Heavenly

His blue shirt

As they sat together, the tension in the room began to shift—like a storm breaking into a calm after an unspoken battle. Jay's arm around her felt solid, protective, and in that moment, Sereena let herself sink deeper into his embrace. The flickering firelight bathed them in a soft glow, and the heavy patter of rain against the window created a cocoon of quiet intimacy.

Sereena inhaled deeply, catching the familiar scent of Jay's cologne mixed with the faint, earthy smell of the rain-soaked leather jacket he'd thrown aside. It stirred something deep within her, a longing she hadn't acknowledged in a long time. Memories rushed back, like vivid snapshots—late-night conversations, quiet moments, the way he used to look at her when they were together. The warmth of his body next to hers felt like home, something she had been desperately craving but didn't realize until this very moment.

Jay, meanwhile, was struggling to keep it together. His heart was pounding in his chest, each beat louder than the rain outside. The weight of Sereena's body resting against his felt natural, but it also terrified him. So many questions and emotions swirled in his mind, but none of them formed into words. He wanted to ask her why she left. Why she was here now. But instead, he tightened his hold on her, as if letting go might mean losing her all over again.

"Ser," Jay's voice broke the quiet, low and hesitant, "why didn't you tell me you were coming? You could've called sooner, you know. I would've—"

"I didn't know if you'd want to see me," Sereena interrupted, her voice barely above a whisper. Her fingers absentmindedly traced patterns on his knee. "After everything... after how things ended, I wasn't sure if you'd even care."

Jay's jaw clenched as he stared into the fire. He'd spent months trying to forget her, trying to convince himself that he was over it, over her. But now, with her here, in his arms, all of that felt like a lie. He did care. More than he ever wanted to admit.

"I never stopped caring," he said, almost too quickly. "You were the one who walked away, but that didn't mean I stopped thinking about you. Hell, Ser, I kept that stupid shirt for a reason."

Sereena's heart sank. She didn't deserve this. Didn't deserve his kindness after leaving him without a word. But she couldn't help herself—couldn't stop the tears that threatened to spill. She pulled away slightly, just enough to look up at him, her voice trembling.

"I was scared, Jay," she confessed, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I was scared of what we had, of how much I needed you. And when things got tough, I ran. I thought... I thought leaving was the best way to protect you from me, from my chaos. But now... I don't know. I don't know what I'm doing."

Jay's gaze softened, and he gently wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb, his touch tender and reassuring. "Ser, you don't have to figure it all out tonight. But you're here now, and that's what matters."

She looked at him, her breath catching in her throat. His words were like a balm to the wounds she'd been carrying for so long. The guilt, the regret—all of it seemed to fade in the presence of his calm.

And before either of them could think it through, Jay leaned in, his lips brushing hers softly, cautiously, as if testing the waters of something long-forgotten but not entirely lost. Sereena's heart raced, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned into the kiss, letting it deepen, allowing herself to feel what she had been denying for so long.

The kiss was slow, sweet, and filled with all the emotions they hadn't voiced—the regret, the longing, the hope. It was a rekindling, a spark igniting between two souls who had drifted apart but never truly let go of each other.

When they finally pulled back, their foreheads rested together, both of them breathing heavily, the intensity of the moment settling over them like a warm blanket.

"Whatever happens next," Jay whispered, his voice raw with emotion, "we'll face it together this time. No more running."

Sereena nodded, her heart swelling with a mixture of relief and something she hadn't felt in a long time—hope. Maybe, just maybe, this time they'd get it right.