Sunday mornings were slow in their house.
Not because no one worked.
Because Jay and Keifer refused to rush.
Jay was still half-asleep, curled on her side, when she felt movement behind her.
A quiet shift.
A warm arm sliding around her waist.
She smiled into the pillow.
"You're awake," she murmured.
"Mmm."
That was all he offered.
She rolled slightly, fitting closer.
His forehead brushed the back of her head.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
There was no schedule waiting for them.
No urgency.
Just the soft hum of the city far away.
Jay traced his fingers lazily.
"You're very quiet today."
He kissed her hair.
"I'm full."
She smiled.
Of course he meant something emotional.
She turned to face him.
"You always say strange things when you're happy."
He opened one eye.
"Someone married me anyway."
She laughed quietly.
They finally got out of bed near noon.
Jay wore one of his shirts.
Too big.
Too soft.
Keifer made coffee.
Badly.
She fixed it.
Wordlessly.
Like they had done it a hundred times before.
They stood in the kitchen, barefoot, sharing a slice of toast because neither of them wanted a whole one.
Jay leaned against the counter.
"Do you ever think about how… accidental this was?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"Our marriage?"
"Yes."
She smiled softly.
"It was supposed to be strategy."
He took a slow sip.
"And now?"
She looked around.
The quiet kitchen.
The sunlight on the floor.
His sleeve rolled up to his elbow.
His hair still messy from sleep.
"…Now it's my life."
He studied her.
Not smiling.
Just real.
"You're not an accident to me," he said gently.
Her breath hitched.
She looked away quickly.
Not because it hurt.
Because it didn't.
That scared her more.
Later, they lay on the living room rug, a movie playing that neither of them was watching.
Jay rested her head on his stomach.
His hand moved lazily through her hair.
Not even thinking about it.
"Keifer?"
"Yes."
"If one day I become too busy… too complicated…"
He didn't let her finish.
"I'll adjust."
She looked up at him.
"What if I change?"
He smiled faintly.
"You already did."
She swallowed.
"And you still stayed."
He brushed his thumb against her cheek.
"That's the point."
She closed her eyes.
For the first time in her life,
she wasn't afraid of outgrowing someone.
Because he wasn't holding her still.
He was growing with her.
That night, when they lay together in the quiet dark, Jay whispered something she hadn't planned to say.
"I don't need promises."
Keifer turned slightly toward her.
Neither did he.
But he said it anyway.
"Still… I'm here."
Jay smiled.
So softly.
So surely.
Because that was the only promise
they had ever needed.