really my thing," he told them. "I'm so busy during the school semesters, I like to have a break over summer."

He had never really felt the need to work. Even though his parents didn't like him much, they were still generous with the bank transfers. He was fairly well-off, similar to Conrad and Jeremiah.

Susannah tapped her chin, eyes gleaming with an idea. "What about being an escort for the Deb Ball?"

Lucas almost choked. "You're kidding, Aunt Susannah."

She smiled sweetly. "Not at all. You'd look very handsome in a tux. It would give you something to do."

"I'm not one for fancy things," Lucas said flatly. "The whole bow tie, smile-for-the-camera scene? Not me. And don't even get me started on the dancing."

"You might enjoy it," Laurel said. "It's not all bad. And it would keep you out of trouble. Steven's doing it."

"That's because he's completely whipped for Shayla," Lucas retorted. "He would probably burn down the country club for her."

Laurel rolled her eyes playfully whilst Susannah just looked at Lucas fondly. "Not even for me?"

Lucas sighed. "You don't need me, surely you've got either Jeremiah or Conrad taking Belly."

"But it would be so cute to see you all together, all dressed up, all grown up," Susannah smiled.

Lucas always had a soft spot for his aunt, and whatever she wanted, if Lucas could give it to her, he would. "Fine. Only as a last resort though. And besides, none of the girls even know who I am. They're not gonna ask me."

"Oh, you'd be surprised," Susannah said with a knowing smile. "Jeremiah's been talking you up all over town. You've got a name for yourself already."

Lucas laughed, shaking his head, and sat up from the deck chair. "We'll see."

He left them to their conspiratorial giggles and headed to the beach. For him, the day passed easily - it was just him, his surfboard, and the steady rhythm of waves. He liked it like that. No noise, no people, no questions.

By the time he made it back to the house, the sun was beginning to set. Everyone was home and Lucas was going to join the other boys right after a shower. As he headed up, a voice coming from Belly's room caught his attention.

She was on the phone, talking to someone but Lucas couldn't quite make out who it was.

"...no, it's fine." Belly was saying. "It's just...confusing, with them both."

Lucas frowned, pausing just out of sight. She had to be talking about the Fisher brothers. He hadn't really involved himself in the brewing love triangle between Jeremiah, Conrad and Belly. It wasn't his business and truthfully, he had better things to care about.

From the other end came Taylor's voice - slightly muffled but loud enough to hear. "Hold on - hey, I said get away from me for a second, okay? I'm talking to my friend."

There was background noise, loud music and the sounds of muffled conversations. It didn't take a genius to piece together the fact Taylor was at a party.

Belly laughed. "He's cute."

"He keeps following me around like a puppy dog," Taylor said, exasperated.

Lucas' jaw tightened before he even realised it. A strange, sharp feeling twisted in his chest - ridiculous, really. She could do whatever she wanted. She wasn't his.

He didn't care. Taylor meant nothing to him. She was just another one of the many girls Lucas had been with. No feelings, no strings, he didn't care.

Still, the thought of some random guy trailing her all night made his stomach knot.

Maybe even the idea that Taylor had been with other guys since him.

He shook it off. It didn't matter. It was a stupid thought for Lucas to be thinking.

Taylor was just another irrelevant girl. She didn't matter to him. She never did and she never would.

He wasn't about to break his golden rule.

Lucas Beck didn't do relationships.