Going into The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3, I thought the only love triangle I would have to worry about was Jeremiah, Conrad, and Belly—but there’s another complicated one taking shape with Steven, Taylor, and Denise. And while I am firmly invested in Belly, I can’t help but wonder who Steven will end up with on The Summer I Turned Pretty.
Steven and Denise’s relationship has been steadily growing more serious throughout the season, and in this week’s episode, “Last Hurrah,” they finally took a step towards being more than friends and co-workers...until they were interrupted by Taylor’s mom, Lucinda. But would they have crossed the line without the interruption?
“That would’ve been a kiss if it wasn’t for Lucinda,” actor Sean Kaufman confirmed in an interview with People. “I don’t know what would’ve happened after, but I think that moment would’ve been a kiss.”
What that means for the two of them going forward remains to be seen, but it’s safe to say that Steven is now firmly in the middle of his very own love triangle. “I remember shooting episode 7 and I was like, ‘Oh my god, there’s so many feelings [involved] for so many people,’” he told People. “And to try to balance them and also figure out where Steven is at with all this—and not judging him for it—is definitely an interesting one.”
Asked how he felt when he found out how Steven’s story would end, Sean said he felt relieved, but teased drama ahead. “For however many remaining episodes, it’s just that tension,” he said.
Sean didn’t give up much, but he did say that he could make a good case for either relationship. “One of the things that I really, really enjoyed this season with Steven and Denise is, I feel like we haven’t gotten to see somebody challenge and push Steven up,” he said. “Denise supports him and wants to go into business with him and sees him for who he is—as a brain.”
And Taylor? “You can’t deny chemistry and first love and all that—it’s hard to break away from that.”
