As If I Could Ever Fake You

Don’t Pull Away This Time

It was quiet when Keifer walked her home that night.

Like the calm after a storm.

Their fingers brushed once.

Twice.

Then finally, she just grabbed his hand — laced their fingers together and didn’t let go.

Not even when they reached her gate.

“Do you want to come in?” she asked softly.

“I shouldn’t.”

She nodded. “Then don’t.”

A pause.

Then: “But kiss me anyway.”

He stepped in closer.

One hand gently cupped her cheek.

“Are we okay now?” he asked, voice barely a whisper.

Jay stared up at him. “You tell me.”

He leaned in.

And kissed her like she was everything he’d ever been afraid of — and finally decided to stop running from.

The kiss deepened fast.

Jay backed into the wall beside her door, his hands braced on either side of her head.
Her fingers tangled in his hair.
His mouth was slow at first — gentle. Controlled.

But the second she gasped, his control snapped.

Hands found her waist, pulled her flush against him.
Her lips parted. He kissed deeper. Harder.
She moaned softly into his mouth and that wrecked him.

“You drive me crazy,” he murmured against her jaw, trailing kisses down to her neck.

“Good,” she whispered, tugging him closer by his collar. “You deserve it.”

He kissed her again — open-mouthed, desperate — like he was trying to say everything he’d almost let die.

Jay pulled back for half a second, breathing hard.

“Inside,” she said.

“Jay…”

“I’m not asking to go that far again,” she promised. “I just… don’t want you to leave yet.”

He hesitated. Then nodded.

Inside, it was quiet.

Jay dropped her bag by the couch.

Keifer closed the door behind them.

They stared at each other.

Then moved at the same time.

His hoodie was off. Her fingers ran under his shirt. Their lips crashed again, messier now — hungrier.

But when his hands slipped beneath her shirt and she shivered, she pulled back.

Just a little.

“Still scared?” she asked.

He searched her eyes.

Then, honest: “Not of this.”

“Then don’t pull away.”

“I won’t,” he said.

And kissed her again — softer this time. Like a promise.

They didn’t sleep together again that night.
But they slept together.

Jay curled up against him on the couch, her head on his chest, his arms wrapped tightly around her like he’d finally remembered how to breathe.

And right before sleep pulled her under, she heard him whisper:

“I don’t know where this ends. But I want to walk it with you.”

And that?

That was enough.

End of Chapter