I arch a brow.
“Thegoodone?”
“The one that doesn’t taste like punishment, or like the horrible one we drank yesterday” he says sweetly.
“Sure thing, princess,” I mutter, but I’m smiling as he walks away.
Breakfast is easy after that. We eat at the counter, legs bumping, trading bites off each other’s plates, laughing about nothing and everything. It’s stupid and perfect and terrifying how fast it feels like this has always been my life.
After, we end up on the couch, Jamie tucked against my side, my arm slung over his shoulders while the city hums quietly outside the windows. We talk about classes,about the exhibition, about random shit that doesn’t matter—and somehow matters more than anything.
Then Jamie shifts slightly, fingers fidgeting with the hem of my shirt.
“Hey,” he says softly.
“Can I ask you something?”
I look down at him, heart already bracing, but my voice stays steady.
“Yeah,” I say.
“Ask.”
Jamie shifts a little closer into my side, tilting his head up to look at me.
“Okay,” he says, softer now.
“Why do you call meprincess?”
I snort before I can stop myself.
“That’s what you wanna know?”
He nods, eyes bright, curious. Not insecure. Just… Jamie.
I think about it for a second, rubbing my thumb absently over his shoulder.
“Honestly? It started as a joke. You’ve got this thing where you pretend you’re tough, but you’re actually… not.”
I smile when he scoffs.
“You like being taken care of. You pout when you’re tired. You get this look when you want something but don’t want to ask for it.”
His cheeks heat up.
“I do not pout.”
“You absolutely pout,” I say fondly.
“And I like that you don’t have to be hard all the time. With me, you don’t have to prove anything. So… princess just fits. Someone precious. Someone I protect. Always. Someone I’m willing to kill for. You’re mine Jamie. You have become mine since the moment I first saw you. And now, when I’m head over hills in love with you – I’m not letting you go. Not now. Not ever. So you stack with me.”
He goes quiet at that, forehead resting against my collarbone.
“That’s… stupidly sweet,” he murmurs.
“Yeah, well. Don’t tell anyone. I have a reputation.”
He laughs, then looks up again, mischief creeping back in.
