The First Real Date
Keifer was waiting outside Jay's house, dressed sharp but casual—jeans, a fitted shirt slightly unbuttoned at the collar, hair perfectly tousled like he'd just stepped out of a music video. Jay's heart flipped before she even opened the door.
"Ready?" he asked, offering his arm with that signature smirk.
She hooked her arm through his, biting back a smile. "Lead the way, Mr. Watson."
They arrived at a rooftop restaurant with twinkling fairy lights and a view of the city skyline glowing under the stars.
"Thought this would be nice," Keifer said, pulling out her chair with a gentleman's flair.
Jay's eyes sparkled. "Nice? It's amazing."
The waiter handed them menus, but Jay barely glanced down. Instead, she caught Keifer's eyes, already burning with mischief.
"So," she teased, "now that we're 'official,' what's the first thing a guy like you does on a date?"
He leaned in, voice low. "Depends. Could be stealing a kiss before the appetizer."
Jay's laugh was soft but daring. "Is that a challenge?"
Keifer's grin deepened. "It's a promise."
As they ordered, their hands brushed repeatedly across the table, each touch lingering longer than the last. Jay fought the urge to lean closer, to close the tiny gap between them.
When the food arrived, they shared bites—Jay feeding him noodles, Keifer pretending to be offended by how slow she ate, then stealing a fry off her plate when she wasn't looking.
Between courses, Keifer's hand found Jay's beneath the table, fingers entwining. She squeezed gently, heart racing.
"Tell me," he murmured, eyes locked on hers, "have you fallen for me yet?"
Jay's cheeks flushed. "Maybe a little."
He chuckled, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "Good. Because I'm nowhere near done."
Later, when the waiter left them alone, Keifer's hand slid up Jay's arm, sending a shiver down her spine.
"Is it too soon to say I want to keep you like this forever?"
Jay smiled, breathless. "Keep trying, Watson. You might get lucky."
He dipped his head, lips grazing her jaw. "Challenge accepted."
The night ended with a kiss under the stars—sweet, teasing, and just spicy enough to promise this was only the beginning.