Chapter 43: Water Confessions & Wet Problems
Jay's POV
Cold water.
Warm rage.
Extremely hot embarrassment.
That was the temperature combination I was experiencing all at once.
Alex and I were splashing around like two chaotic kindergarteners when suddenly there was movement behind us — purposeful movement — also known as:
Keifer and Honey entering the water like a slow-motion movie trailer.
Honey: "Hey… mind if we join?"
Alex — who was literally mid-whirlpool splash — just froze, shirtless, hair dripping, eyes wide like a cat that just saw the prettiest laser pointer alive.
Alex: "H-Honey?"
Honey: "Yes, Alex?"
Alex forgot English for a sec. I swear his soul left his body, waved goodbye, and returned wearing a tux.
Honey swam closer to him.
Alex turned red.
Honey smirked.
Keifer glared.
I laughed.
Basically a typical Thursday.
I swam a little deeper into the water to cool my brain before my feelings caused global warming.
But of course… Mr. Watson had to follow.
This man follows me like guilt.
Keifer: "Jay."
Jay: "Yes?"
Keifer: "Did you enjoy the little show?"
Jay: "…What show?"
Keifer: "Alex touching your waist. You laughing at his jokes. You running into the water with him like it's a slow-motion romantic beach drama?"
Jay: "We were playing."
Keifer: "My heart wasn't."
Jay: "That sounds like a you problem."
He splashed water at me.
I splashed back.
He splashed harder.
My soul left my body.
Jay: "ARE YOU FIVE?!"
Keifer: "Only with you."
Great.
Now my heart is the one doing a gymnastics routine.
He swam closer, till the water around us rippled.
Keifer: "Jay… you looked beautiful. I mean— you always look beautiful but… today… it was unfair."
Jay: "Unfair?"
Keifer: "Yes. I was trying to breathe. You were trying to end me."
Jay: "So dramatic."
Keifer: "Only when it comes to you."
My brain: sir you cannot just say THAT
My heart: yes he can
My dignity: shut up both of you
I looked away, pretending the sky was interesting.
But then—
I heard a squeal.
Honey: "ALEX YOU CAN'T JUST SAY THAT!!"
Jay: "What did he say?!"
Honey: "NOTHING—"
Alex (turning redder than a tomato): "I said she looks… pretty… okay?? Pretty! Very pretty!! Like— stunning pretty— I— I'm shutting up now."
Honey froze.
Like literally stopped swimming.
Honey: "Alex… say it again."
Alex: "NO—"
Honey: "Say. It. Again."
Alex: "You're… pretty."
Honey: "And?"
Alex (dying): "Very… pretty."
Honey smiled.
THE Honey.
The stone-cold, business-grade ice queen.
I swear I saw fireworks underwater.
They drifted closer to each other — not touching, not romantic, just… soft. Shy. Warm.
And that's when Keifer leaned closer to me.
Keifer: "I guess our assistants have better communication than us."
Jay: "Well… everyone has better communication than us."
Keifer: "True."
Silence.
But the good kind.
The "we're finally talking without screaming" kind.
He looked at me, eyes softer than they should legally be.
Keifer: "Jay… I'm not going to pretend the past didn't hurt. But I swear… I'm not that boy anymore."
Jay: "Good. Because that boy ruined me."
Keifer: "I know."
Jay: "And hurt me."
Keifer: "I know."
Jay: "And didn't listen."
Keifer: "I know, Jay. I know. And I've been punishing myself for it for years."
I sighed — that heavy, watery kind of sigh that feels like your chest is cracking open.
Jay: "Keifer… I'm not ready."
Keifer: "Then I'll wait. Even if it kills me."
Jay: "Please don't die— I'm still responsible for your business partnership."
He laughed.
I hate when he laughs.
(It makes me want to forgive him faster.)
Keifer: "Then don't go running into the water with shirtless men."
Jay: "ALEX IS A TWIG—"
Keifer: "A twig with hands."
Jay: "OH MY GOD—"
He splashed me again.
I splashed him back.
He grabbed my wrist so I wouldn't run.
And for a second—
A tiny second—
It felt like old times.
---
We finally got out of the water.
Alex and Honey were walking… awkwardly close.
Like one wrong step and they'd be holding hands.
But I barely noticed because—
Keifer took off his jacket and threw it over my shoulders.
Jay: "HEY— I'm not cold—"
Keifer: "You don't need to be cold. It's windy."
Jay: "I can handle wind—"
Keifer: "You can't handle men staring at you."
Jay: "Excuse me???"
Keifer: "Three guys were checking you out. FOUR if you count that lifeguard."
Jay: "Lifeguard was checking Honey—"
Keifer: "NO. He was checking YOU— I saw him— don't argue—"
Jay: "Why are you scolding me?!"
Keifer: "Because you almost gave me a heart attack! Running around in THAT— with HIM— and laughing like I'm just a stranger—"
Jay: "You ARE—"
Keifer: "I'm TRYING not to be!"
Silence.
Again.
But not comfortable this time.
Keifer ran a hand through his wet hair and looked at me with that stupid soft expression again.
Keifer: "Just… please wear the jacket. For my sanity."
I didn't want to.
But he looked genuinely distressed.
(And okay, maybe a part of me liked it.)
So I sighed dramatically.
Jay: "Fine."
Keifer: "Thank you."
And his shoulders instantly relaxed.
Meanwhile Alex and Honey were 2 centimeters away from holding hands.
This trip was going to kill me.