JAY'S POV
The morning sunlight slipped through the curtains, warming the room softly, but my mind was anything but calm. I stayed still for a moment, staring at the ceiling, replaying everything from last night—the locked door, the way Keifer looked at me, the way he almost lost control.
I sat up quickly.
No.
We were not doing that again today.
I needed distraction.
A big one.
By the time I stepped out, Keifer was already in the kitchen, leaning casually against the counter like nothing had happened. Like he didn't almost ruin my ability to think straight.
I crossed my arms, trying to act normal.
"We're going out."
He looked up slowly, eyes already catching mine with that same dangerous calm.
"We are?"
"Yes. Amusement park. Today."
A small smirk formed on his lips.
"Running away?"
I grabbed a glass just to avoid looking at him too long.
"Preventing bad decisions."
His smirk only grew.
"Smart."
That look again.
I turned away immediately.
Getting ready felt more stressful than it should've been. I stood in front of the mirror longer than necessary, fixing my hair, adjusting my outfit, trying not to think about how he'd look at me again.
Because I knew he would.
When I finally stepped out, he was already waiting by the door.
And just like that—
He froze.
His eyes slowly moved over me, not even trying to hide it this time. It wasn't rushed or subtle. It was slow. Careful. Intent.
I felt my cheeks warm instantly.
"Stop staring."
He didn't look away.
"Make me."
I grabbed my bag and walked past him before my heart could betray me any more.
KEIFER'S POV
She thought going out would make things easier.
It didn't.
It made it worse.
The amusement park was loud, bright, full of distractions—but none of it mattered. Not when she was right next to me, laughing, walking ahead, pretending like everything between us wasn't still there.
Because it was.
Every second of it.
She dragged me toward a photobooth without warning, pulling me inside before I could even react. The space was small, cramped, forcing us closer than either of us acknowledged.
She leaned forward, fixing her hair, adjusting herself in front of the screen while I sat back, watching.
Always watching.
The countdown started, and she smiled brightly at the camera. The flash went off, capturing her perfectly—effortless, glowing, completely unaware of what she was doing to me.
Second photo, she leaned closer, playful this time.
Third, she glanced at me.
I wasn't looking at the camera.
I was looking at her.
She noticed.
"Look at the camera."
I didn't move.
"I am."
"You're not."
The countdown started again, and right before the final flash—
I moved.
I leaned in and kissed her.
Not long.
Not deep.
But enough.
Enough to feel her freeze for a second, enough to feel her hand grip my shirt without thinking.
The camera flashed.
Captured.
I pulled back slowly, watching her reaction carefully.
JAY'S POV
My heart was racing.
Too fast.
Way too fast.
I stared at the screen as the photos printed, trying to act normal, but my hands felt shaky. When the strip came out, I grabbed it quickly.
The first few were normal.
Cute.
Happy.
Then the last one.
My eyes widened slightly.
It was us.
Him leaning in.
Me frozen.
That moment.
Caught perfectly.
I looked up at him, still trying to process what just happened.
"You're unbelievable."
He just smirked.
Like he always did.
And somehow that made it worse.
We left the booth, and I forced myself to move on, walking toward the food stalls. I spotted cotton candy and immediately pointed.
"I want that."
He didn't argue.
Of course he didn't.
We walked around with the soft pink cotton candy in my hand, and I took a small bite, the sweetness melting instantly. It was light, sugary, easy—nothing like the tension sitting in my chest.
Keifer watched me again.
I noticed.
Of course I did.
So I held it out toward him.
"Want some?"
He leaned in slightly, taking a bite without breaking eye contact.
And suddenly—
That felt way more intense than it should have.
The rides got bigger as the day went on.
Faster.
Higher.
Louder.
And every single one somehow ended the same way—with me closer to him than before.
The rollercoaster made me grab onto his arm without thinking. The spinning rides had me leaning into him. The drop rides made my heart race, my fingers tightening around his sleeve.
And he noticed every single time.
By the time the sun started setting, the lights around the park glowing softly, my energy started fading.
My steps slowed.
My legs ached.
Keifer noticed immediately.
"You're tired."
"I'm fine."
I wasn't.
He stopped walking.
Turned slightly.
Then crouched down in front of me.
I blinked.
"What are you doing?"
He glanced back.
"Get on."
My cheeks warmed instantly.
"Keifer—"
"Jay."
That tone.
I sighed softly before climbing onto his back, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. He stood up easily, adjusting his hold on my legs as he started walking again.
The height, the movement, the warmth—
It was comforting.
Too comforting.
I rested my head against his shoulder, my grip loosening slightly.
The lights blurred.
The noise faded.
And before I even realized it—
I fell asleep.
KEIFER'S POV
She fell asleep faster than I expected.
One second she was quiet.
The next—
Completely still.
Her head rested against my shoulder, her breathing soft and even, her arms loosely around me. I adjusted my hold slightly, making sure she was comfortable, my steps slower now.
Careful.
When we reached the car, I gently shifted her, opening the door before settling her into the seat. She stirred slightly but didn't wake.
Good.
The drive home was quiet.
Peaceful.
Different from the chaos of the day.
When we arrived, I didn't wake her.
Instead, I walked around, opened her door, and lifted her carefully into my arms—bridal style this time. She leaned into me instinctively, her head resting against my chest as I carried her inside.
The house was silent.
I walked straight to the room, pushing the door open before setting her down gently on the bed. She shifted slightly, curling into the sheets without waking.
I stood there for a moment.
Watching her.
Then I turned off the lights and laid down beside her, pulling the blanket over both of us.
She moved closer in her sleep.
Of course she did.
I let out a quiet breath, staring at the ceiling for a moment before closing my eyes.
And for once—
Everything was calm.