Chapter 10: The Girl Who Let Go
Jay hadn't expected company when she stepped out onto the balcony that morning.
She was wearing an oversized hoodie, her cast itched like hell, and she had a mug of overly sweetened tea Keifer made her before heading out for errands.
And yet—there Ella was. Sitting on the porch swing, legs crossed, sunglasses on, sipping her iced coffee like she lived there.
Jay blinked. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Ella looked over, amused. "Good morning to you, too."
"I mean—how did you even—"
"I brought Percy his favorite protein bars and Aries let me in. Chill. I'm not here to stage a dramatic ex scene."
Jay stepped back warily. "Then what are you here for?"
Ella smiled. "To talk. As a woman. As a survivor. As someone who once dated Keifer Watson and lived to tell the tale."
Jay narrowed her eyes. "I'm not dating him."
Ella laughed once. "You keep saying that like someone's asking."
Jay sank onto the chair across from her, cradling her tea. "Then what do you want?"
"To say... I get it."
Jay looked at her, confused.
Ella set her coffee down gently. "I saw how he looked at you after the accident. Hell, I saw how he was pacing the hospital hallway when I dropped off snacks for Aries. His hands were shaking, Jay."
Jay stayed quiet.
Ella leaned forward. "He was never like that with me."
Jay blinked. "Ella—"
"I'm not bitter," she said with a shrug. "We were a thing. He was distracted. I thought I could be the distraction. It didn't work."
Jay didn't know what to say. She expected tension. Jealousy. Sass. Not... this.
"I know what it's like to hate someone so much you want to punch them and kiss them in the same breath," Ella continued, smiling faintly. "You don't look at him like he's your enemy anymore, Jay."
Jay looked down at her cast. "I don't know how I look at him anymore."
Ella stood up, dusted her jeans off. "Like he's the one thing you're scared to want."
Jay swallowed.
Ella walked to the door, then paused, turning to look over her shoulder.
"Just... don't waste time pretending you hate someone when your heart already knows the truth," she said softly. "Take it from someone who figured it out too late."
And then she was gone.
Later That Day – Couch Forts and Cast Scribbles
Jay sat on the floor, surrounded by throw pillows and snacks, trying to stretch without hurting herself.
"You look like a broken burrito," Keifer said, appearing in the doorway.
"Wow. So sweet. So supportive."
He plopped beside her. "Want me to sign your cast yet?"
Jay smirked. "If you draw anything ugly, I swear—"
He picked up the marker and leaned in, holding her wrist gently.
She expected a joke.
Instead, he wrote:
"You don't have to fight alone."
Her breath caught.
"You okay?" he asked, watching her face.
Jay looked up at him.
"Ella came by today."
Keifer stilled. "What?"
"She's... team Jayfer now."
He blinked. "That's not a real word."
Jay smiled. "Shut up. It's our ship name."
He grinned. "Well, then. Team Jayfer. I like that."
Jay looked at the words he'd written.
And for the first time... she didn't feel like pushing him away.
She just whispered, "Thank you."
He didn't say anything back.
Just gently pressed his lips to her temple.
Soft.
Warm.
Like a beginning.