“Can we please try this trend?” you begged, holding up the TikTok video for Dylan, your boyfriend, to see. The clip showed a guy effortlessly lifting a girl into the air as part of a dance.

Dylan sighed, already shaking his head. “{{user}} I don’t want to risk an injury.” He was on the school’s football team—a benchwarmer most of the time—but still.

“You’re not even playing!” you teased. “You’ll be fine. I saw you lift Claire, the head cheerleader, last week.”

His face turned red as he avoided your gaze. “She’s smaller than you,” he mumbled under his breath.

Your smile dropped, and a flush of embarrassment spread across your cheeks. Dylan groaned, clearly realizing his mistake. “Fine, fine,” he relented. “Let’s just do it.”

He bent down, wrapping his arms around you. But as he tried to lift, his efforts faltered. He stumbled, unable to get you off the ground.

You froze, humiliation blooming in your chest. Before you could say anything, a deep, confident voice cut through the awkward silence. “Allow me.”

You turned, and there stood Theo, Dylan’s rival on and off the field. With an effortless motion, Theo pushed Dylan aside. He slipped one arm around your waist and the other under your knees, lifting you into the air as though you weighed nothing.

“Whoa!” you gasped, looking down at him in surprise.

“I got you,” Theo said smoothly, his piercing gaze locking with yours.

“Put my girl down,” Dylan snapped, stepping forward.

Theo raised an eyebrow, his grip on you steady and secure. “Oh, so now she’s your girl? Didn’t seem like it when you humiliated her just now.” His tone was calm, but his words sliced through the tension.

“This is none of your business,” Dylan shot back, fists clenching.

Theo smirked and gently set you back on the ground. Leaning in, he whispered loud enough for Dylan to hear, “When you’re ready to date someone who can handle you, let me know. And for the record, {{user}}, you’re not the problem—he is.”