They pulled into the ice cream shop parking lot, the neon sign flickering slightly like it was barely holding on. The place wasn’t crowded, just a few kids hanging out by the benches and some couple sharing a sundae inside.
Zain stuffed his hands in his jacket pockets as they walked up to the window. Theo stood close, close enough that their arms brushed every time one of them shifted.
“What’re you getting?” Theo asked, leaning slightly to check out the menu.
Zain squinted at the options. “Uh... maybe just vanilla?”
Theo turned to look at him, full-on offended. “Seriously? You bring me out here and get vanilla?”
Zain laughed, nudging him with his elbow. “Fine. Chocolate swirl, happy?”
“Much better,” Theo said with a nod, like he’d just saved Zain from making the worst decision of his life.
They ordered, and when the ice cream came, they grabbed a spot on one of the benches outside. The air was cool but not freezing, and Zain felt... okay. Like everything that happened earlier didn’t seem so heavy anymore.
Theo was mid-bite when he glanced over, eyes narrowing slightly. “You’re quiet.”
Zain shrugged, licking his ice cream. “Just thinking.”
“About what?”
Zain hesitated, then sighed. “My dad. The whole marriage thing.”
Theo nodded slowly, resting his elbow on the table. “Yeah... that was pretty intense.”
Zain huffed a laugh. “You think?”
Theo leaned in a little, bumping his knee under the table. “Hey, for what it’s worth, I’m proud of you. That wasn’t easy.”
Zain’s stomach did that annoying flip again, but he didn’t mind it as much this time. He glanced sideways at Theo, watching the way his hair fell into his face.
“Thanks,” Zain mumbled, hoping Theo didn’t notice the way he was blushing.
Theo did. And he smirked.
They sat there for a while, ice cream slowly disappearing and the world quiet around them. When they finally got back in the car, Theo didn’t start it right away. He just sat there, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel.
Zain raised an eyebrow. “What?”
Theo glanced over, and before Zain could say anything else, Theo leaned in and kissed him—soft at first, then rougher, like he’d been waiting for it all night.
Zain didn’t even think. He kissed back, sliding a hand into Theo’s hair, tugging just a little. Theo hummed against his mouth, one hand gripping Zain’s jacket to pull him closer.
At some point, Zain found himself climbing over the center console, straddling Theo’s lap without really meaning to. His heart was racing, but it felt good. Right, even.
Theo’s hands settled on his waist, thumbs brushing under the hem of his jacket.
And then the headlights from another car swung over them, and Zain froze.
He turned his head just enough to see someone standing on the front porch of his house. His mom.
She was staring directly at the car.
“Oh my god,” Zain whispered, face burning as he practically leaped off Theo’s lap, scrambling back into the passenger seat.
Theo burst out laughing, gripping the steering wheel as he tried (and failed) to keep it together. “Wow. That’s one way to get caught again.”
“Shut up,” Zain groaned, sinking down in his seat and covering his face with his hands. “I’m never living this down.”
ns 15.158.61.41da2
