The car ride back wasn't loud, not like before.
Ray sat back in his seat, head turned slightly toward the window, quieter now.
Kate kept her eyes forward, hands resting in her lap, fingers fidgeting slightly.
Julia leaned back in the back seat, watching them both through the gap between the seats.
No one said anything at first, just the sound of the road.
Ray shifted a little, glancing sideways. "…So," he said, voice lower this time.
Kate didn't look at him. "Don't," she muttered.
Ray paused. "…I wasn't even gonna say anything bad."
Kate exhaled quietly, still staring ahead. "That's not reassuring."
Julia let out a faint breath from the back. "…For once, I believe him," she said.
Ray glanced at her in the mirror, a small, tired smirk forming. "Thank you."
Kate finally looked at him for a second, then away again. "…You shouted your number to a stranger," she said.
Ray leaned his head back. "…She seemed interested."
Kate stared at him. "…I hate you," she muttered.
Ray nodded slightly. "…Fair."
"…You didn't let go of my hand," he added quietly.
Kate froze.
Julia's eyes flicked up immediately, attention sharpening just a little.
Kate looked at him, then away again almost instantly. "…You were gonna fall," she said.
Ray tilted his head slightly. "…Yeah."
"…You still didn't let go."
Kate's fingers tightened slightly in her lap. "…You talk too much," she muttered.
Ray let out a quiet breath through his nose, looking forward again. "…Only when I'm nervous."
That made her glance at him again, this time a bit longer.
Julia watched the exchange, silent now.
Kate's voice came out quieter. "…You didn't seem nervous."
Ray shrugged slightly. "That's kinda the problem."
Kate looked at him, really looked this time, then slowly looked away again. "…Idiot," she muttered, softer.
And that's when Ray's phone beeped.
He frowned slightly, pulling it out of his pocket. "…Huh."
Kate glanced at him for a second, then back at the road.
Julia leaned forward just a little from the back seat, curious.
Ray unlocked it, paused, then his eyebrows went up. "…No way," he muttered.
Kate narrowed her eyes slightly. "…What?"
Ray stared at the screen a second longer, then turned it a bit away instinctively. "…The girl," he said, still a little surprised. "From outside."
Julia raised an eyebrow. "…That was fast."
Kate's jaw tightened slightly. "…What did she send?"
Ray hesitated for a half second, then let out a quiet breath through his nose. "…A picture."
Kate turned her head toward him immediately. "…Of?"
Ray glanced at her, then back at the phone. "…She's… not shy," he said.
Julia leaned back again, already understanding, a faint smirk forming. "…Impressive efficiency."
Kate just stared at him, then looked away again a bit too quickly. "…Of course she did," she muttered.
Ray locked the phone, tossing it lightly onto his lap like he didn't care, but the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
Kate noticed that. Her eyes flicked down to the phone, then back up. "…Delete it," she said.
Ray blinked. "…What?"
Kate crossed her arms, looking straight ahead again. "I said delete it."
Julia watched the two of them quietly, the smirk still there but not interrupting.
"Deal," Ray said after a second, glancing at her.
Kate's eyes flicked toward him.
"But only if you show me yours."
He added, softer, with a crooked smile, "Pretty please?"
Kate stared at him, actually stared this time. Her face went red almost instantly. "…You're unbelievable," she said quietly.
Ray just shrugged a little, like it was a fair trade.
Julia leaned forward slightly from the back seat, resting her chin on her hand, clearly entertained. "…Negotiation skills are questionable," she muttered.
Kate looked away again, jaw tightening. "…You're not funny," she said.
Ray tilted his head. "…You laughed earlier."
Kate didn't answer that. Her fingers tightened slightly in her lap.
Julia's eyes moved between them, catching everything, but staying quiet.
He glanced at her, then unlocked his phone again without arguing.
"…Deal," he muttered.
He showed her the screen.
Kate hesitated for a second, then looked.
Her expression stayed mostly the same, but her eyes lingered just a little longer than they should've.
Ray tapped the screen and deleted the photo.
He locked the phone and lowered it again.
Kate looked away immediately, like she didn't care.
Ray shifted slightly closer—
and hugged her gently.
Kate froze.
Her body tensed for a second, then slowly relaxed just a bit.
Her hand lifted slightly, hesitated—
then rested lightly against his arm.
Julia watched from the back seat, quieter now, but still paying attention.
"Now you wanna be cute?" Kate muttered, finally looking at him again. "Pervert."
Ray blinked at her, a small grin pulling at the corner of his mouth. "…I've always been cute."
Kate rolled her eyes immediately, looking away again. "No, you haven't."
Julia let out a quiet breath from the back, shaking her head slightly. "…Confidence is consistent," she said.
Ray leaned his head back. "Thank you."
Kate glanced at him again.
"…That wasn't a compliment."
"…I took it as one."
"I swear, you guys are impossible," Julia said, smiling as she watched them.
Ray was still gently hugging Kate, not letting go.
"My love for you always will be here, Julia," he said, winking at her.
Kate froze in his arms.
"…Oh my God," she muttered under her breath.
Julia raised an eyebrow, amused. "…I'm honored," she said.
Kate pulled back just enough to look at him, her face already warming again.
"…You're actually insufferable," she said.
Ray just smiled slightly, like he didn't mind.
Kate huffed quietly—
but didn't move away completely.
"I don't want to be a boring dick," Ray said, pulling her a little closer. "So you're gonna have to suffer with my idiocy."
Kate let out a short breath through her nose, shaking her head slightly.
"…I already am," she muttered, but her voice wasn't as sharp.
Ray's grip stayed loose, not forcing it.
Julia watched from the back seat, a faint smile still there. "…At least he's self-aware," she said.
Kate glanced at him for a second—
then looked away again, but didn't push him off.
"So what about the boobies?" Ray said, like he was just continuing a normal conversation.
And for the first time since they were on this road trip—
he actually looked at her top.
Kate froze instantly.
Her eyes snapped to his face.
"…Excuse me?" she said slowly.
Ray blinked, like he just realized he said it out loud.
Julia leaned forward slightly from the back seat, already reacting. "…And we were doing so well," she muttered.
Kate pushed lightly against his chest, creating just a bit of space between them.
"Eyes up," she said, pointing at his face.
Ray immediately looked up. "They were already up—"
Kate hit his arm.
"OW—"
Then he—
before thinking it through—
leaned forward and buried his head against her chest.
Kate froze.
Completely.
"…RAY—" she snapped instantly, shoving his head back with both hands, her face going bright red.
"What is WRONG with you?!" she added, pushing him away harder this time.
Ray blinked, slightly disoriented. "I was—uh—checking—"
She hit him.
Hard.
"STOP CHECKING."
Julia choked on a laugh from the back seat, turning her head away. "…He's unbelievable," she muttered, shoulders shaking.
Kate crossed her arms tightly over her chest now, glaring at him.
"Don't. Ever. Do that again."
Ray raised his hands slightly. "Okay—okay—"
"…Worth it," he muttered under his breath.
Kate hit him again.
"So… don't ever do that again, huh?" Ray said, rubbing his arm a little.
Kate was still glaring at him, arms crossed tightly.
"Fine," he added with a small shrug. "You're gonna be a virgin until the wedding."
Kate froze.
Not like before.
Different.
Her expression dropped for just a second—
something flickering across her face.
Julia noticed immediately.
"…Ray," she said quietly.
Kate looked away quickly, jaw tightening. "…Don't," she muttered.
Ray blinked, confused. "…What?"
Kate shook her head once, like she was pushing it down. "Just—don't say stuff like that," she said, voice flatter now.
Ray's expression shifted slightly, the joke dying on his face.
"…Okay," he muttered.
Julia leaned back again, watching him now instead of Kate.
Ray didn't push it this time.
For once.
"I'm sorry," Ray said, looking at her gently.
Kate didn't look at him right away.
Her eyes stayed forward, fingers tightening slightly in her lap.
"…You don't even know what you're apologizing for," she muttered.
Ray hesitated for a second.
"…Yeah," he admitted quietly.
That made her glance at him.
Just for a moment.
Then away again.
Julia watched them from the back, quieter now, not interrupting this time.
Ray shifted a little closer, but didn't touch her.
"…Still," he added, softer.
"And I'm the perverted one?" Ray added, rolling his eyes slightly. "You think I didn't hear you?"
Kate froze instantly.
Her head snapped toward him.
"…What?" she said, sharp.
Ray blinked, realizing a bit too late—
"…I mean—uh—"
Kate's face went red again, but not the same as before.
"Don't," she said immediately, stepping closer, pointing at him.
"Don't finish that sentence."
Julia raised an eyebrow from the back, watching closely. "…You're playing with fire," she muttered.
Ray lifted his hands slightly. "I'm just saying—"
Kate hit his arm again.
"STOP talking," she snapped, completely done.
Ray winced. "Okay—okay—"
Kate turned away, crossing her arms tightly, avoiding his eyes now.
Julia leaned back slightly, quieter again, letting the tension sit.
"She fingered herself and said my name, Julia. SHE LIKES ME, LIKE LIKES LIKES ME!"
Kate froze.
Completely.
Her face went red instantly.
"…What is wrong with you?" she said, staring at him.
Julia blinked once—
then looked at Kate.
"…Well," she muttered, not even sure how to respond.
Kate covered her face with one hand. "I hate you," she mumbled.
Ray looked between them, way too proud of himself.
"I'm just saying—"
Kate hit him again.
"STOP saying things!"
He grabbed her hand again—
more carefully this time.
His thumb brushed lightly against her palm.
Kate stilled.
Her fingers twitched slightly in his.
It was… kinda hot.
She hated that.
Her eyes flicked up to his face for a second—
then away again.
"…You're still an idiot," she muttered, but her voice wasn't as sharp.
Ray didn't let go.
"If it makes you feel less blushy," Ray added, still holding her hand, thumb brushing lightly, "I did mention your name once… under the shower."
Kate froze again.
Her eyes widened just a little—
then immediately narrowed.
"…You're lying," she said, but her voice wasn't steady.
Ray tilted his head slightly. "Why would I lie about that?"
Kate looked at him—
then away again, her grip tightening just a bit in his hand.
"…You're insane," she muttered.
Julia let out a quiet breath from the back, watching them. "…This is getting dangerously effective," she said.
Ray smirked slightly.
Kate didn't pull her hand away.
And that's when—
Ray's hand moved slightly.
Careful.
He brushed it against her leg.
Kate stilled instantly.
Her breath hitched just a little—
barely noticeable, but there.
Her eyes flicked to him.
"…Ray," she said quietly.
Not angry.
Just—warning.
Ray didn't look at her right away.
His fingers stayed there for a second—
then slowly moved back, like he was testing the line.
Kate's hand tightened in his.
She didn't pull away.
Julia watched from the back seat, eyes narrowing slightly, picking up on the shift—but staying quiet this time.
"I feel like I'm trying to kiss the wife of the president of the USA," Ray muttered, glancing at her. "Whatever I do, security's like—'WHAT ARE YOU DOING RAAAAAY—'"
Kate stared at him for a second—
then let out a short breath she tried to hold back.
"…You're so stupid," she muttered, but there was a faint smile now.
Ray tilted his head slightly. "I'm under pressure."
Kate shook her head, looking away again, but her fingers were still loosely holding his.
"…Shut up," she said, quieter this time.
Julia leaned forward a little from the back, watching them with a small smirk. "…Security seems justified," she added.
Ray glanced at her in the mirror. "You're part of security."
Kate huffed softly—
but didn't let go.
And as if he'd had enough of the tension from the past days—
he leaned in.
Just a little.
And kissed her.
Soft.
Quick.
Then he pulled back immediately, turning his head away like nothing happened.
Kate froze.
Her whole body went still.
Her fingers tightened in his—
then loosened again.
Her eyes stayed on him for a second longer than they should've—
then dropped.
"…Idiot," she muttered quietly.
But she didn't let go of his hand.
Julia, in the back seat, went completely silent—
watching.