Chapter 47: Chaos, Apparently
Jay's POV
Breakfast was a mistake.
Not because the food was bad—no, the croissants were perfect, the coffee was illegal-level good—but because Keifer Watson had decided that this morning he would be insufferable.
He walked into the dining room like he owned the place. Like he didn't just emotionally destroy me for years and then crawl back into my life with puppy eyes and apologies.
And the worst part?
He kept smiling at me.
Keifer: "You slept well."
Jay: "I slept adequately."
Keifer: "In my arms."
Jay: "Against my will."
He pulled my chair out for me anyway.
Keifer: "You didn't complain."
Jay: "I was unconscious."
He sat across from me, elbows on the table, chin resting on his hand, staring like I was the most fascinating thing he'd ever seen.
Jay: "If you keep looking at me like that, I'm charging you rent."
Keifer: "Worth it."
I kicked his shin under the table.
He didn't even flinch.
We ordered breakfast. He tried to order for me. I threatened him with my fork. The waiter pretended not to notice.
Keifer: "You still take your tea with honey."
Jay: "Stop remembering things."
Keifer: "You still wrinkle your nose when you lie."
Jay: "I am not lying."
Keifer: "You are literally wrinkling it right now."
I glared. He grinned.
After breakfast, we went to the beach—which was mistake number two.
Because apparently Keifer had decided today was also "touch Jay casually every five seconds" day.
Hand on my back. Fingers brushing mine. Arm bumping into mine "accidentally."
Jay: "Do you need balance support?"
Keifer: "I need you support."
Jay: "Disgusting."
Keifer: "You smiled."
I did not deny it.
We walked barefoot, arguing about absolutely nothing.
Keifer: "You always walk too fast."
Jay: "You walk like you're in a music video."
Keifer: "You love it."
Jay: "I tolerate it."
He stopped suddenly, forcing me to bump into him.
Jay: "Hey—!"
Keifer: "You're smiling again."
Jay: "I'm thinking of pushing you into the sea."
Keifer: "Romantic."
At some point, we sat on the sand, and he started drawing shapes with his finger absentmindedly.
Jay: "If you write our initials, I will move."
Keifer: "I already did that years ago."
That shut me up.
The afternoon was chaos too.
Ice cream that melted all over my hands. Keifer stealing bites and claiming "quality control." Me chasing him down the boardwalk threatening bodily harm.
A random tourist asked if we were married.
We answered at the same time.
Jay: "NO." Keifer: "NOT YET."
I nearly tripped him.
Back at the hotel, things got worse.
Because apparently being alone in a room together made Keifer forget all common sense.
Keifer: "You're really staying here tonight too, right?"
Jay: "Keifer."
Keifer: "Just asking."
Jay: "Ask again and I'm switching rooms."
Keifer: "Okay okay—wow, scary."
I went to shower. He knocked.
Keifer: "I forgot my—"
Jay: "NO."
Keifer: "—phone charger."
Jay: "STILL NO."
When I came out wrapped in a towel, he was sitting on the bed scrolling through his phone like an angel.
Keifer: "I behaved."
Jay: "Bare minimum."
Dinner prep was a battlefield.
Honey texted me about shoes. Alex texted me about ties. Keifer hovered like a menace.
Keifer: "That dress again?"
Jay: "Problem?"
Keifer: "No. Just… legally concerning."
Jay: "I'm wearing the jacket."
Keifer: "Good."
Jay: "You don't own me."
Keifer: "I know."
He paused.
Keifer: "But other men don't need to see everything either."
Jay: "Jealousy looks ugly on you."
Keifer: "Lying looks worse on you."
I stared at him.
He smiled innocently.
By the time we were ready, the room looked like a storm passed through—clothes everywhere, tension thicker than perfume.
He offered his arm again.
Jay: "One condition."
Keifer: "Anything."
Jay: "No dramatic declarations at dinner."
Keifer: "…Define dramatic."
Jay: "If you say 'I never stopped loving you' in public, I will leave."
Keifer: "I will try."
I sighed, took his arm anyway.
As we stepped out, I realized something terrifying.
We weren't calm. We weren't healed. We weren't stable.
But we were us.
And somehow… that felt right.