Kissed the Wrong Lockwood

The Beverly Hills sun hit differently and warm, golden, and way too bright for someone who’d barely slept. Lucy Hart tugged her backpack higher on her shoulder as she walked down the palm-lined sidewalk toward campus, reminding herself over and over: Fresh start. New city. No drama. She repeated it like a prayer. Moving in with Kate Lockwood last night had been a miracle. The girl was friendly, organized, and lived in an apartment way too nice for a college student. Marble counters, floor-to-ceiling windows, a balcony that screamed you don’t belong here, babe. But Kate made her feel welcome. And that was enough. Lucy inhaled deeply, trying to calm her nerves. New school. New routine. No room for the chaos her old life kept throwing at her. She was so stuck in her thoughts that she didn’t notice the guy rounding the corner until she collided straight into a solid chest. “Whoa...sorry,” she blurted out, stumbling back. He caught her before she could fall, one hand on her waist, steady and warm. Lucy looked up and her breath hitched. Tall. Tan. Dark hair that fell into storm-grey eyes. And a smile and slow, dangerous, unexpectedly soft. “It’s okay,” he said, voice low. “You alright?” “I...I wasn’t looking where I was going.” “Yeah,” he murmured, still holding her waist. “I noticed.” She should’ve stepped away. She should’ve laughed awkwardly, apologized again, and kept walking. But then his eyes dropped to her lips. And she felt it and like the world paused, like her lungs forgot their job, like the air between them changed shape. It happened before she could think. Lucy leaned forward. He leaned in too. Their lips met. Soft, warm, breathtakingly quick but enough to make her heart slam against her ribs. Enough to make the ground tilt under her feet. Enough to make her realize she had just kissed a total stranger on her first morning in Beverly Hills. She pulled back instantly, eyes wide. “I...I don’t know why I did that,” she whispered, mortified. He chuckled, thumb brushing her hip before he slowly let go. “Not complaining.” Her face burned. “I have to go.” He watched her scramble away like she was something he wanted to chase. She didn’t dare look over her shoulder again. By the time she reached the campus gates, her pulse was still racing. Great start, Lucy. Amazing job. Kissing strangers before 9 a.m. You’re doing fantastic. She made it through her first two classes in a daze, replaying the moment over and over and his eyes, his voice, the way his lips felt on hers. She didn’t know his name. She didn’t know why she reacted like that. And she hoped, desperately, that she’d never see him again. But fate wasn’t that kind. When she got back to the apartment later that afternoon, Kate was in the kitchen, humming as she arranged snacks on the marble island. “Perfect timing!” Kate chirped. “My brother’s stopping by. I want you to meet him and he’s the chill one in the family.” Lucy froze. “Your… brother?” “Yeah! Mason.” Kate grinned. “He’ll be here any mi...” The front door clicked open. Footsteps. A voice she recognized instantly. “Hey, Katie.” Lucy’s heart dropped straight to the floor. Kate lit up. “There he is! Come meet my new roommate, Lucy!” Lucy turned around slowly. And there he was. The stranger she kissed. The stranger who wasn’t a stranger at all. Mason Lockwood leaned against the doorway, eyes locked on her, a slow, knowing smile spreading across his lips. “Well,” he said, voice warm and amused, “we meet again.” Mason pushed off the doorway and walked toward them, each step sending Lucy’s heartbeat into a sprint. He wore a plain black T-shirt and jeans, nothing fancy, but somehow he made it look expensive. Or maybe that was just the effect he had on her. Kate, completely oblivious to the tension sparking in the air, grinned. “You two already know each other?” Lucy opened her mouth and nothing came out. Mason beat her to it. “We, uh… ran into each other this morning.” His eyes never left Lucy. “Literally.” Kate laughed. “Lucy bumps into everything. Doors, walls, people and don’t take it personal.” Lucy forced a smile. “Right. Just… clumsy me.” Mason’s smirk said he wasn’t buying that explanation. Not for a second. Kate reached for a soda can. “Want something to drink? Lucy, can you grab the extra cups?” “Sure,” Lucy said, desperate for something to do that didn’t involve Mason’s gaze burning into her. She escaped into the pantry, nearly tripping over her own feet as she grabbed the cups. She leaned against the shelf for half a second, exhaling shakily. What are the odds? Her roommate’s brother? Out of everyone in Beverly Hills, she had kissed him? When she returned to the kitchen, Kate was rambling about class schedules, completely unaware of the silent chaos unraveling between Lucy and Mason. Lucy set the cups down. “Here you go.” “Thanks!” Kate said, popping open her soda. Mason didn’t take his eyes off Lucy. “So, Lucy,” he said slowly, voice lower now, “how long have you been in town?” She swallowed. “Since yesterday.” “Ah,” he murmured, leaning an elbow on the counter. “Explains why you were a little… distracted this morning.” Her cheeks heated instantly. Kate finally looked up, confused. “Distracted? What happened?” Lucy nearly choked. “Nothing! It was nothing.” Mason raised a brow like he wanted to remind her that she had definitely made it something. Kate waved it off. “Anyway! Mason, you’re staying for dinner, right?” He glanced at Lucy before answering. “If Lucy doesn’t mind.” She inhaled sharply. “Why would I mind?” His smile deepened. “Just making sure.” Kate clapped her hands together. “Perfect! Lucy, Mason is the chilliest guy ever. You two will get along great.” Lucy felt her stomach twist. She wanted to protest, but Mason spoke first. “Oh, I think we already do,” he said. Kate beamed. “See? Easy!” Lucy wanted to sink into the floor. She turned toward the sink, pretending to rinse a cup, just to escape Mason’s stare. She could still feel it on her lips warm, amused, curious. He finally moved, walking around the island to stand beside her, close enough that she felt the heat of him. Quietly, so Kate wouldn’t hear, he said: “You didn’t tell her.” She froze. “Tell her what?” Mason’s voice brushed her ear like a secret. “That you kissed me.” Her breath caught. “It...It wasn’t and I don’t even know why....” “It’s okay,” he said softly. “I’m not mad.” She risked looking up at him. His eyes held that same intensity from this morning, like he was trying to read every thought in her head. “But,” he added, “we should probably talk about it… later.” Lucy stepped back as if touching him might set off fireworks in the middle of the kitchen. “O..okay.” Kate turned around just then. “You two good?” Mason grinned. “Perfect.” Lucy, meanwhile, felt far from perfect. Because now she had two problems: 1. She kissed her roommate’s brother. 2. And he absolutely wasn’t going to let her forget it. Lucy’s mind went blank as Mason stepped fully into the apartment, his storm-grey eyes fixed on her. She wanted to scream, run, or somehow vanish into thin air. “Hi… again,” he said, his voice calm but teasing, like he already knew exactly how flustered she was. Lucy cleared her throat, trying to sound casual. “Uh… hi. I didn’t expect… I mean… I didn’t know…” Mason raised a brow. “You didn’t know what?” “That you… that we… you’re Kate’s brother,” Lucy stammered, waving her hands vaguely. Mason smirked. “That we kissed?” He leaned against the counter, relaxed, as if confessing it was no big deal. Lucy’s cheeks burned. “Yes! That! And… oh my gosh, this is so awkward!” Kate, completely oblivious to the tension, bounced toward them. “You two already know each other?” Lucy glanced at Mason, panicking. “Uh… sort of?” Kate grinned. “Well, that’s a fun coincidence!” She clapped her hands together. “Mason, meet Lucy. Lucy, Mason—my brother!” Mason extended his hand casually. “Nice to officially meet you, Lucy.” Lucy shook it, heart hammering. “Nice to… meet you.” He gave her a small, knowing smile that made her knees weak. Kate didn’t notice a thing. “Great! I’m so glad you two already ‘met.’ Makes hanging out so much easier.” Lucy forced a tight smile. Easier? Oh, no. Nothing about this is easier. Awkward Dinner Kate insisted on cooking a small welcome meal. Mason offered to help, and Lucy was stuck in the kitchen with him. “Are you always this clumsy?” Mason asked casually as Lucy nearly dropped a pot. “I...uh...I’m fine,” she muttered, her hands shaking slightly. Mason’s smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “Sure you are. Just making sure I keep an eye on you.” Lucy froze. “Keep an eye… on me?” “Safety first,” he said smoothly. “Wouldn’t want anyone else stealing my accidental first kiss.” Lucy’s face heated instantly. She wanted to hide, run, and somehow erase the memory of that morning all at once. Kate was completely unaware, humming as she chopped vegetables. Lucy realized then that the hardest part wasn’t Mason—it was pretending nothing had happened while living under the same roof as him. The Realization By the end of dinner, Lucy had come to a terrifying conclusion: one kiss, one accidental touch, and her “fresh start” in Beverly Hills had turned into something she hadn’t anticipated. Mason Lockwood wasn’t just Kate’s brother. He was unforgettable. And he wasn’t going anywhere. Lucy sank into her chair, stomach twisting, heart racing, and whispered under her breath: This is going to be a very long semester.