Keifer slowly opened the hotel room door and peeked outside one last time before guiding Jay inside.
The moment the door shut, he locked it quickly and checked the handle twice.
Jay stood near the bed, arms crossed, still processing what had just happened.
"That guy…" she said quietly. "He was really looking for me, wasn't he?"
Keifer didn't answer immediately.
He walked to the window, slightly moving the curtain to check the street below.
"Yeah," he said finally.
Jay swallowed.
"So Percy wasn't exaggerating."
"No."
The seriousness in his voice made the room feel colder.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Jay sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Well," she muttered, "this officially beats the blueberry disaster."
Keifer chuckled softly despite the tension.
"That's one way to rank today's events."
Jay looked up at him.
"You dragged me into a wall, Keifer."
"I saved you."
"You nearly gave me a heart attack."
"Worth it."
Jay glared at him.
Then… she laughed.
The sound surprised both of them.
After a while, the adrenaline slowly faded.
Keifer sat beside her on the bed, his posture still tense.
Jay noticed immediately.
"You're still on guard," she said softly.
"I have to be."
She looked at him for a moment before quietly sliding closer.
"Hey," she said gently. "You can breathe for a second."
Keifer glanced at her.
Jay placed her hand lightly on his arm.
"You've been protecting me nonstop," she added quietly.
Keifer's expression softened.
"I'm not stopping," he said.
Jay smiled faintly.
"I know."
Thunder rolled again outside.
Jay instinctively leaned slightly closer to him.
Keifer noticed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders automatically.
She didn't protest this time.
Instead, she rested her head lightly against him.
For a moment, they just sat there together in silence.
Safe again—for now.
Then Jay spoke quietly.
"You know… if that guy comes back…"
"He won't get near you," Keifer said firmly.
Jay looked up at him.
"And if he does?"
Keifer met her eyes.
"Then he'll regret it."
Something about the certainty in his voice made her chest warm.
Jay slowly lay down on the bed and tugged his sleeve.
"Come on," she said softly. "You're not sitting guard all night."
Keifer hesitated.
Jay tugged again.
"You're sleeping."
He sighed. "Jay—"
"Sleep."
He gave in and lay down beside her.
Jay immediately scooted closer, resting her head against his chest again.
Keifer wrapped his arm around her automatically.
Within minutes, her breathing slowed.
But Keifer stayed awake a little longer, staring at the ceiling.
Protecting her.
Like always.
Eventually, even he drifted to sleep.
Outside, thunder rolled softly across the city again.
But inside the hotel room, Jay slept peacefully—because she knew Keifer was there.