Jay woke to sunlight and the feeling of being watched.
She cracked one eye open. Keifer was propped on his elbow, staring at her with that soft smile he thought she didn't notice.
"You're doing it again."
"Doing what?"
"Staring at me like a creep."
"Not a creep. An admirer." He traced her jaw. "There's a difference."
"It's really not."
"It really is." He kissed her nose. "Good morning, fiancée."
The word hit her like a warm wave.
Fiancée.
She looked at her hand. The ring glittered in the morning light.
"I'm engaged," she whispered.
"You are."
"To you."
"You are."
"How did this happen?"
"You said yes. After I asked. Very romantic. You cried."
"I didn't cry."
"You absolutely cried. It was adorable."
She threw a pillow at him. He caught it, laughing.
"Come here," he said, pulling her close. "Let me enjoy my fiancée for five minutes before the world intrudes."
"Five minutes only. I have surgery at nine."
"Plenty of time."
He kissed her slowly. Thoroughly. The kind of kiss that made time stop.
When they broke apart, she was breathless.
"Keifer."
"Jay."
"I love you."
"I know."
"I really, really love you."
"I know that too." He smiled against her lips. "Now get ready. I'm driving you to work."
"You don't have to—"
"I want to. Fiancé duties."
"That's not a thing."
"It is now."
An hour later, Jay emerged from the bedroom in her usual work attire—scrubs. Because she was a surgeon and refused to change for anyone.
Keifer, in his perfectly tailored suit, raised an eyebrow.
"You're wearing scrubs."
"I'm doing surgery. What else would I wear?"
"Something... less medical?"
"This is who I am, Keifer. If you wanted a girlfriend who wears dresses, you should have—"
He kissed her. "I want you. Exactly as you are. Scrubs and all."
She smiled against his lips. "Good answer."
"Let's go. You're going to be late."
The car ride was peaceful.
Jay scrolled through her phone, ignoring the 847 messages in various family chats. Keifer held her hand, thumb tracing circles on her skin.
At the hospital entrance, he squeezed her fingers.
"Text me when you're out of surgery."
"Always."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
She reached for the door handle.
He didn't let go.
"Keifer—"
"Wait."
She turned. "What?"
He tugged her gently. "Come here."
"I'm going to be—"
"Late. I know." He pulled her closer until she was half in his lap again. "One more minute."
"Keifer, the entire hospital is watching."
"Let them."
"They're taking pictures."
"Let them." He cupped her face. "I just got engaged to the most incredible woman in the world. I want to kiss her goodbye. Is that so wrong?"
Jay's heart melted.
"You're impossible."
"Your impossible."
He kissed her. Slow. Deep. Perfect.
When they broke apart, she was flushed.
"Now go," he murmured. "Save lives. Come home to me."
She climbed out of the car, legs unsteady.
The usual crowd of nurses, patients, and staff were gathered at the entrance.
Cameras out. Phones up. Grins everywhere.
Jay ignored them all.
Until she walked past a group of nurses and one of them gasped.
"OH MY GOD, DR. MARIANO—YOUR HAND!"
Jay looked down.
The ring.
Glittering in the morning sun.
She'd forgotten to hide it.
The nurses descended.
"IS THAT—"
"DID HE—"
"OH MY GOD—"
"WHEN—"
"HOW—"
Jay held up her hands. "Yes. Last night. He asked. I said yes. Now I have surgery."
Chaos erupted.
Screaming. Crying. Hugs. More screaming.
Someone was definitely live-streaming.
Someone else was already running to tell everyone in the hospital.
Jay sighed, but she was smiling.
"I really have surgery," she tried.
"THE SURGERY CAN WAIT! YOU'RE ENGAGED!"
"It really can't. There's a child—"
"FINE BUT WE NEED PICTURES FIRST!"
Jay posed. Briefly. Impatiently.
Then escaped to the OR.
The photos were everywhere within an hour.
JAY MARIANO'S RING—EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK
KEIFER WATSON PROPOSES—RING REVEALED AT HOSPITAL
ENGAGED! WATSON AND MARIANO TO WED
Dr. Jay Mariano shows off massive diamond after hospital drop-off
The comments exploded.
"That ring is bigger than my future"
"The way he drops her off like a normal boyfriend tho"
"She's in SCRUBS. Queen behavior."
"They're so in love it's disgusting (I want it)"
"KEIFER WATSON DOWN BAD FOR A SURGEON IN SCRUPS AND WE LOVE TO SEE IT"
Percy's texts started at 9:15am.
Percy: THE RING PHOTOS
Percy: THE HOSPITAL DROP-OFF PHOTOS
Percy: THE LAP KISS PHOTOS
Percy: YOU'RE TRENDING WORLDWIDE
Percy: AGAIN
Percy: MOM IS CRYING
Percy: DAD SENT THE PHOTOS TO ALL HIS BUSINESS CONTACTS
Percy: KEIFER'S DAD IS DOING INTERVIEWS
Percy: KEIREN DREW A PICTURE OF THE RING AND IT'S JUST A CIRCLE WITH A BIG SPARKLE
Percy: BATO APPROVES
Jay silenced her phone.
Walked into surgery.
And tried very, very hard not to think about the fact that the whole world now knew she was engaged.
(She failed. Miserably. But the surgery went perfectly anyway.)
Six Hours Later
Jay stepped out of the OR, exhausted and happy.
Two successful surgeries. Two families complete.
She checked her phone.
Ninety-seven messages.
She ignored them.
Then she walked outside.
And stopped.
Keifer was there.
Leaning against the car. Holding flowers. Smiling.
But that wasn't what made her stop.
It was the crowd.
Hundreds of people. Patients. Staff. Visitors. All gathered. All watching. All with phones out.
"Keifer," she said slowly. "What is this?"
"I came to pick you up." He walked toward her. "Bridal style. Like you asked."
"I never asked—"
"You mentioned it once. Months ago. Said it looked romantic." He shrugged. "I remember everything."
Jay's heart did something complicated.
"Keifer, there are hundreds of people watching."
"I know."
"This is going to be everywhere."
"I know."
"Your PR team is going to—"
He kissed her.
Right there. In front of everyone.
Then, before she could react, he scooped her up.
Bridal style.
Jay gasped, arms wrapping around his neck. "KEIFER!"
"Relax. I've got you."
"I weigh more than I look—"
"You weigh nothing. You're light as air." He carried her toward the car. "Now smile. The cameras are watching."
Jay buried her face in his neck, laughing.
The crowd went wild.
Cameras flashed. People cheered. Someone was definitely crying.
Keifer deposited her gently into the car, then slid in beside her.
The door closed.
They were alone.
Jay stared at him.
"You're insane."
"Romantically insane."
"That's not a thing."
"It is now." He took her hand, kissed her ring. "How was surgery?"
"Perfect. How was your day?"
"Boring. But I kept thinking about you."
"Keifer."
"Jay."
"I love you."
"I know."
"I really, really love you."
"I know that too." He smiled. "Now let's go home. Percy's planning an engagement party. I need you to help me talk him out of it."
"Can't. He's unstoppable."
"Then we're doomed."
"Completely."
They laughed.
The car pulled away.
The cameras kept flashing.
Neither cared.
That Night:
The engagement party happened anyway.
Percy had organized it in approximately four hours. Their apartment was filled with family, food, and far too many decorations.
"PERCY." Jay stared at the banner. "Congratulations Jay and Keifer" was spelled wrong. Twice.
"It's the thought that counts!"
"The thought can't spell."
"Spelling is overrated."
Aries appeared beside her. "I tried to stop him."
"You failed."
"He's unstoppable."
"Like a natural disaster."
"Exactly."
Keiren ran past, Bato in hand, chased by Keigan with a camera. Keizer and Jasfer were arguing about golf. Serina and Reycee were crying over wedding magazines. Grandfather Watson was asleep in the corner, smiling.
Jay leaned against Keifer.
"This is chaos."
"This is our life."
"I love it."
"I know."
"I love you."
"I know that too." He kissed her temple. "Now let's go celebrate. We're engaged."
"For real?"
"For real."
She smiled.
Took his hand.
Walked into the chaos.
Home.