Chapter: The Smoke and the Tears
(AUTHOR'S POV)
The Watson mansion was full.
Packed.
Chaotic.
Section E had arrived.
All of them.
Cin with Rakki.
Calix with Mica.
Erdix with Freya.
David.
Eren.
Emman.
Rory.
Mayo.
Kit.
Blaster.
Josh.
Drew.
Denzel with Grace and Grazel.
And Jay's brothers.
Percy with Honey.
Aries with Ella.
Everyone.
The living room looked like a disaster zone.
People everywhere.
Laughing.
Shouting.
Arguing.
Eating.
Drinking.
Being loud.
Being family.
Jay was in heaven.
Surrounded by everyone she loved.
Keifer was somewhere.
With the boys.
Probably.
She didn't worry.
He could handle himself.
---
The Girls' Corner
The girls had gathered on one side of the living room.
Jay.
Rakki.
Mica.
Freya.
Grace.
Honey.
Ella.
And Grazel, the tiny queen, in Grace's lap.
They talked.
Laughed.
Shared stories.
Rakki leaned forward.
"So, Jay."
Jay looked at her.
"Yes?"
"How's married life?"
Jay smiled.
"Perfect."
"Chaotic."
"Exactly what I wanted."
Mica nodded.
"Keifer seems great."
Freya agreed.
"Really great."
Jay grinned.
"He's the best."
"The most annoying."
"But the best."
Grace laughed.
"That's love."
Honey spoke softly.
"I'm still new to this."
"Percy and I just became official."
"But seeing you two—"
"It gives me hope."
Jay reached over.
Squeezed her hand.
"You'll be fine."
"Percy's an idiot."
"But a good idiot."
Honey laughed.
"True."
Ella nodded.
"Aries is the same."
"Idiot."
"But mine."
They all laughed.
Grazel raised her hand.
"KEIF! KEIF! KEIF!"
Jay looked at her.
"Yes, baby?"
"Keif is Smol's best!"
Jay grinned.
"Yes he is."
"He's my best too."
Grazel nodded.
Seriously.
"Good."
"Smol happy."
Jay kissed her cheek.
"Smol very happy."
---
The Boys' Side
Across the room.
The boys had gathered.
Cin.
Calix.
Erdix.
David.
Eren.
Emman.
Rory.
Mayo.
Kit.
Blaster.
Josh.
Drew.
Denzel.
Percy.
Aries.
And Keifer.
They talked.
Laughed.
Argued.
The usual.
Then—
Cin pulled out a pack of cigarettes.
Offered it around.
Some took.
Some didn't.
Keifer hesitated.
Then took one.
Lit it.
Inhaled.
Exhaled.
The boys continued talking.
Laughing.
Smoking.
Normal guy things.
But Jay noticed.
From across the room.
Her eyes found him.
Saw the cigarette.
Saw the smoke.
Saw him.
Her heart tightened.
She didn't say anything.
Not yet.
Just watched.
---
The Rest of the Evening
The chaos continued.
Hours passed.
Laughter echoed.
Food disappeared.
Stories were shared.
Memories made.
Finally—
People started leaving.
Hugs.
Goodbyes.
Promises to meet again.
Cin and Rakki left.
Calix and Mica.
Erdix and Freya.
David.
Eren.
Emman.
Rory.
Mayo.
Kit.
Blaster.
Josh.
Drew.
Denzel, Grace, and sleepy Grazel.
Percy and Honey.
Aries and Ella.
One by one.
Until—
Only Jay and Keifer remained.
In the massive mansion.
Alone.
Silence.
Finally.
---
The Question
Jay stood in the living room.
Keifer walked in from seeing everyone out.
Smiled at her.
"Alone at last."
She didn't smile back.
Just watched him.
He noticed.
Frowned.
"What?"
She crossed her arms.
"Keifer."
"Yes?"
"Are you angry with me?"
He blinked.
"What? No."
"Why would I be angry?"
She shook her head.
"I don't know."
"But you've been—"
"Different."
"Tonight."
He walked toward her.
"Jay, I'm not angry."
"Not at all."
She studied his face.
Searching.
He seemed sincere.
But something felt off.
She stepped closer.
Then stopped.
Froze.
Sniffed.
Her eyes narrowed.
"You smell."
He blinked.
"What?"
"Smoke."
"You smell like smoke."
He opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
"Jay—"
"You were smoking."
It wasn't a question.
He sighed.
"Yes."
"But—"
"I was with the boys—"
"And they offered—"
"And I just—"
She stepped back.
Away from him.
Her face changed.
Cold.
Distant.
"I see."
"Jay—"
"Don't."
She turned.
Walked toward the stairs.
He followed.
"Jay, please—"
She didn't stop.
Didn't look back.
"I'm tired."
"We'll talk tomorrow."
She went upstairs.
To their room.
The door closed.
Softly.
But firmly.
Keifer stood at the bottom of the stairs.
Alone.
Confused.
Hurt.
What just happened?
---
The Night – Alone
Keifer stayed downstairs.
For hours.
Thinking.
Worrying.
He didn't understand.
Why was she so upset?
It was just smoking.
With the boys.
One time.
Not a big deal.
Right?
He finally went upstairs.
Late.
Very late.
The bedroom was dark.
Jay was in bed.
Facing away.
Pretending to sleep.
He knew she wasn't.
He lay down.
On his side.
Far from her.
Didn't touch.
Didn't speak.
Just lay there.
Staring at the ceiling.
The distance between them—
Felt like miles.
---
Morning
Sunlight streamed through the curtains.
Keifer woke.
Alone.
Jay was gone.
He sat up.
Panic rising.
Then he heard it.
Movement.
In the bathroom.
He waited.
She came out.
Dressed.
Ready to leave.
Didn't look at him.
"Jay."
She paused.
Didn't turn.
"I have work."
"I'll be late."
"Jay, please—"
She walked out.
The door closed.
He sat there.
Alone.
Confused.
Heart hurting.
---
The Day
He tried calling.
She didn't answer.
Texted.
No response.
He went to ELVIOLN.
Her assistant said she was busy.
In meetings.
Can't be disturbed.
He waited.
Hours.
Nothing.
He went home.
Alone.
Miserable.
What had he done?
---
Evening – She Returns
The door opened.
Jay walked in.
Tired.
Drawn.
But still avoiding his eyes.
Keifer stood.
"Jay."
She walked past him.
Toward the stairs.
"Jay, please."
"Talk to me."
She stopped.
On the stairs.
Didn't turn.
"What?"
He walked closer.
Stopped at the bottom.
Looking up at her.
"I'm sorry."
She said nothing.
"For whatever I did."
"I'm sorry."
"For smoking?"
"I don't know why you're upset."
"But I'm sorry."
She finally turned.
Looked at him.
Her eyes were red.
Had she been crying?
"Keifer."
"Yes?"
"You don't know why I'm upset?"
"No."
"Then let me explain."
She walked down.
Stood in front of him.
Close.
But not touching.
"My father."
"Not my real father."
"My mother's husband."
"He smoked."
"All the time."
"The house always smelled."
"He was mean."
"He was violent."
"He hurt my mother."
"He hurt me."
Keifer's heart stopped.
"Jay—"
"Every time I smell smoke—"
"I remember."
"I remember the fear."
"The pain."
"The helplessness."
She looked at him.
Tears falling now.
"When I smelled it on you—"
"It wasn't about the smoking."
"It was about what it represents."
"What it brings back."
"I know you're not him."
"I know you'd never hurt me."
"But the smell—"
"It doesn't know the difference."
He reached for her.
She let him.
Pulled her close.
Held her tight.
"I'm sorry."
"I didn't know."
"I'm so sorry."
She cried into his chest.
"Heard you."
"I'm sorry too."
"For not explaining."
"For avoiding you."
He held her tighter.
"Don't apologize."
"This is on me."
"I should have known."
"Should have asked."
She looked up.
Red eyes.
Wet cheeks.
"Keifer."
"Yes, baby?"
"My husband is important to me."
"The most important."
"Please—"
"Please don't smoke."
"Please."
He kissed her forehead.
Her tears.
Her nose.
Her lips.
"Never again."
"I promise."
"Never."
She hugged him.
Tight.
Face in his chest.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"More than anything."
"More than everything."
He held her.
Rocked her.
Whispered.
"No more smoke."
"No more triggers."
"No more pain."
"Just us."
"Just love."
"Forever."
She nodded.
Against his chest.
"Forever."
---
That Night
They sat on the couch.
Together.
Tangled.
Her in his lap.
His arms around her.
No words.
Just presence.
Just love.
She traced patterns on his chest.
"Keifer?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry for avoiding you."
He kissed her head.
"Don't be."
"I understand now."
She looked up.
"You're not angry?"
"At you?"
"Never."
"At myself?"
"For hurting you?"
"Yes."
She touched his face.
"You didn't know."
"Now you do."
"That's what matters."
He nodded.
"Now I do."
"And I'll never forget."
She smiled.
Small.
Warm.
"Good."
"Because I'm not sharing you with cigarettes."
He laughed.
Soft.
"Never."
"Only you."
"Always you."
She snuggled closer.
"Love you, hubby."
"Love you too, wifey."
"Forever?"
"Forever."
---
The End
(For now.)