Between Us

☆ part fifty ☆

Sophie's pov

The ride home was quiet but comfortable, the kind of silence that felt like an unspoken conversation between us. Lark's hand rested on my thigh as she drove, her fingers drumming lightly against the fabric of my jeans. I traced little shapes on the back of her hand absentmindedly, my heart still full from the news she'd told me earlier. I could tell she was excited, even if she tried to play it cool. Her jaw was set, but the corners of her lips kept twitching like she couldn't quite keep the smile off her face.

When we pulled up to my house, I could see my mom's car parked in the driveway, her familiar floral windshield cover in full view. The sight of it made my chest tighten just a little, but I pushed the feeling away. This was my house. My home. My family. I didn't want my mom's presence to feel like a barrier between Lark and me. Lark turned the car off and looked over at me, her hand still warm on my leg. I unbuckled my seatbelt, but instead of opening the door, I turned toward her, leaning forward until my face was just a few inches from hers. "Hey," I said softly, tilting my head and giving her a small, teasing smile.

Her eyebrows raised slightly, like she knew exactly what I was about to do. "Soph," she said, her voice low, almost warning.

"What?" I asked, leaning a little closer. "I can't kiss my girlfriend goodnight?"

Lark shook her head, her lips twitching into a reluctant smile. "Remember what your dad said?"

I rolled my eyes, leaning back slightly but keeping my hand on hers. "Come on, nothing's going to happen," I said, my tone somewhere between pleading and playful. "It's just a kiss."

She shifted in her seat, her eyes flicking toward the house and then back to me. "Yeah, well, your mom's home," she said, her voice firmer now. "And I'd rather not, Sophie. She might see us."

I sighed, flopping back against the seat and crossing my arms. "Fine," I said, though the word came out more like a huff than an agreement.

Lark looked at me, her expression softening as she reached out to brush a strand of hair behind my ear. Her fingers lingered for a moment, warm against my cheek. "Soph," she said gently, "it's not that I don't want to kiss you. Trust me, I'd love to. But I don't want to make things harder for you. For us. You know?"

I looked down at my lap, my chest tightening with a mix of frustration and guilt. She was right, of course. She always was. But that didn't mean it didn't sting a little. "I know," I mumbled, my voice quieter now.

Her hand slipped down to my chin, gently tilting my face back up to hers. She smiled at me, soft and patient, and it made my heart ache in the best way. "Hey," she said, her voice light and teasing now. "You're still my favorite, even when you're being stubborn."

That made me smile despite myself, and I reached out to squeeze her hand. "You're lucky I like you so much," I said, my tone just as teasing.

"Lucky doesn't even cover it," she said with a grin.

I opened the car door, pausing halfway out to glance back at her. "Let me know if you hear back from the producer, okay?"

Her grin widened, and she leaned over the console to look at me. "You'll be the first to know. I promise."

"Good," I said, giving her a small, playful glare before stepping out of the car.

As I walked toward the house, I turned back to see her watching me, her hand still resting on the steering wheel. I waved, and she waved back, her smile soft and warm in the dim light of the porch. The warmth of Lark's car still lingered on my skin as I reached the front door, but the moment I stepped closer, the muffled sounds of raised voices reached my ears. My hand froze mid-air, keys poised to unlock the door, and my stomach clenched.