𝑺𝑬𝑬 𝒀𝑶𝑼 𝑨𝑮𝑨𝑰𝑵, javon walton

011

The morning light peeked through the curtains, gently waking Mae. She stretched lazily in bed, hearing Anya already up and bustling around the room.

"You're up early," Mae mumbled, rubbing her eyes.

Anya smiled as she zipped her bag. "Yeah, I've got to head out. My mum's got a doctor's appointment, so I'm going with her. My chauffeur's waiting downstairs."

Mae nodded, still half-asleep. "Catch you later, then. Text me when you're done, yeah?"

"For sure." Anya gave her a quick hug before grabbing her stuff. "Try not to get into too much trouble without me," she teased, flashing Mae a wink as she left.

A few minutes later, fully awake and ready for the day, Mae made her way downstairs. Just as she reached the hotel lobby, she spotted Javon coming from the opposite direction.

"Hey," he greeted, his smile making her heart skip for just a second.

"Hey yourself." Mae grinned back, falling into step beside him. "You eaten yet?"

Javon shook his head. "Not yet. Just about to, though. The brunch here is supposed to be legendary, right?"

Mae's eyes lit up. "Oh, you've got no idea. But forget the regular brunch—how about I make you the best bagel you've ever had? I know my way around the kitchen, and trust me, the chefs love me."

Javon chuckled. "You cook? I mean, properly?"

"Of course!" Mae playfully nudged his arm. "Come on, I'll prove it to you."

Curious, Javon followed her into the hotel's kitchen, where the chefs greeted Mae like an old friend. She gave them a wave, already setting up her ingredients for the bagels.

"Right," Mae started, grabbing a bagel and cutting it in half, "we're going for the ultimate: toasted bagel with smoked salmon, cream cheese, capers, and a touch of chive. Simple but perfect."

Javon laughed as he grabbed a bagel of his own, mimicking her steps. "Alright, show me how it's done, chef."

As they both worked side by side, Mae noticed how naturally Javon moved in the kitchen. He clearly knew what he was doing. "You're pretty good at this. Do you cook often?"

Javon shrugged modestly. "Yeah, a bit. I love it, honestly. It's kind of relaxing."

Mae smiled, enjoying the easy rhythm between them. After a few more minutes, their bagels were ready. The chefs even stopped by to give their approval with thumbs-ups and grins.

As they headed out, they bumped into Mae's dad, who had a camera slung around his neck. He quickly snapped a photo of them holding their bagels, the golden light from the kitchen casting a warm glow around them. Javon laughed and posted the photo to his Instagram story, adding a cheeky caption: Best bagels ever, thanks to @maedasilva

They found a quiet table for two, nestled by the window. Mae's heart raced as she and Javon sat across from each other, the atmosphere shifting into something softer, more intimate. They bit into their bagels, and Javon's eyes widened.

"Okay, you weren't kidding," he said between bites. "This is seriously good."

Mae beamed. "Told you. Stick with me, and you'll be well-fed for life."

After they finished eating, Mae led Javon to what she called "the game room," though it was far from a typical game room. It had plush sofas, a PlayStation, and a projector for watching films.

Javon's face lit up when he saw the setup. "Okay, this is epic."

Mae smirked. "I know, right? Anyway, I thought we could watch Coraline. It's one of my all-time favourites."