Chapter Twenty-Nine: Engaged
The night of the engagement, the mansion finally fell quiet around two in the morning.
Guests had trickled out slowly—Percy being the last to leave, dragged away by a sleepy Honey with promises to "celebrate properly tomorrow." Keigan had disappeared to his room hours ago, overwhelmed by the chaos. Keiran had fallen asleep on Jay's lap during the party and hadn't stirred since.
Now Jay stood on the patio, alone, staring at the ring on her finger.
It was real.
She was engaged.
To Mark Keifer Watson.
The man who'd caught her when she fell. Who'd held her through nightmares. Who'd loved her brothers like his own. Who'd given her a family she never knew she needed.
"Hey."
She turned. Keifer stood in the doorway, tie loosened, shirt untucked, looking utterly wrecked and utterly beautiful.
"Hey yourself."
"Thought you'd gone to bed."
"Couldn't sleep." She held up her hand, letting the ring catch the moonlight. "Still processing."
He crossed to her, wrapping his arms around her from behind. "Good processing or bad processing?"
"The best processing." She leaned back into him. "I'm engaged."
"You're engaged."
"To you."
"To me." He kissed her neck. "How does it feel?"
"Like a dream."
"Good dream?"
"The best dream." She turned in his arms, facing him. "I love you, Mark Keifer Watson."
"I love you too, Jasper Jean Mariano-Watson soon-to-be."
"That's a mouthful."
"You're a mouthful."
She laughed, smacking his chest. "Smooth."
"Only for you."
---
He kissed her.
Slow at first. Gentle. Reverent.
Then deeper. Hungrier. The kind of kiss that said you're mine and finally and forever starts now.
Her hands tangled in his hair. His gripped her hips, pulling her closer.
"Jay." His voice was rough. "I want—"
"Me too."
"Are you sure?"
"Keif. I've never been more sure of anything."
He lifted her effortlessly. She wrapped her legs around his waist.
"Bedroom?" he asked.
"Bedroom."
---
They didn't make it to the bedroom.
Or rather, they did—eventually. But not before the living room couch, the hallway wall, and the staircase landing.
By the time they finally collapsed into his bed, both breathless and laughing, the sun was threatening to rise.
"That was—" Jay gasped.
"Incredible?"
"Insane."
"The best kind of insane."
She rolled on top of him, looking down at his flushed face, his kiss-swollen lips, his eyes full of love.
"I love you," she said. "I love you so much it scares me."
"Don't be scared." He brushed hair from her face. "I've got you. Always."
"Promise?"
"Promise until the end of the universe."
She kissed him softly. "That's a long time."
"Not long enough."
---
They lay tangled together as the sky lightened.
"We should sleep," she murmured.
"Probably."
"Keiran will be up in a few hours."
"He'll survive."
"He'll want to see the ring again."
"He can see it tomorrow. Today, you're mine."
She smiled against his chest. "I'm always yours."
"Good." He kissed her hair. "Now sleep, fiancée."
"Sleep, fiancé."
---
Three hours later, Keiran burst in.
"MAMMA! PAPPA! WAKE UP! IT'S MORNING! SHOW RING AGAIN!"
Jay groaned. Keifer buried his face in the pillow.
"Five more minutes," he mumbled.
"NO! RING NOW!"
Keiran launched himself onto the bed, landing between them with the force of a tiny missile.
Jay caught him, laughing. "Okay, okay. Ring."
She held up her hand.
Keiran examined it seriously. "Still sparkly. Good."
"Glad it meets your approval."
He nodded. "Now breakfast. I want pancakes. With sprinkles."
"Of course you do."
Keifer emerged from the pillow, looking wrecked but happy. "We're engaged and we're still making pancakes with sprinkles."
"Welcome to parenthood."
He kissed her cheek. "Best job I ever had."
---
Breakfast was chaos, as always.
Keiran demanded pancakes and waffles and "the sparkly ring on the table so I can see while I eat."
Keigan wandered in halfway through, took one look at them, and said, "You two look terrible. Did you sleep at all?"
"No," Jay said cheerfully.
"TMI. So much TMI."
"Welcome to having siblings."
Keigan grabbed food and fled.
Keiran looked up. "What's TMI?"
"Nothing, baby. Eat your pancakes."
---
The day passed in a blur of phone calls and congratulations.
Tita Gemma called seven times. "The wedding! We must plan! Colors! Flowers! Guest list!"
Tito Rachel called once. "Good choice. He passed the wine test."
Kuya Angelo sent a single text: Congrats. Hurt him and you answer to me.
Percy sent approximately eight hundred messages, ranging from BABY SISTA ENGAGED to CAN I BE BEST MAN to HONEY SAYS I HAVE TO ASK NICELY to HONEY NICELY ASKS CAN I BE BEST MAN.
C.N. sent: Finally. Took him long enough.
David: Wedding party? I call DJ.
Felix: Happy for you both. Really happy.
Bridget: He's good for you. You're good for him. Perfect match.
Ella: Engagement party next weekend. Non-negotiable.
Rakii: I'm doing the photos. No arguments.
Mica: BACHELORETTE PARTY. I HAVE IDEAS.
Freya: Mica's ideas are terrifying. I'll help rein her in.
Honey: So so so happy for you both!
Yuri sent a video compilation of the proposal with dramatic music. It had forty thousand views already.
---
By evening, they were exhausted but happy.
Keiran was bathed and tucked in (with the ring on the nightstand so he could see it while he slept). Keigan had retreated to his room. The mansion was quiet.
Jay and Keifer sat on the patio, watching the sunset.
"Today was perfect," she said.
"Yesterday was perfect. Today was perfect. Tomorrow will be perfect." He kissed her hand. "Every day with you is perfect."
"You're cheesy."
"Your cheesy."
She laughed. "Yeah. Mine."
He pulled her close. "I can't wait to marry you."
"I can't wait to marry you too."
"How soon is too soon?"
"Keif—"
"I'm serious. Tomorrow? Next week? Next month?"
"Tita Gemma would kill us if we didn't let her plan."
"Tita Gemma can plan. But soon. Please."
She looked at him—this man who'd become her whole world.
"Soon," she promised. "But not too soon. I want to enjoy being engaged."
"Fair enough." He kissed her. "But not too long."
"Deal."
---
That night, they made love again.
Slower this time. Sweeter. With the knowledge that this was forever, that every touch was a promise, that every kiss was a vow.
Afterward, lying tangled together, Jay traced patterns on his chest.
"Keif?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm glad I fainted on that sidewalk."
He laughed softly. "I'm glad you did too."
"Best mistake I ever made."
"Best catch I ever made." He kissed her forehead. "I love you, fiancée."
"I love you too, fiancé. Forever."
"Forever and ever."
"And ever."
They slept.
And the night held them close.
---
End of Chapter Twenty-Nine