"Did I hurt you?"

Jean shook her head, leaning closer to press a kiss against his jaw. "It’s not that," She reassured softly. "Just... sore. It’s normal."

But Logan still fussed, his hand gently rubbing small circles over her hip, thumb brushing against her ribs.

"You should’ve told me to stop," He murmured, guilt tightening his chest.

Jean’s lips curved into a tired, affectionate smile. "And miss what happened? Not a chance," She teased, voice barely above a whisper.

A soft laugh rumbled in Logan’s chest... part relief, part adoration. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

_________________________

Later, when Jean finally made it downstairs... each step reminding her exactly why she felt sore... Hannah and Emma were already at the table, mugs of coffee in hand.

Hannah spotted the faint stiffness in Jean’s walk immediately, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Well, look who finally woke up," Hannah sang. "Careful, sis in law, those chairs aren’t as forgiving as the bed, huh?"

Jean froze, cheeks flushing instantly. "Hannah!" She hissed, glancing quickly at Emma.

But Emma just joined in, laughing softly. "Poor Jean, we should’ve served breakfast upstairs," Emma teased. "Or maybe brought a cushion for you?"

Jean groaned, covering her face with one hand. "You two are insufferable," She muttered, though her lips twitched with reluctant amusement.

Logan came down right behind her, coffee cup in hand, catching the tail end of the teasing. "Alright, that’s enough," He warned, though his smirk betrayed him. He set the cup down and reached to steady Jean, slipping an arm around her waist.

Hannah grinned wider. "Oh please, Logan. You’re not fooling anyone. We heard some last night, you know."

Jean buried her face into Logan’s shoulder, mortified. "I hate you all," She mumbled, voice muffled against him.

"That’s not what you were saying last night," Logan whispered into her hair, unable to stop himself... earning a scandalized gasp from Jean and delighted laughter from Hannah and Emma.

"Logan!" Jean hissed, swatting at his chest, but he just chuckled, pressing a soft kiss to her temple.

Finally, as they sat together... Jean settled carefully into her chair, Logan subtly helping her... the teasing quieted.

"You okay?" Logan murmured against her ear.

Jean nodded, a gentle smile softening her face. "Yes," She whispered back. "Better than okay."

And though Hannah and Emma were still smirking, it didn’t matter because in that quiet morning light, with Logan’s hand resting over hers, Jean felt something unfamiliar but wonderful. Peace.

After breakfast, Jean tried to sit down next to Emma and Hannah on the couch, but her slight wince didn’t go unnoticed. Logan, who was watching from the kitchen island while sipping his coffee, raised an eyebrow with a smirk.

Hannah leaned over to Emma and whispered, not very quietly, "Told you. They totally traumatized my house."

Emma chuckled, giving Jean a knowing look. "Guess that hot water in the shower wasn’t the only thing steaming."

Jean rolled her eyes, flustered. "You two are impossible."

Logan walked over casually, resting a hand on Jean’s shoulder from behind as he bent down and pressed a slow, warm kiss to her temple. "Why are you turning into a tomato?" He whispered, just for her.

Jean gave a half glare, half smile. "Don’t act all innocent now."

"I’m not," He said, grinning, then leaned further down to steal a quick kiss on her lips before walking away like he hadn’t just made the room collectively groan.

Hannah tossed a cushion at him. "Gross, Logan! Get a room!"

"We had a room," Logan said over his shoulder.

Jean buried her face in her hands, laughing in spite of herself.

Is this how it feels like to be in a relationship?

__________________________

The late morning sun filtered gently through the leaves, casting dappled shadows across the garden. The scent of jasmine and rose lingered in the air, blending with the distant hum of bees and the rustle of leaves in the breeze.

Jean sat on a stone bench, barefoot, letting her toes graze the grass. She wore one of Emma’s spare sundresses, light and flowy, with her damp hair loosely braided over one shoulder. She looked up at Logan as he approached, a small tray in his hand holding two glasses of lemonade.

"You didn’t have to," She said softly, accepting one.

"I wanted to." Logan sat beside her, close but not crowding. "I like seeing you like this. Peaceful."

Jean smiled at the way he looked at her... like she was something rare. "I’m not always like this, you know. I can be pretty chaotic."

"I know," He said, a teasing glint in his eyes. "I fell for you anyway."

She laughed, bumping her shoulder against his. "You’re ridiculous."

He took her hand, gently lacing their fingers. "You’re the only peace I’ve ever known after my family, Jean."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. A butterfly fluttered past. The sun warmed their skin. Jean leaned her head on his shoulder, and he rested his cheek on her hair.

"You’re not going to leave me, are you?" She asked quietly. "If I tell you a part of my dark past?"

Logan turned, lifted her chin with a single finger, and kissed her... slow, deep, meaningful. "Never."

Jean sat quietly, fingers still tangled with Logan’s. The silence stretched, not heavy... Just waiting. Logan didn’t press her. He could feel something shifting inside her, like a dam cracking.

She finally spoke, her voice soft, almost lost to the breeze. "I never had a boyfriend before you."

Logan turned slightly, watching her.

Jean kept her eyes ahead, as if it was easier that way. "Everyone always assumed I did. I never corrected them. It was easier to let them believe. But the truth is... I never even held someone’s hand like this until you."

Logan’s thumb brushed gently over her knuckles, but he said nothing. He knew she wasn’t done.

"I know what you think... about Tyler. Whatever picture you have in your head of me and him... it’s not what it looks like."

She drew in a shaky breath.

"He wasn’t my boyfriend. He wasn’t even a friend. He was obsessed. Always lurking, always cornering me, making me feel like I was going crazy."