It started with a handshake.
A simple, polite, completely innocent handshake.
Jay was at a medical conference. Fundraiser, actually—one of those fancy events where rich people donated money and doctors smiled and pretended they enjoyed small talk.
She was good at it now. Not comfortable, but good. Keifer had taught her how to work a room without losing her soul.
"Dr. Mariano!" A man approached—tall, handsome, with the easy confidence of someone used to being noticed. "I've been hoping to meet you."
Jay shook his hand. "And you are?"
"Dr. Marcus Chen. I head the pediatric cardiology department at St. Luke's." His smile was warm. "I've read every paper you've published. Your work on neonatal cardiac reconstruction is revolutionary."
"Thank you."
"I mean it." He hadn't let go of her hand. "I actually have some ideas I'd love to run by you. Collaborate, maybe. Our departments could learn a lot from each other."
Jay's interest piqued despite herself. Collaboration meant better outcomes for patients. "I'm listening."
Marcus grinned. "Perfect. Can I get you a drink? We can talk somewhere quieter."
She nodded, already mentally cataloging how this partnership might work.
Neither noticed the man across the room whose jaw had tightened to stone.
Keifer hadn't planned to come.
Conferences weren't his thing. Too many people. Too much performative networking.
But Jay was speaking tomorrow, and he'd wanted to surprise her. Show up in the back row. Watch her be brilliant.
Instead, he walked in to find some stranger holding her hand. Touching her. Smiling at her like she was a prize.
And she was smiling back.
Not her real smile—he knew the difference now. But still. Smiling.
His blood ran cold.
"Uh oh." Percy appeared beside him, holding a plate of appetizers. "You've got the face."
"What face?"
"The 'someone's about to die' face. I've seen it on Aries. It's terrifying on you." Percy followed his gaze. "Oh. That's Dr. Chen. He's been trying to meet Jay for months. Very persistent."
Keifer's jaw tightened further.
"Not that she's interested," Percy added quickly. "She's just polite. And obsessed with collaboration. She'd collaborate with a cardboard cutout if it improved patient outcomes."
Keifer said nothing.
Just watched.
Marcus Chen leaned closer to Jay. Said something that made her nod thoughtfully. Touched her elbow to guide her toward the bar.
Keifer moved.
Jay was halfway through explaining her latest surgical technique when a familiar presence appeared beside her.
"Jay."
She turned. "Keifer? What are you doing here?"
"Surprising you." His voice was calm. Controlled. But his eyes—those sharp, dark eyes—were fixed on Marcus Chen with something that looked dangerously like a challenge. "Aren't you going to introduce me?"
Jay blinked. "Um. This is Dr. Marcus Chen. He heads cardiology at St. Luke's. Marcus, this is—"
"Mark Keifer Watson." Marcus extended his hand, seemingly unbothered by the ice in Keifer's stare. "I know who you are. Everyone knows who you are. The man who stole our best surgeon's heart."
Keifer shook his hand. Briefly. Firmly.
"Dr. Chen. I've heard about you."
"All good things, I hope."
"That depends on your definition of good."
An awkward pause.
Jay looked between them. "Keifer, we were just discussing a potential collaboration between our departments."
"How collaborative?"
"Professionally collaborative. Hospital stuff."
"Hm." Keifer's arm slid around her waist, possessive and deliberate. "I'm sure Dr. Chen understands boundaries."
Marcus's smile didn't waver. "Of course. Professional boundaries are essential." He looked at Jay. "We can continue this another time, Dr. Mariano. When your... escort isn't so protective."
He walked away.
Jay turned to Keifer. "What was that?"
"What was what?"
"That. The caveman act. The arm thing. The staring."
Keifer's jaw worked. "He was touching you."
"He shook my hand."
"For too long."
"Keifer, it was a handshake."
"He leaned close. He touched your elbow. He looked at you like—" Keifer stopped. Took a breath. Forced his shoulders to relax. "I'm sorry. That was... I don't know what that was."
Jay studied him. Really studied.
"You're jealous."
"I'm not."
"You're jealous. Of a handshake."
"I'm not jealous. I'm... aware. Of threats."
"Threats?" Jay almost laughed. "Marcus Chen is a colleague. A boring colleague who wants to talk about surgical techniques."
"He's handsome."
"Maybe. I didn't notice."
"You didn't notice?"
"I was too busy thinking about surgical techniques." She stepped closer, ignoring the eyes of every person in the room. "Keifer. Look at me."
He did.
"You're it for me. Remember? You said it first." She cupped his face. "I don't want Marcus Chen. I don't want anyone else. I want you. Annoying jealousy and all."
He searched her eyes. "Promise?"
"I don't make promises I can't keep. So yes. Promise."
He kissed her.
Right there. In front of everyone.
Someone cheered. Someone definitely took a photo.
Keifer didn't care.
The internet, of course, exploded.
KEIFER WATSON JEALOUS AT MEDICAL CONFERENCE
WATSON STAKES CLAIM ON SURGEON GIRLFRIEND
DR. MARCUS CHEN: THE MAN WHO MADE A BILLIONAIRE JEALOUS
Jay watching Keifer lose it over a handshake: 🍿
Percy's texts arrived in waves.
Percy: YOU'RE TRENDING AGAIN
Percy: JEALOUS KEIFER IS MY NEW FAVORITE KEIFER
Percy: MARCUS CHEN IS SO CONFUSED RIGHT NOW
Percy: HIS INTERVIEW JUST DROPPED—HE SAYS HE "MEANT NO DISRESPECT"
Percy: THIS IS BETTER THAN TV
Jay groaned.
Keifer, reading over her shoulder, smirked.
"Threats. I told you."
"You called a cardiologist a threat."
"He was."
"He wasn't."
"He was to my peace of mind."
Jay looked at him. Really looked. "You were really bothered."
"I was... adjusting."
"You were jealous."
"I was... protective."
"That's sweet." She kissed his cheek. "And unnecessary. But sweet."
He pulled her close. "I know you're not interested in anyone else. I know that logically." He paused. "But sometimes logic doesn't matter. Sometimes I just see someone touching you and I forget how to be reasonable."
Jay softened. "Keifer."
"I know it's not rational. I know you'd never—"
"I love you." She said it simply. Firmly. "Only you. Always you. Even when you're being an idiot."
"I'm not an idiot."
"You're my idiot."
He smiled. Slow. Real. "Yours."
"Always."
The next day, Jay gave her presentation.
Keifer sat in the back row, watching her command the room like she was born to it.
Marcus Chen sat three rows ahead. He didn't look back once.
Afterward, in the hallway, Marcus approached carefully.
"Dr. Mariano. I wanted to apologize if I overstepped last night."
Jay shook her head. "You didn't. My boyfriend is just... intense."
"He loves you." Marcus smiled. "It's obvious. The way he looked at you—that's not jealousy. That's devotion."
Jay blinked. "That's... surprisingly insightful."
"I'm a cardiologist. I know something about hearts." He nodded toward where Keifer waited, leaning against a wall, pretending to read his phone but clearly watching. "Take care of each other. It's rare, what you have."
He walked away.
Jay crossed to Keifer.
"What did he want?"
"To apologize. To tell me you love me." She took his hand. "To remind me that we're lucky."
Keifer looked at her. "We are."
"Yeah." She squeezed. "Now take me home. I'm tired of being watched."
"The whole world is watching."
"Then let's give them something to watch."
She kissed him.
Someone filmed it.
Neither cared.
That night, Percy sent a new screenshot.
Fan Account Post:
KEIFER WATSON IS THE GREEN-EYED MONARCH AND WE LOVE HIM FOR IT
Jay Mariano has that man in a CHOKEHOLD and he's HAPPY about it
Their love is so intense it's basically a medical condition
I want what they have minus the public scrutiny
Percy: You're a medical condition apparently
Jay: I'm blocking you
Percy: No you're not
Percy: You love me
Percy: I'm your favorite brother
Percy: Aries is boring
Percy: Also Keifer's jealous face is iconic
Percy: You should make him jealous more often
Percy: For content
Jay: Goodnight Percy
Percy: THAT'S NOT A NO
Jay turned off her phone.
Beside her, Keifer stirred. "Everything okay?"
"Percy wants me to make you jealous for content."
"Your brother is chaotic."
"Your brother attacked mine with a stick."
"Fair point." He pulled her closer. "No more making me jealous. My heart can't take it."
"Your heart is fine. You're thirty."
"I'm sensitive."
"You're ridiculous."
"Your ridiculous."
She smiled against his chest.
"Mine."