Keifer POV
Then, just as my fingers brushed the edge of Jay's shirt—
"MA! PAPA!" Keth's voice rang out from the hallway.
We froze instantly, breaking apart like guilty teenagers caught sneaking around.
I groaned, dropping my forehead against hers. "Why does this always happen?"
Jay smirked, brushing her thumb across my cheek. "Because we have a son who thinks bedtime is optional."
I sighed, closing my eyes. "Optional for him, torture for us."
She leaned closer, whispering against my ear, "We will continue… but go and see what he wants."
I chuckled, brushing my hair back. "Fine. But when I come back, no interruptions."
"We will see," I said, smirking as I went to open the door.
"What are you doing here?" I asked when I saw Keth standing there, clutching his stuffed toy.
"Papa, I can't sleep," he said, walking straight past me into our room like he owned the place.
I went inside the room, glaring at him.
"Why is Papa looking at me like that?" Keth asked Jay, his voice small but curious.
"Because you are in my place," I said firmly.
Keth blinked, confused. "What place?"
I crossed my arms, leaning against the bed. "You're hugging her… and that's my place."
"NO, she is mine tonight — you had her for four years," I shot back, glaring at him like we were rivals in some epic battle.
Jay had enough. She burst out laughing, clutching her stomach as tears formed in her eyes.
"You two…" she managed between giggles, "are fighting over me like I'm a trophy."
Keth puffed his chest out. "Mama is a trophy! And I won her first!"
I groaned, dropping onto the bed beside them. "Bud, you didn't win her. I did. You just borrowed her for a while."
Jay laughed harder, shaking her head. "Borrowed? Really, Keifer?"
I smirked, leaning closer. "Yeah. Because at the end of the day, she's mine forever."
"MAMA!" Keth shouted, darting straight to Jay and wrapping his arms around her like he was claiming victory.
I froze, glaring at him. "Really, Keth? You're stealing her right in front of me?"
Jay laughed so hard she had to cover her mouth, her eyes sparkling.
Jay shook her head, bursting out with laughter. "Keifer, your jealousy of a four‑year‑old is ridiculous."
I groaned, throwing my hands up. "Ridiculous? Jay, he's literally stealing my spot. My hugs. My everything."
Keth peeked up from her arms, grinning like he'd won a championship. "Papa, you can sit on the other side. Mama's mine tonight."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Other side? That's exile. You're banishing me in my own bed."
Jay laughed harder, wiping tears from her eyes. "You sound like you're negotiating a peace treaty."
"Peace treaty?" I muttered, leaning closer. "This is war. And I'm losing."
Keth stuck his tongue out at me, triumphant. "Papa's jealous!"
I flopped back against the pillows, groaning dramatically. "Jealous? Of course I'm jealous. You've got my girl in your arms, and she's laughing at me instead of helping."
Jay kissed the top of Keth's head, still giggling. "You're hopeless."
"Hopeless, maybe," I muttered, glaring at the little traitor. "But tomorrow night, Mama's mine again. No negotiations."
Jay's laughter softened into a smile, her eyes sparkling. "You're impossible."
And as Keth snuggled deeper against her, I realized maybe being "impossible" was exactly what kept this family perfect.
"Come on, sleep," Jay whispered, her voice soft but firm.
I nodded, sliding onto the bed beside them. The mattress dipped under my weight, and instantly Keth clung tighter to her, as if he was guarding her from me.
I groaned quietly, turning onto my side. "Unbelievable. Even in sleep, he's still winning."
Jay chuckled, brushing her fingers through his hair. "He's just little, Keifer. Let him have this."
I muttered under my breath, "Little or not, he's stealing my spot."
Jay's laughter was hushed now, but her eyes sparkled in the dim light. "You'll survive. Besides…" she leaned closer, her lips brushing my ear, "…you'll get your turn when he's out cold."
That promise was enough to ease the sting.
I wrapped my arm around both of them, careful not to disturb Keth's grip, and let my eyes drift shut.
The next morning, I woke up to find Keth sprawled between us, his little arms wrapped around both me and Jay like he was the glue holding us together.
For a moment, I just lay there, staring at them.
Jay's hair was messy, her breathing soft and steady.
Keth's face was buried against her shoulder, but one hand clung to my shirt like he was afraid I'd slip away.
I kissed Keth's forehead, his little body warm against me. And just as I leaned in to kiss Jay's, her eyes fluttered open—so instead, I pressed my lips to hers.
She blinked, smiling faintly but teasing, "Keife, it's not even nine."
I grinned, brushing her hair back. "So what? There's no time limit on loving you."
Jay rolled her eyes, though her lips curved into a smile. "You're unbelievable."
"Unbelievable but yours," I whispered, tightening my arm around her waist.
Keth stirred between us, mumbling sleepily, "Papa… stop stealing Mama."
I groaned, dropping my forehead against Jay's shoulder. "See? Even half-asleep, he's still guarding you."
Jay laughed softly, kissing the top of Keth's head. "Maybe he just knows you'll never stop trying."
"Let's make breakfast before he wakes up," I said, lowering my voice like we were plotting a secret mission.
Jay nodded, her smile soft but knowing. We slipped into the bathroom, washed up, and by the time we reached the kitchen, the house was quiet — too quiet.
She tied her hair up and went to grab a pan, moving with that calm focus she always had when cooking.
I, of course, decided to "help" — which really meant distracting her.
She cracked an egg into the pan, and before she could reach for the spatula, I slipped behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist.
"Keifer," she sighed, half amused, half exasperated. "This is not helping."
I rested my chin on her shoulder, grinning. "Sure it is. I'm providing moral support."
She shook her head, trying not to laugh, and I rested my chin on her shoulder, breathing her in.
"Let's make the most of our time before he wakes up," I murmured, my voice low, almost pleading.
Jay smirked, tilting her head just enough to glance at me. "Keifer, you sound desperate."
I didn't hesitate. "Of course I'm desperate. I'm desperate for you."
Before she could tease me again, I kissed her
She melted against me, the kiss deepening until it felt like the world had narrowed down to just us.
I lifted her easily, her arms tightening around my shoulders, her laughter breaking through the heat of the moment.
Setting her gently onto the counter, I kept kissing her, unable to let go, unable to waste a second of the quiet we'd stolen.
Jay pulled back just enough to catch her breath, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Keifer… you're acting like we'll never get another chance."
I brushed my hair back, grinning. "Because with our son, chances like this are rare. I'm not letting this one slip."
She laughed, shaking her head, but her hands stayed tangled in my shirt. "You're impossible."
"Impossible," I whispered against her lips, "but yours."
With that, I kissed her again, slower this time, letting the moment deepen.
My lips traced along her jaw, brushing against her skin, and she shivered under my touch.