The drive stretched longer than planned.
City lights slowly gave way to an unfamiliar highway, and by the time Jay checked the dashboard clock, it was already past ten.
Keifer pulled into a quiet roadside hotel.
Not luxury.
Just warm lights, glass doors, and a small restaurant still open.
"Food?" he asked.
Jay smiled.
"Desperately."
They took a corner table near the window.
Soft music.
Low voices.
A strange comfort in being unknown there.
For once, no boardrooms.
No surnames.
Just them.
Keifer stood up after ordering.
"Restroom. Don't steal my fries."
Jay lifted her glass.
"No promises."
He smirked and walked away.
Jay scrolled through her phone absentmindedly while waiting.
That was when a shadow fell across the table.
"Hey."
She looked up.
A man stood there.
Mid-thirties, maybe.
Too close.
Too confident.
"I saw you walk in alone," he said casually, resting his hand on the empty chair opposite her.
"You waiting for someone?"
Jay's chest tightened.
"Yes," she replied immediately.
Her voice was calm.
Her pulse wasn't.
He smiled.
"Oh. Good. Still… you don't mind a little company, right?"
She did.
Very much.
But years of being polite kicked in before fear could.
"I do mind," she said softly.
He chuckled, as if she had made a joke.
"Relax. Just dinner."
Her fingers curled around her phone under the table.
She was about to stand—
A familiar voice cut through the air.
"She's with me."
Low.
Controlled.
Not loud.
But final.
The man turned.
Keifer stood beside Jay.
Close.
Too close to be misunderstood.
One hand rested lightly on the back of her chair.
Not possessive.
Protective.
The man looked him over.
"Oh. Sorry, man. Didn't know."
Keifer didn't smile.
"You do now."
A pause.
Then the man lifted his hands slightly.
"All good."
And walked away.
Only when the space around them emptied did Jay breathe again.
Keifer turned to her instantly.
"You okay?"
She nodded.
A little too fast.
"…Yeah."
But her hands were still trembling.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
Without asking, he slid back into his chair.
Closer than before.
Not dramatically.
Just enough that his knee brushed hers under the table.
"You don't have to be polite when you're uncomfortable," he said quietly.
Jay looked at him.
"I know."
Then, even softer—
"I just forget sometimes."
Keifer's jaw tightened.
Not in anger.
In restraint.
"You won't have to," he said.
She frowned slightly.
"What?"
He held her eyes.
"When I'm around."
Not romantic.
Not declared.
Just—
a promise.
And for the first time that night, Jay's nervousness finally let go.
She smiled.
Small.
Safe.
With him sitting right there.