A/N - This chapter was inspired by the song Cruel Summer by Taylor Swift, and the TV show/book Normal People by Sally Rooney, which I'm currently loving. I hope you all enjoy it.
When you first started working at Scoops Ahoy, you had never expected to become friendly with your coworkers. I mean, it was a shitty summer job and you hardly thought you would end up with a pair of new best friends in the form of Robin and Steve. And God, you certainly hadn't expected to end up liking Steve, nor did you think he would ever like you back.
But apparently, you were far less predictable than you had first thought. Because, shit, not only were the three of you practically inseparable, you and Steve had been sneaking around behind Robin's back to hook up, totally casually, of course.
Hell, you had spent most of your summer sneaking back into your house, praying that your parents wouldn't hear you and interrogate you into confessing to where you had been.
If you weren't hanging out with Robin, you were out with Steve, hidden away in his house, uninterrupted and strangely domestic, even though he had been pretty clear that he wasn't looking for a proper relationship.
Tonight, however, was one of those lucky nights where you got to be with both of them. Steve had dragged the two of you along to a party, fighting the urge to drag you home again when he saw you swaying along to the music, looking so damn pretty that it had made his stomach turn.
"Drink?" you hummed in Robin's ear, pulling her along by her hand when she nodded her agreement. The drinks table had become the haunt of the basketball team, all of them lingering around, watching out for whatever girl had staggered into their radar in the last few weeks.
"Well, I never," a voice interrupted as you started pouring liquor into the cup Robin was holding, causing your head to jolt over in the direction of the team, immediately finding Steve, even though you knew it wasn't him talking. "You scrub up pretty well, Y/N," Tommy pressed on, grinning from ear to ear as his head tipped to the side. "Who would've thought?"
You offered him a tight-lipped smile, your eyes drifting over to Steve again, finding him watching you already, his lips set in a firm line, his expression tense.
Tommy had his arm around you a moment later, dragging you into the conversation. "You're a really good dancer, too, you know that?" You stayed silent, hoping that maybe he would get bored with the timid little act you were putting on. "Come and dance with me," he pressed on, grinning as he looked down at you and made your entire body tense.
He didn't smile at you the way Steve did. Steve's smile was always so soft and sweet. There was nothing sweet about the way Tommy was looking at you. Hell, he looked like a lion watching its prey. He looked like he was figuring out exactly how to tear you limb from limb, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce and take you down without a fight.
"I don't want to dance," you murmured softly, swallowing down the lump in your throat when his arm tightened around your shoulders.
"Come on; one dance-"
"I don't want to dance," you uttered a little louder, attempting to wriggle out of his grip.
"Just one dance," Tommy pressed on, letting out a thick bubble of laughter when his hand suddenly dipped to grope at your boob, causing you to completely jolt out of his hold, staring at him in disbelief before you were darting for the door with Robin hot on your heels.
You slumped against the wall the second you were outside, tears making tracks down your cheeks as you slid to the ground, pulling your knees up to your chest. Robin moved to crouch beside you, her hand resting on your leg, trying her hardest to soothe you.
"Are you alright?"
Your head shot up to find Steve standing a couple of feet away, brow furrowed when his eyes met yours.
He hesitated for a moment, scratching at the back of his neck. "He was just trying to be funny-"
"Yeah, well if you think he's so funny, why don't you go back inside?" Robin bit out, shooting Steve a glare that left him floundering.
"That's not what I meant," Steve uttered, shifting slightly on the spot before moving a little closer. "I just mean, he thinks he's being funny, but he's an asshole. I should've warned you about him before he got a chance to do something like that."
You sniffled, your breathing still coming out in stunted huffs.
"Do you want to go home?" he finally murmured. "I've not been drinking and I've got the car-"
You nodded slightly, letting Robin help you to your feet.
"I promised I'd stick around until the girls from band got here-" she started softly. "But I can tell someone to let them know I had to leave-"
"No, it's fine," you murmured, giving her hand a light squeeze before releasing her completely. "I'll call you tomorrow, alright?"
Once you were finally back in the car, you swallowed down the tears, clearing your throat slightly.
"Are you okay?" Steve hummed, risking a glance in your direction as he kept driving.
"I feel like an idiot," you uttered.
"You didn't do anything," he interjected, glancing over at you again when you remained silent. "You can come back to mine if you want," he pressed on. "If you'd like."
You hesitated slightly. "Are your parents not there?"
"They left town again," he answered softly. "Headed out to New York this morning."
"Oh," you murmured, clearing your throat again. "And you don't mind me staying over?"
Steve's tongue darted out to wet his bottom lip. "I don't mind."
"But, I thought-"
"I don't mind," he pressed on, reaching out to give your knee a light, reassuring squeeze. "I know what I said, alright? But I think-"
"I love you," you breathed out, your stomach churning when the car fell completely silent. "Ain't that the worst thing you've ever heard," you added, letting out an awkward scoff.
Steve shook his head slightly. "It's pretty nice actually," he hummed. "Good to know I'm not the only one feeling this way."
Your brow furrowed, your entire head turning to look at him in confusion. "What?"
"I love you too, Y/N." He hesitated for a moment. "I know I said I wasn't looking for serious right now, but, I love you," he reiterated. "And I want to take you out properly. Take you on a proper date. Make you my girlfriend."
Your tongue dipped out to wet your lips before you nodded. "That sounds nice."
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