S O P H I A   H O N E Y

   "YOU GUYS HUNGRY?" Blair asks as we wrap up the day and head toward her car. Classes weren’t as exhausting as I’d expected. Aside from the minor annoyance of standing in line for registration and getting our student IDs, everything else had gone pretty smoothly.

“I could eat,” Alex says, sliding into the front seat. She glances back at me, still standing outside. "Are you not coming?"

Shaking my head, I reply,"Nope. I haven’t figured out a theme for my project yet, and I’m in the mood for a homemade meal."

Blair groans dramatically, leaning back against her seat. "You’re so lucky you can cook. Meanwhile, I’m out here struggling to boil water without setting off the smoke alarm." She sighs, shaking her like it's a personal trademark then tilts her head toward me. "Fine, get in. I’ll drop you off at Theo’s place, but you’ll have to direct me."

"Sure." I let out a small sigh of relief—she’d offered without me even needing to ask. Climbing into the backseat, I slide across the leather, only to feel something hard pressing into me. Confused, I reach down and pull out a strange, curved object. It’s… plastic, vaguely banana-shaped but too oddly proportioned to be one.

"Um.... Blair?" I call hesitantly.

"Yeah?" she replies, adjusting the rearview mirror.

I tilt my head, inspecting the thing in my hand. "Why do you have a plastic banana back here?"

"A plastic banana?" Blair’s brows furrow as she twists around to look. The moment her eyes land on it, she bursts into laughter. "Where did you even find that?!"

"Under me,” I deadpan. "I sat down and felt something hard—"

"Stop! You did not just say that," Alex interrupts, laughing so hard she’s practically gasping for air.

“Put that away, Sophie!” she wheezes, trying to catch her breath. “Blair, I can’t believe you keep that in here!”

Blair shrugs nonchalantly. “You never know when you might need it.” Then, turning to me with a smirk, she adds, “Seriously, Sophie, how do you not know what that is? Let your mind wander—get dirty with it.”

Her words hit like a bolt of lightning. My eyes widen in horror as realization dawns. "What the fuck!" I shriek, throwing the object onto the floor like it’s radioactive. Frantically, I rub my hands on my jeans, trying to rid myself of the mental image now seared into my brain. "Blair! Why on earth would you keep that here?!"

Blair and Alex are in hysterics, doubled over in their seats. My irritation grows as Blair manages to choke out, "Relax! I just bought it yesterday, and no, I haven’t used it… yet." She winks at me before turning her attention back to the road.

"Blair," I groan, cheeks burning. "Why on earth would you keep… that in your car?"

“Keep what? A dildo?” Blair says, completely unfazed.

 I groan, sinking into my seat. “Blair, you’re insane.”

She shrugs, utterly nonchalant. "Stress relief, I guess. Look, school is hell, Soph. It’s either hook up with some random guy or… that and since no guy has been wolf-worthy lately, Mr. Jones here is my new best friend."

"Mr. Jones?" Alex gapes at her. "You named it?"

"Who doesn’t name their toys?" she counters with a grin.

"Me," I reply quickly. "I don’t. In fact, I’m pretty sure no one does."

"Well, no one except me," Blair says, unfazed. "He’s been more helpful than half the guys I’ve dated."

"I cannot believe this conversation is happening," Alex mutters, shaking her head. "And for the record, I don’t use any toys. I prefer the real thing."

Blair gasps in mock outrage. "You take that back! Mr. Jones is more than a toy. He's a godsend."

"I’m starting to question our friendship," Alex retorts, but there’s a teasing edge to her voice.

Groaning, I sink myself lower into the seat. "Can we please change the subject? This is too much."

Blair chuckles as she slows the car, glancing around. "Fine, fine. Where do I turn? I always lose Theo around this part of town."

"You’ve followed him before?" My eyebrows shoot up.

"Not exactly," Blair says sheepishly. "One of the girls on campus wanted to know where he lives, so she paid me to follow him. But I always lose track of him around here."

Alex stares at her in disbelief. "Blair, That's nut's! Please tell me you didn’t actually tell her anything."

"Of course not!" Blair huffs. "She was way too intense, and it felt wrong. I’ve mended my ways, thank you very much. Now, where am I going? My stomach is craving pancakes."

I sigh, "Take a left, then drive straight until you see a huge building."

"How huge are we talking?" Blair asks. "These houses are all huge."

"Trust me, you’ll know it when you see it."

She doesn't say anything else and follows my direction. Alex leans her head against the window, possibly sleeping  or just enjoying the view.

I, on the other hand, can’t stop thinking about how chaotic this car ride has been. Only Blair could manage to turn a simple drop-off into this.

 As we approach the street, the houses grow increasingly grand, the kind of places that scream money. Blair whistles low, glancing at the towering gates and manicured lawns.

“Alright, spill, Sophie. How does Theo even afford to live here? Is he secretly royalty or something?”

I shrug. “His family’s well-off, I guess. I don’t know much about his situation, just that my brother and Theo go way back.”

Blair smirks. “Rich and hot. Lucky you. Living with him must be… interesting.”

 “It’s not what you think,” I insist, crossing my arms. “He and I barely spoke growing up. Honestly, I’m still shocked he agreed to let me stay with him.”

“Maybe he’s trying to make up for all those childhood grudges,” Alex chimes in, her tone light but teasing. “Or maybe…” she trails off with a suggestive grin.

 I glare. “Don’t even start.” I don’t even want to know what's running through her mind. All I now is she's crazy so the idea must also be.

Blair laughs. “Relax. I mean, if anything, I’d be raiding his closet and cashing in. Hockey jerseys? Boxers? The possibilities are endless.”

“Blair, for the love of—stop with the boxers!” I groan, hiding my face in my hands. “You’re impossible.”

She grins, clearly proud of herself. “I aim to entertain.”

 As the car rounds the final corner, the house comes into view. Blair’s jaw drops. “Whoa. Okay, you weren’t kidding. That’s not just an apartment —it’s a palace.”

I can say yes to that. I can't count how many times I would stare at the building before entering Theo's apartment and thinking how lucky I must have been to have this.

“Alright, princess,” she says, parking by the gate. “This is your stop.”

“Thanks for the ride.” I grab my bag and push open the door, glad to finally escape the whirlwind of this conversation.

“Hey, Sophie?” Blair calls out as I step onto the sidewalk. “If Theo has a hot brother, send me his number!”

Alex rolls her eyes but chuckles. “Blair, give Soph a rest, you have traumatized her enough with the banana."

I groan, trying not to remember that. That will be my secret till I die.

Blair chuckles,"Fine but Sophie Don’t forget about the boxers." She whispers the last one and I almost cover my face in shame.

"Bye Guys." That's all I say to which she blows an air kiss and zooms away with Alex waving good bye at me.

Shaking my head, I walk up to the gate and spot Mr. Nick already standing by the side entrance. He nods in recognition, his usual warm but professional demeanor intact.

“Good afternoon, Miss,” he greets as he opens the gate for me.

“Thanks, Mr. Nick,” I reply with a smile, stepping through. The crisp air inside the compound feels soothing after the whirlwind of the day. I make my way to the elevator, my mind immediately shifting to the most pressing question: What should I eat?

Maybe a simple stir-fry? Or should I make some pasta? It’s been a while since I cooked something hearty, but honestly, I might just settle for toast and jam at this point. My stomach grumbles lightly in agreement, urging me to decide quickly.

The elevator dings softly, pulling me from my thoughts. As the doors slide open, I step out and head toward Theo’s apartment. Sliding my student ID through the access slot, I hold my breath. When the lock clicks open, relief washes over me. Thank God it works.

Inside, everything looks exactly as I left it, down to the throw pillows I’d rearranged on the couch two days ago. At least Theo isn’t messy, I think to myself as I drop my bag by the entrance.

 The first thing I do is head straight to my room. Stripping off my clothes, I toss them onto the chair in the corner. My body feels sticky and gross from the day’s heat and the hours spent running around campus. A shower is non-negotiable. Wrapping a towel around myself, I grab my toiletries and head toward the bathroom.

As I cross the hallway, my eyes catch a familiar sight: Theo’s boxers still lying on the ground by the laundry basket. Seriously? I roll my eyes. This is the guy everyone’s obsessed with? Pfft. A scoff escapes me as I shake my head and push the door open to the bathroom.

The warm water feels heavenly against my skin, washing away the grime and stress of the day. The scent of lavender body wash fills the small space, calming my nerves. My thoughts drift as I rinse off, mostly circling back to my hunger. Bread and peanut butter it is, I decide. Something quick and easy to quiet my growling stomach.

Once done, I wrap myself back in the towel and step out of the bathroom, my damp hair clinging to my neck. As I head toward the kitchen, the faint grumble of my stomach urges me to hurry. I decide to stop for a slice of bread and peanut butter before planning anything elaborate.

Opening the fridge, I start pulling out the ingredients, but something feels… off. Everything’s just so neat. The juice bottle is still full. The leftover pasta is untouched. Even the snack shelf looks completely organized, nothing out of place or half-eaten.

I pause, looking around. Living with Theo has been nothing like I imagined living with a guy would be. If this were Ryan, the fridge would be half-empty, and there’d be a trail of crumbs leading from the kitchen to the couch. But Theo? He’s almost too perfect. It’s like he doesn’t even live here most of the time. Aside from that one pasta dinner, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him eat.

 Is this guy some kind of shadow? Appearing and disappearing as he pleases? I shake my head. Not my business. If he wants to starve himself, that’s on him.

“What are you doing?”

The deep voice cuts through my thoughts, making me slam the fridge shut harder than I intended. My heart nearly leaps out of my chest as I spin around, already knowing who it is.

He's standing just a few feet away, his tall frame casually leaning against the doorway. Theo’s shirtless, his toned chest glistening slightly, droplets of water still clinging to his skin. A grey pair of sweatpants hangs low on his hips, and he’s using a small towel to dry his damp hair. The faint scent of body wash lingers in the air between us, clean and sharp.

Oh...lord.

My eyes betray me as they wander—lingering on his abs, then his broad shoulders, then back to the water still dripping down his neck. I snap my gaze away quickly, my cheeks burning.

“I-I was… um… just grabbing something to eat,” I stammer, my voice higher than usual.

His sharp blue eyes stay locked on mine, a knowing smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “You were staring.”

“No, I wasn’t!” My response is embarrassingly fast, and I inwardly cringe.

Theo raises an eyebrow, his smirk deepening. “Sure you weren’t.” He pushes off the doorway and strides toward the counter, his movements smooth and deliberate.

I take a step back instinctively, my towel-clad frame suddenly feeling very small in comparison. “Can you… put on a shirt or something?”

“Why?” He grabs a water bottle from the counter, unscrewing the cap. “Is this bothering you?” He gestures to himself before taking a long sip, his gaze never leaving mine.

I bite the inside of my cheek, willing myself not to look again. This man is insufferable.

“No,” I lie, crossing my arms. “But not everyone wants to see you parading around half-naked.”

He laughs softly, the sound low and amused. “You’re the one who’s half-naked.”

My face heats up further, and I clutch my towel tighter. “I just got out of the shower!”

“And I just finished my workout,” he counters smoothly, leaning casually against the counter. “Relax, Soph. I live here too, remember?”

“Trust me, I don’t need reminding,” I mutter, grabbing my bread and peanut butter from the counter. My hands shake slightly as I spread the peanut butter, his presence making it impossible to concentrate.

“You’re welcome to use the kitchen,” Theo says, his tone casual but teasing. “Just try not to ogle me next time.”

I whip my head up to glare at him, but he’s already walking away, that stupid smirk still plastered on his face. The sound of his retreating footsteps leaves me fuming—and oddly flustered.

Living with him might actually kill me.

As Theo starts to walk away, I find myself blurting out, “Wait.”

He pauses mid-step, turning back to face me with that damn amused expression. “Yeah?”

I fumble for words, unsure why I even stopped him. “Umm… How do you smell like body wash when I just used the bathroom and you clearly didn’t?”

For a moment, he looks genuinely surprised by the question, but then his smirk reappears, more devilish than before. “Sophie, honey,” he says slowly, his voice dropping an octave. “Did you just smell me?”

I groan, feeling heat rush to my face. “Just answer the question,” I snap, trying to sound annoyed rather than mortified.

Theo chuckles, the sound rich and infuriatingly sexy. His gaze flickers down to my towel-clad body before settling on my face, and I have to remind myself to breathe. “I didn’t use that bathroom. I have my own, inside my room.”

“Oh.”

He tilts his head slightly, his brow arching as he opens the door to his room. “Wanna see?”

The way he says it shouldn’t sound as tempting as it does, but the invitation hangs in the air, heavy and thick with implication. My heart pounds in my chest, and my body betrays me, a slow warmth pooling in my lower half.

Oh, god. Am I seriously—

“Nope,” I say quickly, cutting off my own thoughts. “But thanks for asking.”

 I grab my bread and peanut butter, avoiding his gaze as I retreat toward my room. His low chuckle follows me, a clear indication he knows exactly how flustered I am.

“Fuck him,” I mutter under my breath as I slam the door shut behind me. Leaning against it, I press my hands to my burning cheeks. My head drops back against the wood, and I groan softly. Why does my body react this way to someone so...so… “Urghhh.”

The frustration mounts as my thoughts spiral. My head aches, and worse, my body feels alive in ways I don’t want to acknowledge. Needy. Restless.

I try to shake it off, distracting myself by putting away the bread and peanut butter. But my mind keeps circling back to Theo—his damp hair, the droplets of water rolling down his chest, the way his Adam’s apple bobbed when he drank. My thighs press together involuntarily, and I curse under my breath.

“Hey, Soph,” Theo’s voice cuts through the door, making me jump. “I’m heading out. You need anything?”

I need you to leave now. “I’m fine,” I call back, my voice sharper than intended.

“Okay, see you later.” There’s a pause, and I can almost hear the smirk in his voice. The front door shuts, and I let out a long sigh of relief.

Leaning against the bed, I try to refocus. This isn’t about Theo. It’s just… stress. Or maybe that stupid conversation about toys earlier. Yeah, that has to be it. It’s definitely not because of Theo. It can’t be.

The thought helps, but only a little. My body is still restless, and my mind is still betraying me with images of Theo smirking, shirtless, his sweatpants sitting just low enough to hint at what’s beneath.

I open my drawer, already anticipating Blair’s voice in my head if she were here. “Seriously, Sophie, just handle it. No one’s judging.”

“God, I hope he doesn’t come back till late,” I whisper to myself, shutting the drawer with my trusty vibrator in my hand.

Few minutes of pleasure couldn't hurt anyone.