Summer Royalty | Steve Harrington

3.07

♛

Andy awaits for Steve and Dustin by the pool, sitting beside my manager as he makes an excuse about my sudden run out. I don't know what the two talk about as my eyes drift away from them laughing.

"Hey, you even listening?" The deep irritant voice of Mitch pulls me away from my intense stare and thoughts of my brother. I pull up a fake smile on my face, and turn to look over to the boy who stares at me with a look I'm unable to read.

His hand touches my shoulder attempting to bring me back to conversation. I'll be honest I'm barely even paying attention to him and his words. Mitch's hand squeezes my shoulder closest to him and then moves it to rest on the one further away. He rubs my left arm.

"Are you worried about that kid?" Mitch cocks his head to Andy as he listens intently to the older man beside him. "I have a brother, roughly the same age... probably. He's a pain in the ass, always getting into trouble, bullying little kids, my mom wants to send him to our grandparents so they can smack some sense into him. I don't think it'd work."

"You have a brother?" I raise a brow and Mitch throws his head back, laughter escaping from his mouth. I exhale a laugh at the dramatics of his laugh. With his hand still wrapped around my shoulder.

"That's all you got from that?" Mitch questions, he rubs the bridge of my shoulder, as I shrug.

"I have selective hearing sometimes."

"Do you actually or do you just not care sometimes?"

"Both?"

Mitch once again, cracks up. This time, his head drops forward and the pool area echoes his chesty laugh. His spare hand drops to my upper thigh, patting it three times as he lets it rest there.

Am I really that funny or does he just want to get in my pants?

Just as I'm about to remove his hand from my thigh, I hear aggressive stomps coming towards Mitch and I. Mitch's laughter stops as he looks up, I follow his eyes and find Steve staring at us with narrow eyes and a tightened jaw.

I look to Mitch who looks to Steve with a sneer to his lips. I turn back over to Steve and give him a small wave. He comes to a slower pace, but the anger in his face doesn't drop — until it suddenly does, and he freezes in his place.

Steve's eyes drop from mine to the arm around my shoulder, and on my thigh. Steve's hands move to cover his face, as he drags it down his face and walks over to us.

"Hey, Dee." Steve says, and my heart beats roughly against my chest at the nickname. He hasn't called me that since our first date. I told him I didn't really like the nickname, but it's kinda cute when he says it now.

Steve doesn't give Mitch a single ounce of attention and Mitch notices.

"Hey Steve." He greets with a wave with the hand that rests on my thigh. Steve's narrowed eyes squint even further if possible at his hands.

"Uh, hey..." Steve stares at Mitch for a bit as though he's unsure of his name. But the two have played basketball together, so I know he knows his name.

"Mitch?" Mitch reminds with a slight tone. I notice the eye roll he gives Steve before looking away from him.

"Yeah. Sure," Steve carelessly nods before looking back to me. "Are you ready?" I give him a nod and go to stand up, but first look to Mitch so say goodbye.

"I'll see you on my next shift?" I ask, as he removes his hands.

"Yeah, or maybe on a date instead."