Jay Jay adjusted the sleeves of her blazer for the tenth time, staring at her reflection. "This is a terrible idea."
Keifer, lounging on her couch with infuriating ease, smirked. "Relax, we're con artists now. Just sell the story."
She shot him a glare. "You mean lie to my family?"
He stretched lazily. "Lie, act, stretch the truth-whatever helps you sleep at night."
Jay Jay groaned. "They're going to see right through us."
Keifer stood, buttoning his shirtwith exaggerated precision. "Only if you keep looking like you're about to confess to a felony." He placed a dramatic hand over his heart. "Come on, we're madly, hopelessly in love."
She shoved his hand away. "You're enjoying this way too much."
He grinned. "And you're not enjoying it enough. Maybe if you stopped looking like you were marching to your own execution..."
"Keifer," she warned.
"Jay," he mimicked, his voice dripping with faux concern. "You have to believe the love. Feel the love." He waggled his eyebrows. "I could help with that, if you want. A few practice kisses-"
The cushion hit him square in the face.
At Jay Jay's Family Dinner
Jay Jay had endured plenty of awkward situations before-accidentally texting her professor instead of her friend, being caught sneaking snacks into a movie theater, even tripping in front of her entire school assembly.
But none of that compared to sitting across from her parents, lying through her teeth about being madly in love with Keifer.
Her mother crossed her arms, skepticism practically radiating off her. "You're dating?"
Jay Jay forced a bright, overly enthusiastic nod. "Yes! For a while now."
Her father, always the silent observer, leaned forward. "How long, exactly?"
Keifer, ever the troublemaker, lacedhis fingers through hers and sighed dreamily. "Six months. Best six months of my life."
Jay Jay's head snapped toward him. That was not what they had agreed on.
Her mother arched a brow. "Funny. Because six months ago, you were declaring men as 'a colossal waste of time.' And now you're in love?"
Jay Jay cleared her throat. "I... well, things change?"
Keifer smirked. "She fought it. Hard. Thought I was 'infuriating and arrogant.' Isn't that right, darling?"
Jay Jay clenched her jaw, resisting the urge to elbow him. "Yes. And somehow, against all logic, I-uh-fell in love."
Her father's expression remained impassive. "So, you annoyed her into dating you?"
Keifer sighed dramatically. "Yes. It was a challenge. She's stubborn. But I broke through. Didn't I, Jaybird?"
Jay Jay glared at him. "Oh, you broke something."
Her mother still didn't look convinced. "You two have never once acted like a couple. Not a hint."
Jay Jay scrambled. "We kept it quiet! Wanted to be sure before telling everyone."
Her father gave a long, considering look. "And now you're sure?"
Keifer squeezed her hand. "Oh, absolutely."
Jay Jay bit the inside of her cheek. If this man teased her one more time-
"Jay Jay's never been serious aboutanyone before," her mother pointed out. "Are you really in love with him?"
Jay Jay's pulse pounded. She'd known this was coming, but hearing it made her palms sweat.
Keifer turned to her, a challenge dancing in his eyes. "Go on, Jaybird. Tell them."
Jay Jay inhaled sharply. "I... love him."
Keifer's smirk deepened. "I love you too, snugglebug."
Jay Jay nearly choked. Snugglebug? Oh, he was going to die for this.
Her uncle, watching in amusement, snorted. "That was painful to witness."
Keifer laughed. "Yeah, she's terrible at grand romantic gestures. But don't worry, we'll work on it before the wedding."
The room went dead silent.
Keifer, still holding her hand, turned to her parents with a casual, almost bored smile. "Oh, we're engaged."
Her mother's jaw dropped. "Excuse me?!"
Jay Jay's breath hitched. What did he just say?
Her father's voice was dangerously quiet. "Engaged?"
Keifer nodded. "Yep. Just last week. It felt right."
Jay Jay was going to strangle him. Slowly.
Her mother clutched her forehead. "You didn't think to mention this sooner?"Jay Jay scrambled for a believable response. "We... we wanted to make sure first?"
Keifer grinned. "And now we're sure. So sure."
Her father's gaze darkened. "Do you have a ring?"
Keifer didn't even blink. "It's being resized. Jay Jay has delicate fingers." He lifted her hand and kissed it for emphasis.
Jay Jay definitely kicked him under the table that time.
Her mother exhaled sharply. "Jay, this is not something you just casually announce over dinner!"
Jay Jay latched onto that. "Yes! Exactly! That's what I said-"
Keifer cut her off with another handsqueeze. "We just wanted to be honest with you."
Her father studied them both. "You understand why we're skeptical, right?"
Keifer nodded solemnly. "Of course. This is a big step. But Jay Jay and I are a team. We've even started talking about kids."
Jay Jay whipped her head toward him. "WE WHAT?!"
Keifer turned to her with an innocent smile. "Oh, come on, Jaybird. Don't pretend you haven't thought about it. A little girl with your stubbornness? A boy with my charm?"
Jay Jay was going to combust.
Her mother looked ready to faint. "Kids?!"
Her father pinched the bridge of his nose. "We need to process this."
Jay Jay exhaled, relieved. "Take all the time you need. Lots of time."
Keifer leaned in, voice low enough for only her to hear. "You should see your face right now."
Jay Jay gritted her teeth. "I'm going to murder you."
Keifer smirked. "Not before our wedding, Jaybird."
Jay Jay shot up from her chair. "WELL. That was great. We should go now."
Keifer stood with her, his smirk never fading. "Oh, but we haven't even talked about venues yet. I was thinking a beach wedding-"
Jay Jay grabbed his wrist and yanked him toward the door. "Goodbye!"
Her parents watched them leave, still looking deeply suspicious.
Jay Jay stormed outside, barely waiting until they were out of earshot before hissing, "What the hell was that?!"
Keifer stretched lazily. "I was just getting into character."
"You announced our engagement!"
Keifer shrugged. "Would've been weird if I said we were just dating, don't you think? Parents love commitment."
Jay Jay groaned. "And the kids thing?!"
Keifer's grin widened. "You have to admit, that was funny."
Jay Jay glared. "I am going to end you."
Keifer draped an arm around her. "Not before we pick out our wedding cake."Jay Jay shoved him off. "You're impossible."
Keifer winked. "And you love it."
Jay Jay groaned. "I hate my life."
Keifer just smirked. "Don't worry, Jaybird. Soon, it'll be our life."
Jay Jay was going to need a very strong drink.
At Keifer's Family Brunch
If Jay Jay thought her family was bad, nothing could have prepared her for Keifer's.
Jay Jay smoothed down her dress as she and Keifer stood outside his family's massive estate. The mansion loomed over them, its grandeur doing nothing to ease her nerves.
"You ready, Jaybird?" Keifer smirked, slipping an arm around her waist. "I mean, of course you're ready. You're madly in love with me, after all."
Jay Jay shot him a glare. "Remind me why I agreed to this again?"
"Because you adore me. And because my father wouldn't trust anyone unless they could withstand a thorough interrogation." He winked. "Which, by the way, you're about to experience."
Before she could respond, the butler opened the door, ushering them inside. Keifer's father, Kenneth Watson, sat in a leather armchair, his sharp blue eyes scanning Jay Jay the moment she entered. His mother, Katherine, was perched elegantly on the couch, offering a warm but assessing smile.
Keifer's cousins, Jamie and Marshall, were lounging nearby. Jamie, flipping through a magazine, looked up with curiosity, while Marshall leanedagainst the wall, giving Jay Jay a friendly nod.
Keifer grinned, introducing the group.
"Dad, Mom, Jamie, Marshall-this is Jay Jay. Jay Jay, meet my father, Kenneth Watson, my mother, Katherine Watson, and my cousins Jamie and Marshall."
Jay Jay managed a polite smile, feeling the weight of their collective gaze. "It's lovely to meet you all," she said, trying to steady her nerves.
"Ah, finally," Kenneth said, setting down his newspaper. "So, this is the woman who has miraculously tamed my son."
Kenneth wasted no time. "Tell me, Miss Jay, what do you do?"
Jay Jay straightened. "I studied anthropology."
Kenneth's brow arched."Anthropology? And what exactly do you plan to do with that?"
Keifer immediately leaned forward, his grin widening. "Oh, Dad, she's planning on studying me. Apparently, I'm a fascinating case study."
Jay Jay elbowed him, shooting him a warning look before turning back to Kenneth. "Anthropology is the study of humans, cultures, and societies.
I'm interested in applying it to social development programs."
Kenneth nodded slowly. "Interesting. But, forgive me for saying so, it doesn't sound particularly lucrative."
Keifer let out a dramatic gasp. "Dad, you wound me! Is money the only thing that matters?"
Kenneth sighed. "Keifer, a career should be sustainable. I only ask because I want to understand whatkind of future you both envision."
Jay Jay hesitated, unsure how to navigate the conversation, but Keifer, as always, took the lead.
"Dad, not everything is about financial gain. Jay Jay is brilliant. She understands human behavior better than anyone. That's probably why she agreed to be with me in the first place." He smirked. "She saw potential."
Katherine chuckled. "Well, she must be exceptionally patient then."
Kenneth, however, remained skeptical. "Still, I have to wonder, how do you two complement each other? Keifer's work is business-centric, and yours is academic."
Keifer draped an arm around Jay Jay's shoulders. "Oh, it's perfect, really. I make deals, she analyzes people. She helps me understand humanmotivations, and I help her-"
"Regret every life choice that led me here," Jay Jay finished dryly, making Katherine laugh again.
Keifer clutched his chest. "Jaybird, that hurts."
Kenneth exhaled, his expression unreadable. "Tell me, Miss Jay, do you have a plan? An actual career trajectory?"
Jay Jay opened her mouth, but Keifer spoke first. "Of course she does! She's not some aimless dreamer, Dad. She's got a sharp mind, and she's ridiculously dedicated. Honestly, she's probably more driven than I am. You should've seen her in college-always buried in research, always one step ahead."
Jay Jay blinked, taken aback. She hadn't expected such a genuine defense from him-especially not in front of his father. Keifer was usually all jokes and mischief, but there was something firm in his voice, something unwavering. For the first time that evening, she felt a flicker of relief.
Maybe she wasn't alone in this.
Kenneth studied her, then Keifer. "I see."
Keifer grinned. "Do you, Dad? Because I can explain it again. Maybe with a PowerPoint?"
Jay Jay nudged him. "Don't push it."
Katherine finally spoke up. "Well, I think she's lovely." She turned to Jay Jay with an approving smile. "And anyone who can keep Keifer in line has my respect."
Jay Jay relaxed slightly. "Thank you, Mrs. Watson."
Kenneth sighed, rubbing his temple.
"Alright. I suppose I'll reserve further judgment. For now."
Keifer smirked. "Translation: He likes you."
Kenneth gave him a pointed look. "Don't push it."
Jay Jay bit back a laugh as Keifer gave her a triumphant wink. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. The tension in the room eased, and the mood lightened. As the conversation turned toward casual banter, the fire crackled in the background, adding a warm ambiance. Keifer's cousins, always eager for entertainment, lounged around with drinks in hand, waiting for their usual dose of Keifer's charm.And Keifer ever the performer, didn't disappoint.
"You guys ever hear the story of how Jay Jay and I fell madly in love?" he asked, leaning back with a smirk.
Jay Jay, who had been peacefully sipping her tea, nearly choked. She shot him a warning glance. "Keifer, don't-"
But it was too late.
Keifer let out a dramatic sigh, clasping his hands together. "Ah, it was fate, really. The moment I saw her, I knew she was the one. It was like the heavens parted, angels sang-"
Jay Jay groaned. "Oh my God."
His cousin Jamie snickered. "Wait, is this actually true?"
Keifer gasped, feigning heartbreak. "Of course, it's true! Jay Jay here was mesmerized by my charm. She couldn't resist."
Jay Jay folded her arms. "That's funny. I remember distinctly hating your guts the first time we met."
Keifer waved a dismissive hand.
"Details. See, what really happened was, she tripped-probably from being overwhelmed by my presence and I caught her in my arms, just like in the movies."
Jay Jay's eyes widened. "That NEVER happened."
His cousin Marshall leaned in, grinning. "Did she swoon?"
Keifer nodded solemnly. "Like a damsel in distress. She looked up at me, her big, beautiful eyes full of admiration, and whispered, 'Keifer, you're my hero."
Jay Jay snorted. "I think I actually called you an idiot."
Keifer sighed dramatically. "She fought her feelings at first, of course. But love... love always wins."
Jamie laughed. "Jay, is any of this true?"
Jay Jay shot Keifer a glare. "Not even remotely."
Keifer clutched his chest. "She's just embarrassed because she wrote poetry about me in her diary. Oh! And the love letters-pages and pages confessing her undying devotion!"
Jay Jay's jaw dropped. "WHAT love letters?!"
Keifer winked. "Don't worry, Jaybird. Your secret is safe with me."
The room erupted in laughter. Jay Jay groaned, covering her face. "I swear, Keifer, one day-"
He draped an arm around her, still grinning. "One day, you'll admit it. That you've been head over heels for me since day one."
Jay Jay sighed, shaking her head. "I hate you."
Keifer smirked. "Love you too, Jaybird."
She scoffed, but as he laughed, something in her chest softened.
Maybe, just maybe, He wasn't entirely unbearable.