Jay POV
For the first time in days...
I woke up peacefully.
No screams.
No cold hospital walls.
No nightmares.
No fear.
Just the sound of ocean waves crashing against the shore.
The soft morning breeze drifted through the room, carrying the scent of salt and the sea.
I stayed still.
Listening.
Breathing.
Feeling.
Nobody was trying to control me.
Nobody was pulling me to their side.
Nobody was asking me to choose anything.
For the first time in what felt like forever...
I felt free.
Safe.
Comfortable.
I smiled and snuggled deeper into whatever I was resting against.
Wait.
This wasn't a pillow.
Slowly opening one eye, I realized I was leaning against Keifer.
My eyes widened.
Then immediately closed again.
Nope.
Too early.
I wasn't moving.
Instead, I scooted even closer and wrapped my arms around his waist.
The moment I moved, a familiar voice spoke above me.
"Good morning, wifey."
I groaned.
"Don't call me that."
"Why not?"
"Because it's embarrassing."
I could practically hear the grin in his voice.
"Good morning, wifey."
"Keifer."
"Yes, wifey?"
I opened my eyes and glared at him.
He looked far too pleased with himself.
Then he laughed.
And unfortunately...
His laugh was contagious.
So I started laughing too.
A few moments later, I sat up properly.
And that's when I noticed it.
The slight stiffness in his shoulders.
The tiredness in his eyes.
The way he stretched his neck.
I narrowed my eyes.
Suspicious.
Very suspicious.
"Wait."
"What?"
"You stayed like that all night."
"No."
"Keifer."
"No."
"Keifer."
"Maybe."
"I knew it!"
He laughed.
"It's not a big deal."
"It is a big deal."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
We stared at each other.
Then both burst out laughing.
The laughter slowly faded.
Then I looked at him again.
The guilt slowly settled in my chest.
"You really stayed awake, didn't you?"
His expression softened.
"Jay."
"You didn't have to."
"I know."
"Then why?"
For a moment, he simply looked at me.
Then he gently ruffled my hair.
"Because you looked peaceful."
My heart squeezed.
"Keifer..."
He shrugged.
"I like it when you're comfortable."
Then he poked my stomach lightly.
"And I know somebody is hungry."
I immediately covered my stomach.
"Traitor."
"It agrees with me."
"My stomach is on your side."
"It has good taste."
A few minutes later.
"Go take a shower."
"No."
"Jay."
"No."
"Jay."
"No."
"Jay."
"No."
"You literally have sand in your hair."
"It's decoration."
"Get up."
I immediately wrapped myself around the blanket.
"I live here now."
Keifer sighed dramatically.
Then before I could react—
He picked me up.
"KEIFER!"
"Nope."
"PUT ME DOWN!"
"Nope."
A minute later I found myself standing in front of the bathroom.
The door closed.
And Keifer's voice came from outside.
"Five minutes."
"You're mean!"
"I know."
After my shower, I opened the door.
The oversized black shirt I borrowed from Keifer almost swallowed me whole.
The sleeves covered half my hands.
The collar slipped slightly.
My damp hair rested against my shoulders.
The moment Keifer looked up—
He froze.
For exactly three seconds.
Then he grinned.
Uh oh.
Danger.
"What?"
He stood up slowly.
"My shirt looks better on you than it does on me."
My face immediately warmed.
"Shut up."
"Aww."
"Keifer."
"Are you blushing?"
"No."
"Terrible liar."
I threw a pillow at him.
He caught it.
Still laughing.
Then he suddenly pointed toward the chair.
"Sit."
"Why?"
"Your hair is dripping everywhere."
I sat down.
A second later a towel landed on my head.
"Hey!"
"Stay still."
He gently rubbed my hair dry.
Not roughly.
Carefully.
Patiently.
After that he picked up a hair dryer.
Warm air flowed through my hair.
The ocean breeze entered through the window.
The room felt peaceful.
Comfortable.
Safe.
Then he picked up a comb.
I blinked.
"You know how to do that?"
"A little."
"A little?"
"Don't question the professional."
I laughed.
"Professional?"
"Absolutely."
He slowly combed through my hair.
Careful not to pull.
Careful not to hurt.
Then he made a simple braid.
I stared at him in the mirror.
"How do you know how to do all this?"
For a second he went quiet.
Then smiled softly.
"I used to do it for my mom."
The room became silent.
Then I smiled.
"You're a really beautiful person, Keifer."
He immediately groaned.
"Don't spread rumors."
"I'm serious."
"Please stop."
"You'll be a really good dad one day."
He froze.
Completely froze.
Then looked away.
Embarrassed.
I laughed.
"Oh my God."
"Don't."
"You're embarrassed."
"Jay."
"You're embarrassed!"
The smell reached us.
Pancakes.
Honey.
Butter.
Mangoes.
My eyes widened.
"Food."
And just like that I disappeared.
The kitchen looked amazing.
Honey pancakes.
Custard.
Butter.
Fresh mango juice.
Fruit.
Everything.
I took one bite.
Then another.
Then another.
My eyes widened.
"This is the best thing I have ever eaten."
Keifer folded his arms proudly.
"As expected."
"You're showing off."
"I deserve to."
"No."
"Yes."
The entire afternoon was spent watching movies.
Wrapped in blankets.
Arguing over snacks.
And laughing.
At one point I looked at Keifer.
A very dangerous idea entering my head.
He immediately noticed.
"No."
"You don't even know what it is."
"No."
Five minutes later...
He had two tiny ponytails on top of his head.
A blanket wrapped around his shoulders.
And a pillow crown.
I proudly stood in front of him.
"There."
"This is humiliation."
"No."
"It is."
"No."
I pointed dramatically.
"You are now my beautiful queen."
He stared at me.
Then looked around.
Then back at me.
"I'm taller than you."
"Not important."
"I'm stronger than you."
"Not important."
"I can literally carry you."
"Not important."
He sighed.
Then pointed at himself.
"So I'm the queen?"
"Yes."
I nodded proudly.
"The prettiest queen."
He looked offended.
Then laughed.
And honestly...
It was worth it.
For the first time in days...
Neither of us thought about fear.
Or hospitals.
Or enemies.
Or nightmares.
Just the ocean.
The laughter.
And peace.
For now.
End of chapter 17
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