● THEO GRAY ●

     ".... JUST ONE beer then," Jaxon’s voice pulled me from the mess of notes scattered across my bed.

"No."

This had to be his fourth attempt to drag me out. I sighed, eyeing the pile of untouched assignments. The last thing I needed was another night out when I was already behind.

Why did I even choose science?

Maybe it was rebellion. A way to avoid my dad’s business empire and the inevitable conversation about joining his company. I couldn’t let him think I was grooming myself to be his corporate puppet.

"I don’t get why you can’t just stay for an hour with your team," Jaxon complained through the phone.

I scoffed. An hour? The last time I agreed to "just one hour," I ended up drinking so much I practically turned crimson, with people at the bar convinced I was on the verge of a heatstroke.

"Ignore him, Theo," Sam chimed in. "He just doesn’t want to be the only single guy there."

"It’s not my fault you guys decided to turn it into couples' night," Jaxon retorted with a huff.

I yawned, bored of their back-and-forth. My thoughts drifted back to Sophie. I hadn’t left my room much since I apologized, even though she semed fine with it. Still, I caught myself staring at her earlier. Hard. And the way she looked at me right before heading to her room—it made me pause.

"Come on, Theo, back me up here." Jaxon’s voice yanked me back to the present.

"On what?" I picked up one of the borrowed notes from my bed, reminding myself I needed to return it. When I finally show up to class,that is.

"Being in a relationship is too much work," Jaxon grumbled.

I was already out of my room by the time Logan's loud "Fuck you!" echoed through the speaker.

I chuckled. "Guess that answers your question, Jaxon." As I stepped into the living room, the place was nearly pitch black. I switched on the lamp, casting a soft glow over the space.

"You know what? I’m coming over," Jaxon declared, and I froze.

"Where?" I asked, my eyes catching a figure on the couch. I walked closer and found Sophie, fast asleep. Her hand dangled off the side, gripping her phone, one leg half on the floor. She looked peaceful—completely different from the usual glares or snappy remarks she reserved for me.

I noticed she was wearing gray joggers, matching the ones I had on. The only difference? She had on a crop top, while I was shirtless. The soft rise and fall of her chest as she slept had me transfixed.

We bickered a lot, sure, but there was something about seeing her like this—calm, quiet—that made me wonder how things would be if we could ever just be...normal. Not that normal was our style.

"What do you mean 'where'? I’m coming to your apartment," Jaxon’s voice pulled me back to reality.

"No." My voice came out sharper than I intended.

"No?" He sounded surprised.

I glanced back at Sophie, sprawled out on the couch, her body shifting as she adjusted in her sleep. I found myself staring again. This time, it was hard to look away, especially when her body moved just enough for me to catch the curve of her—

What the hell are you thinking, Theo? I forced my gaze away. She's Ryan’s ’s sister, for crying out loud.

"Yeah, no," I repeated, my tone firm. "I need to study. Unless you want to join me."

"Fuck no," Jaxon replied, and before I could say anything else, the line went dead.

Perfect. I dropped my phone on the table and sank into the other couch across from Sophie, picking up my notes and trying to focus. But my eyes kept drifting back to her. Every so often, she’d shift, her body trying to get comfortable. She was probably regretting choosing the couch over her bed.

Then, she let out a soft moan, and I froze.

She turned again, rolling to her side, and I found myself staring at her ass. Her joggers clung in all the right places. I couldn’t stop thinking about how different she looked now compared to the Sophie I remembered growing up. Time had done her good, and maybe it was the lack of sleep or the residual conversation with Jaxon, but my mind drifted to places it shouldn’t.

The way her hips moved as she adjusted—it almost looked like she was—

Stop. My thoughts snapped back to reality. She’s your best friend’s sister. You don’t find her attractive. But my eyes betrayed me, drifting back to the exposed skin of her waist peeking out from beneath her crop top.

I groaned internally, forcing myself to focus on my notes. Why the hell did she have to wear a crop top?

Maybe I should just go back inside or wake her up so she can go to her room.

Yeah, waking her up seemed like the safest plan.
Just as I was about to stand, my phone buzzed. Seeing the caller, I picked up without hesitation.

“Hey, Mum.” I headed toward the balcony as I answered, the loud music and cheering on the other end made it clear where she was. “Are you in a club?” I asked, rubbing my eyes and trying not to laugh. Of course, she was.

“Theo!” she shouted, loud enough to make me wince. “Theo, my starboy! I saw your match! I'm so proud of you!” Her voice was almost drowned out by a chorus of other people cheering in the background.

I sighed, half-amused, half-concerned. “Mum, where are you?”

“Celebrating your victory, obviously!” she practically sang, making me roll my eyes. Celebrating with strangers instead of me? Typical.

“Which club?” I pressed, not entirely thrilled about her partying with random people.

“I’m not telling you,” she said, her voice teasing. “You’ll just ruin the fun.”

“But you’re celebrating me, right?” I smirked, glancing back through the glass door to check on Sophie. She was still curled up, completely oblivious to my world of chaos.

“Oh, you want to join us now?” Mum’s voice took on a playful edge. “Come on, party with your mother!”

“If ‘partying’ means making sure you get home without any idiots hitting on you, then yeah,” I retorted, heading toward my room to grab something decent to wear.

She laughed. “It’s all about you, my love. I’ll send you the address.” Before hanging up, she shouted to the crowd, “Ladies, my son’s coming!” There was a brief pause before she warned, “Don’t you dare flirt with him.”

I shook my head, laughing under my breath as I tossed the phone onto my bed. As ridiculous as she was, I couldn’t help but smile.

I pulled on a white shirt, threw my black jacket over it, and grabbed my keys. Just as I was about to leave, I paused, glancing at Sophie still sleeping on the couch. Part of me debated waking her, but something held me back. Maybe it was the way she looked so peaceful for once, not frowning or scowling like she usually did when she saw me. She was always so guarded, but right now, she seemed... vulnerable.

I grabbed a blanket from my room and gently draped it over her. Our hands almost brushed as she instinctively pulled it closer, a soft moan escaping her lips as she shifted and sighed contentedly, a faint smile crossing her face. For a brief second, I just stood there, watching her, my heart doing something weird in my chest.

But then the smile faded, replaced by her usual frown, and I snapped back to reality. What was I doing?

Shaking my head, I straightened up and forced myself out the door. I pressed the button for the elevator, stepping inside and trying to push away thoughts of Sophie—and whatever strange effect she had on me—out of my mind. Tonight was about making sure my mum didn’t get into trouble. At least that was something I could control.

●●●●

Stepping into a club after weeks of non-stop training felt like hitting a reset button on my life. The moment the heavy bass hit my chest, and the rhythmic pulse of the music vibrated through me, I realized just how long it had been since I’d allowed myself to enjoy something like this.

The lack of sleep, the intense practices—Coach had practically killed us before that last match—weighing on my mind had kept me from even thinking about it. But now, it felt pretty damn good.

The place was packed. Bodies moved in sync with the DJ's beat, the lights flashing in time to the rhythm. The heat of so many people in one space mixed with the cool blast from the AC, creating an oddly satisfying contrast. I found myself absentmindedly nodding to the music, letting it wash over me.

A group of girls caught my eye as they danced their way over to me, a few of them looking way too young to even be in here. One of them grabbed my arm, tugging me toward the dance floor.

It took everything in me to pull away without being too rude. I forced a smile and made my way through the crowd, keeping my focus on one person—my mum.

It didn’t take long to spot her. There she was, standing at the bar, looking like she could pass for someone in her late twenties, effortlessly pulling off a black dress. I watched as she ordered a drink, her laughter floating above the music.

I slid in next to her, catching the bartender's attention. "I’ll have whatever she’s having," I said, pulling him back just as he was about to walk away. He raised an eyebrow, glancing between us before serving the drink. I scowled inwardly. Gross.

“My baby!” Mum shrieked, throwing her arms around me in a hug and planting a kiss on my cheek. The bartender returned with our drinks, and I caught his amused look, realizing what he must think. I made a point of stepping back from her and raising my voice just enough for him to hear.

“Alright, Mum, that’s enough,” I said, shooting a sideways glance at the bartender. His eyes widened, and he coughed awkwardly before disappearing to the other end of the bar.

“Oh, sorry,” she shouted back, her breath reeking of alcohol. “I’m just so happy for you!” She wobbled slightly as she chuckled, the strong scent of liquor hitting me full force.

I sighed, biting back the words I wanted to say. Maybe you should’ve come to the game then, I thought. But there was no point in bringing it up. I hadn’t even called her after we won. I’d been too busy hoping my dad might show up—he didn’t, of course. And now I was here. Keeping her in check, as usual.

"Okay, let’s get you home," I said, taking her arm gently, but she pulled away with a frown.

"You said you’d celebrate with me, not take me home!" she pouted, and I wasn’t entirely sure if she was shouting because of the loud music or because she was upset.

I sighed. She was really going to do this right now?

"Fine," I muttered. I grabbed the drink from the bar and handed it to her. "Here, have this." She took it with a grin, and I picked up my own glass. "And I’ll take this." We clinked our glasses together, the sound barely audible over the pounding music, and knocked back the drinks.

The bitterness hit me hard, and I grimaced, muttering, "Never doing that again." Mum, on the other hand, slammed her empty glass down on the bar with a triumphant grin.

"Another round!" she called out, but before the bartender could even look our way, I grabbed her arm again.

"That’s enough, Mum," I urged, my voice firm. I couldn’t let her go too far tonight. I had too much riding on my reputation—getting noticed by WIH was my dream, and the last thing I needed was for any of this to end up on social media. Babysitting my 40-something-year-old mother wasn’t exactly part of the plan.

"Fine, fine," she grumbled, stumbling slightly as she turned toward a table of women nearby. "Hey, bitches!" she called out, waving at them with a wide grin. The women turned to look, and I watched their eyes widen as they glanced between Mum and me. The resemblance was undeniable.

"Time to go!" she announced dramatically, causing me to jump a little in surprise. A woman from the table rushed over, handing Mum her bag, which I quickly took for her.

"Alright, darling," Mum said as we headed for the exit. "Tell me all about the match!"

I wrapped my arm around her, guiding her out of the club and into the cool night air.

"Later," I spotted my car within seconds, pulling out my keys and giving it a quick beep. The headlights blinked back at me in response, and I led Mum to the passenger side, opening the door for her. She gave me a soft pat on the cheek as a silent thank you before sliding into the seat.

I shut the door and quickly made my way around to the driver’s side, sliding in and starting the engine. The hum of the car filled the space, but the silence between us was heavy. Mum stared out the window, her gaze distant, and though I thought about asking if she was okay, I didn’t bother. I knew better.

Just like me, Mum wasn’t great at talking about feelings. We both had a habit of keeping everything bottled up until it completely consumed us. Then, when we finally did open up, it was usually too late for any advice to make a difference.

The quiet stretched between us for a few minutes, the city lights casting fleeting shadows across her face as we drove. I thought maybe we’d ride in silence all the way home, but then her voice broke through, and I immediately wished she hadn’t spoken.

“Did you hear your father’s getting married?”

My grip tightened on the steering wheel, knuckles white as I hummed in response. “Yeah. He mentioned it.”

She scoffed, her words low but clear. “That bastard.” She wasn’t wrong. “Do you know it’s his third time? I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s seventeen. He’s always liked them young.”

I glanced over at her, a mixture of frustration and sadness stirring in my chest. Mum had been eighteen when she started dating Dad. He was forty at the time. By the time she turned twenty-one, they were married and had me.

It took a few more years for her to realize what kind of man he really was, and when he filed for divorce, he claimed she was too childish and irresponsible to care for me.

Mum didn’t fight it. She was still so young herself, unsure if she even wanted to raise a kid. Dad, on the other hand, used every resource he had to make sure I stayed with him. She gave up, but she never completely disappeared. She stayed close, hovering around the edges of my life.

To be fair, Dad wasn’t the worst; he made sure she wasn’t left broke after the divorce, giving her some properties. But she didn’t know how to handle things and spiraled into drugs. By the time I realized how messed up everything was, I had already distanced myself from their drama.

It wasn’t until I graduated high school that she showed up again, trying to find her way back into my life. And despite everything, I couldn’t bring myself to shut her out. I had missed her.

“How did you even find out he’s getting married?” I asked, glancing at her. There was a shift in her posture, something uneasy about it. “Are you still stalking him?”

“I don’t!” she snapped, then quickly softened, trying to calm herself. “I mean…” She let out a heavy sigh, closing her eyes before opening them again. “I was just curious.”

Her sudden soft tone made me groan in frustration. It was always like this—her deflecting, pretending things weren’t as bad as they really were.

I didn’t say anything else. I just nodded because what was the point? Dragging out the conversation wouldn’t lead anywhere. Instead, I stayed quiet, watching as we got closer to her apartment. It wasn’t in the worst part of town, but just a few blocks over, things got rough. I still didn’t understand why she insisted on staying here, and every time I asked, she’d just shrug and say it felt like home.

Eventually, I stopped asking.

“We’re already here,” she sighed as I handed her the bag from the back seat. She looked at me, her expression softening. “I’m so sorry, love.”

“For what?” I asked, glancing at her.

She paused, her eyes flickering with something I couldn’t quite place. “Just… sorry.” Her hand landed on mine, squeezing lightly before she let go, opening the door and stepping out without looking back.

Her legs wobbled a little, but she steadied herself, laughing quietly at her own clumsiness. Before heading inside, she gave a wave and an exaggerated air kiss, the kind that used to make me laugh when I was younger. Then, the door clicked shut behind her.

I stayed there for a few moments, watching the entrance, making sure nothing shady was happening. I knew her tendency to sneak out, and I wasn’t about to leave her if she pulled something like that. But after fifteen minutes, everything was quiet. Satisfied she wasn’t going anywhere, I started the car and drove off.

As I headed home, thoughts swirled in my mind like a storm brewing on the horizon. Every time I thought I had a handle on things, they rushed back, crashing into me like a wave I wasn’t prepared for. My father still controlled so much of my life, and by extension, hers too. He was like a puppet master, pulling the strings of everyone around him.

But not for much longer. Soon, I’d be out of his reach. I was going to make it—get into WIH and leave this all behind.

No more late-night trips to pick up Mum from some bar, no more watching her fall apart because of him. If she got her life back together, maybe she’d be able to stay by my side once I made it big. Once I had that freedom. That was the plan. And nothing else mattered.

As I made the last turn, the familiar sight of my apartment building came into view. My eyes narrowed as I spotted a figure standing outside on the balcony.

It was hard to tell in the dark, but the shape looked familiar. I didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but as I pulled up to the gate and beeped the horn for Mr. Nick to check, I glanced back up, my stomach tightening.

The figure was gone, swallowed by the shadows. But then the lights on my balcony flicked on, and there she was.

Sophia.

Of course, it had to be her.