Out Of The Picture

Syren De Mer and her stepson Tyler Cruise are stuffing boxes, pissed off at the same guy who ghosted them both. His dad cheated, then bolted, and Syren’s burning because she used to be the mistress before she got swapped out. Tyler says the past is done; nothing left but moving forward. She knows he’s right, especially when an old family photo hits the bin. That gives her an idea—new photos, just the two of them. She figures they need a real photographer, but he laughs and whips out his phone, saying a smile’s plenty. They lean in close for the first few shots. Innocent stuff, until the space between them shrinks and something shifts. Heat starts to crackle. They both feel the pull but try to shove it down, embarrassed. Then the guilt just melts. Why stay loyal to the asshole who ditched them? The next picture catches Syren’s hand sliding lower on Tyler’s thigh, her breath brushing his ear, and neither one pulls away.