KEIFER'S POV — WHEN MORNING TELLS THE TRUTH
I woke up because I couldn't breathe.
Not in a bad way.
In a Jay way.
Her arms were wrapped around my torso, tight and instinctive, like she'd decided sometime in the night that I was solid ground and refused to let go.
One leg was slung over mine, her forehead tucked against my chest, breath warm and even.
For a second, I didn't move.
Didn't think.
I just… existed in it.
Her grip tightened slightly when I shifted, a soft sound leaving her throat—sleepy, content. She pressed closer, nose nudging into my shirt like she knew exactly where she was meant to be.
And yeah.
I loved it.
I hated how much I loved it.
I stared at the ceiling, jaw tight, heart doing something stupid and traitorous in my chest. This—this quiet, unguarded trust—was worse than the kiss. Worse than the flirting. Worse than the temptation.
Because she wasn't trying to take anything from me.
She was just holding on.
Carefully, slowly, I eased her arms loose. She frowned in her sleep, murmuring something unintelligible, but didn't wake.
I slid out of bed, pulled the blanket back around her shoulders, and stood there a moment longer than necessary.
She rolled onto her side.
Still facing me.
Of course.
I exhaled, rubbed a hand over my face, and went to freshen up—cold water, steady breathing, control reassembled piece by piece. By the time I headed downstairs, I had the mask back on.
Mostly.
The house was quiet in that early-morning-after way—soft light through the windows, the smell of leftover alcohol and something fried lingering in the air.
Cin was sprawled on the couch, one arm hanging dramatically over the edge like he'd fought a war in his sleep.
Felix was on the floor, using a throw pillow as a blanket. Rory sat at the table, head in his hands, groaning softly. Edrix leaned against the counter, scrolling through his phone with the dead-eyed calm of someone who remembered everything.
David was at the sink, already rinsing mugs like the responsible one he pretended not to be.
Cin cracked an eye open. "If this is hell, it's… underwhelming."
Felix groaned. "Why is the sun yelling?"
David glanced over his shoulder. "Morning."
Edrix looked up. "She okay?"
I paused for half a beat. "Yeah."
That was enough.
Rory lifted his head. "Good party," he muttered.
Cin sat up, rubbing his face. "Define 'good.'"
Felix blinked at me. "Bro. You look… composed."
Cin squinted. "Suspiciously composed."
I grabbed a mug, poured coffee, kept my voice even. "Hydrate. Eat something. Clean up before you leave."
Cin stared. "You sound like a dad."
"Traumatized dad," Felix added.
David smirked faintly. "She wake up yet?"
I shook my head. "Let her sleep."
No one argued.
They all knew better.
I leaned against the counter, coffee warm in my hands, and let the normalcy settle—friends half-awake, jokes low, the aftermath manageable.
Upstairs, Jay slept.
Down here, control was back in place.
But the truth lingered anyway—
Because when she woke up, she'd either remember nothing…
Or just enough.
And either way—
Nothing was going back to the way it was before.
KEIFER'S POV — WHEN HABIT BETRAYS HER
We were halfway through our second cups when it happened.
Soft footsteps on the stairs.
Slow. Careless. Familiar.
I looked up instinctively.
Jay appeared at the top step wearing my hoodie—nothing else visible but bare legs and sleep-mussed hair falling into her face.
Her eyes were half-closed, expression pinched in pure suffering, one hand pressed dramatically to her temple.
She didn't look at anyone.
Didn't clock the room.
Didn't clock me.
She walked straight past the last step, beelined for the couch, and collapsed onto it face-first like gravity had personally betrayed her.
Then she shouted—
"TITAAAAAA—GEMMMAAAAA"
Every head snapped toward her.
"—give me coffee or I'm actually going to die of this fucking headache."
Silence.
Absolute.
Weaponized.
Cin's mouth dropped open.
Felix slowly turned his head toward me. "Oh."
Rory choked on his drink.
Edrix's brows shot up. David froze mid-sip.
Jay groaned into the couch cushion. "Why does the world hate sound? Who invented light? Alcohol is a scam. I'm suing everyone."
Cin leaned forward, stage whispering, "She calls you tita now?"
Felix smirked. "Bro what did you do to her?"
Jay lifted her head just enough to squint at the room.
Confusion crossed her face.
Then realization.
Her eyes widened.
"Oh," she said flatly. "This is… not my house."
Cin burst out laughing.
Felix actually applauded.
David covered his mouth, shoulders shaking.
Jay turned her head slowly.
Locked eyes with me.
Still holding her skull like it might split.
"…Keifer?"
I shrugged, already standing. "Morning."
She blinked once.
Twice.
Then dropped her face back into the cushion. "Kill me."
Cin lost it. "I KNEW IT."
Felix grinned. "Man said 'let her sleep' like a monk."
I ignored them and went to the counter, pouring coffee the way she liked it—no sugar, a little milk, strong enough to resurrect the dead.
Jay groaned again. "If someone doesn't hand me caffeine in the next ten seconds I'm going to scream."
I stepped in front of her and held the mug out.
She accepted it immediately without looking.
Took a sip.
Paused.
Then sighed like she'd just been granted a second life.
"Oh thank God," she muttered. "You're forgiven."
"For what?" I asked.
She squinted up at me. "…I'll circle back."
Cin wiped tears from his eyes. "So. Hoodie. Coffee. Headache. Care to explain?"
Jay finally looked down at herself.
The hoodie.
Her bare legs.
She glanced back at me.
Then at the room.
Her expression went from hungover misery to sharp realization in three seconds flat.
"…Did I—" she started.
I cut in smoothly. "You passed out. I made sure you didn't die."
She studied my face.
Then nodded once. "Respect."
Felix cackled. "That's all it takes?"
Jay leaned back into the couch, sipping carefully. "You all talk too much."
Cin leaned over the backrest. "You kissed him, didn't you."
She froze.
Very slowly.
She looked at me.
I met her gaze.
Didn't give anything away.
Her eyes narrowed.
"…Did I?"
I took a sip of my coffee. "Drink your coffee."
Cin screamed.
Felix fell off his chair.
David just shook his head, smiling.
Jay buried her face in the hoodie sleeve and groaned. "I hate all of you."
But she didn't move away.
And she didn't give the hoodie back.
And somehow—
That told me everything....