The sun crept through the flowing curtains.
Warm light. Ocean sounds. Perfect peace.
Jay was wrapped in something warm. Something solid. Something that made it hard to move.
She tried to push it away.
A low groan.
Keifer: "Mm..."
Jay: "Keifer..."
Keifer: "Hmm?"
Jay: "Cook... food..."
Keifer: "Yes, wife. I'll cook."
Wife?
Jay smiled sleepily. Still half-dreaming. In her dream, they were married. Nothing wrong with enjoying the moment.
"Food..." she murmured.
The arms around her tightened.
Keifer: "What does my wife want?"
Jay: "Anything. Hungry."
Keifer: "Anything for my wife."
She felt something soft on her forehead. His lips.
Keifer: "For my wife and our baby."
Baby?
Oh. This was a next-level dream.
Jay: "Baby wants ice cream."
Keifer: "Is it the baby or the mommy?"
Jay: "Both."
She heard his soft laugh. This dream was perfect. No Keizer. No drama. No stress. Just them.
"Keifer..." she called again.
No answer.
"Keifer..."
Still nothing.
Sadness crept in. The dream was ending. She didn't want to go back to reality yet.
She tried to move. The person beside her stirred.
Keifer: "Wife..."
Jay: "Mm?"
Keifer: "Who's Keifer?"
Jay: "You."
Silence.
The dream was fading.
No. Not yet.
She reached out. Wrapped her arms around him. Hoping to hold onto this happiness a little longer.
Keifer: "Shh..."
His lips on her forehead. Her nose. Warm. Gentle.
Jay: "I don't want to wake up. I want to stay here."
Keifer: "Then stay here. Stay with me."
She smiled. Even in her dream, he wanted her to stay.
Jay: "Okay."
His lips again. From her nose to the corner of her mouth.
Keifer: "I love you."
His lips pressed against hers. Soft. Sweet.
Keifer: "Until the end of the universe."
Jay: "Food first."
He laughed.
Then—
Her stomach growled. Loud. Real.
Jay's eyes snapped open.
Oh no.
Oh no no no.
That wasn't a dream.
The soft thing was his LIPS. He KISSED her. She called him HUBBY. She talked about a BABY.
Jay wanted to drown herself in the ocean.
Keifer was still beside her. Eyes closed. Peaceful. Handsome jerk.
His nose was perfect. Sharp. Annoyingly perfect.
Jay's eyes narrowed.
She raised her hand. Slow. Careful. Aimed at his nose.
Flick.
Keifer: "Ow."
Jay pretended to be asleep.
Keifer: "Wife. I know it's you."
She didn't move.
Keifer: "Still asleep, huh?" His voice was amused. "You'll never know what I'm about to do."
Jay's eyes stayed closed.
She felt his breath on her lips.
Keifer: "Keep sleeping."
This jerk.
He was going to kiss her again. On purpose. To make her react.
If she opened her eyes, he'd know she flicked him.
If she didn't—
His lips got closer.
Keifer: "Keep—"
Jay: "YOU JERK!"
Her eyes flew open. His face was inches away. Grinning.
Keifer: "Good morning, wife."
Jay: "Let go of me!"
Keifer: "What's wrong, wife?"
Jay: "I'm not your wife!"
Keifer: "You called me husband. Multiple times. Asked for food. Talked about our baby."
Jay's face burned. "THAT WAS A DREAM!"
Keifer: "Was it?"
Jay: "YES!"
Keifer: "Then why are you blushing?"
Jay: "I'M NOT BLUSHING!"
Keifer: "Your ears are red."
Jay: "THAT'S—SUN—FROM THE—"
Keifer: "We're inside."
Jay: "INDOOR SUN!"
Keifer laughed. That low, warm laugh.
Jay: "You're so annoying!"
Keifer: "I'm your husband."
Jay: "Husband? I'll husband-slam you right now!"
Keifer: "Just one more time. Say it."
Jay: "NEVER!"
Keifer: "I won't cook breakfast."
Jay: "THAT'S BLACKMAIL!"
Keifer: "That's negotiation."
Jay: "You're impossible!"
Keifer: "Say it."
They stared at each other.
Jay's stomach growled. Loud.
Keifer raised an eyebrow.
Jay: "...Fine."
She took a breath.
Jay: "Husband."
Keifer's face changed. His ears went red. His neck went red. He bit his lip.
Then he buried his face in her neck.
Jay: "Hey—"
He stayed there. Breathing. Warm. Flustered.
Jay peeked at his ears. Bright red.
Jay: "Keifer?"
He didn't move.
She saw his neck. Also red.
Jay: "Did you just—"
Keifer: "Shut up."
Jay: "Your ears are red."
Keifer: "They're not."
Jay: "They're VERY red."
Keifer: "I hate you."
Jay: "No, you don't."
Keifer: "...No, I don't."
He stayed there for another minute. Then stood abruptly. Walked to the kitchen without looking back.
His ears were still red.
Jay grinned.
She got up. Washed her face. Tied her hair.
Went downstairs.
Keifer was cooking. Back turned. Still slightly pink.
Jay sat at the counter. Watched him.
Jay: "Smells good."
Keifer: "Mm."
Jay: "Still blushing?"
Keifer: "I'm not blushing."
Jay: "Your neck is pink."
Keifer: "That's—heat—from the—stove."
Jay: "Sure."
He placed a plate in front of her. Perfect breakfast. Juice poured.
Keifer: "Eat, wife."
Jay: "Don't call me that."
Keifer: "You called me husband."
Jay: "Under DURESS."
Keifer: "You called me husband AND talked about our baby."
Jay: "I WILL END YOU."
Keifer sat across from her. Smiling. Happy. Hers.
Jay took a bite.
Jay: "...This is really good."
Keifer: "I know."
Jay: "Modest."
Keifer: "Honest."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "OUR thing."
Jay: "OUR thing."
He reached across. Took her hand.
Keifer: "I love you, Jay Watson."
Jay: "I love you too, Keifer Watson."
Keifer: "Even when you flick my nose?"
Jay: "Especially then."
Keifer: "Even when you call me husband and pretend it was a dream?"
Jay: "We're NOT talking about that."
Keifer: "Never?"
Jay: "Never."
He kissed her hand.
She smiled.
The ocean hummed outside.
Perfect.
🚨 🚨 NEW BOOK ALERT 🚨 🚨
Guys, I wrote a new book called When the Worlds Collide-Jayfer. Pls support me there too. Your support means a lot. Thank you so much!