Chapter Text
“Dustin…” Steve was already at the end of his rope, but in this situation, he couldn’t afford to lose his cool.
“NO!” Dustin shot back immediately. He was leaned against the car the way that Steve hated, one foot propped against the passenger door, arms over his chest. The stance of a boy who would not be swayed.
“Dude, I’m serious.” Steve pleaded, changing his tactic. He’d already tried everything. Good cop, bad cop, oblivious cop. Maybe he should stop trying to be a cop.
“So am I. I’m not hooking you up with my sister, Steve. That’s gross!”
Steve scoffed, rolling his eyes in the way he knew he shouldn’t if he was hoping for any help from Dustin.
“How is it gross?” He challenged, crossing his own arms to match Dustin’s defensive posture. It was Dustin’s turn to scoff.
“It just is! She’s my sister. You already dated Nancy, you can’t date all of our sisters.” Dustin winced the second he finished talking, realizing what he had said, “That was a low blow.”
“Low blow.” Steve agreed, shaking his head.
Dustin opened his mouth to say something else, but closed it again when the front door finally opened and you walked out.
“Sorry, couldn’t find the sunscreen!” You called, turning to lock the door behind you.
Dustin gave Steve a warning glance and pushed off of the car with his foot.
“We’re going to be the last ones there, and it’s Steve’s house.” Dustin complained, switching gears like the conversation with Steve hadn’t been happening in the first place, “You could’ve just borrowed someone else’s.”
You rolled your eyes and approached your brother, flicking his cap off his head to ruffle his curly hair. He made a noise of complaint, rushing to pick his hat up off the ground.
“You’re the one that needs extra protection, dusty boy. Or do you want to look like a lobster when we drive you up to camp next week?” You shot a grin at Steve, moving past both of them to slide into the front seat.
Your words quieted Dustin’s complaints, but did not silence them, especially not when he realized that you had sniped shotgun from him that easily.
-
Steve smiled fondly as he listened to the two of you bicker. The current debate was whether seniority or a longer friendship was more important in determining who was worthy of the front seat.
Most days this would drive him crazy, but today you were spread out in the front seat, denim shorts unbuttoned to reveal a hint of the red bathing suit underneath, and you were driving him crazy in a completely different way. Keeping his eyes on the road was a struggle, and it took all of his willpower to get you to his house safely.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re older, that’s my seat.” Dustin repeated, the exasperation clear in his voice. Steve was convinced that the only person who could win an argument against a Henderson was another Henderson, but the stubbornness from both of you was destined to drag this on.
“Oh yeah? I don’t see your ass in it Dusty.” You shot back, grinning like you just knew you were winding him up for no reason.
Steve pulled into his driveway, grateful for an excuse to end this argument, but you weren’t done. Not yet.
You gathered your things quickly and turned to look at your brother in the backseat.
“Besides, Steve likes when I sit in the front seat, don’t you Stevie?” Before Steve could respond, you were turning to him, pressing a quick kiss against his cheek and then fleeing before either boy had a chance to react.
Steve watched you go, heart frozen in his chest. You looked back once to shoot him a wink and then you disappeared around the fence to the pool, leaving Steve alone to deal with Dustin’s wrath.
“HARRINGTON, WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?”