CHAPTER 8 - TK Prince Enters
Jayna Stewart knew exactly three types of people in this world:
People she treated
People she ignored
People who were trouble
TK Prince was category three.
She spotted her before Ginny did.
Tall. Stylish. Smirk already locked and loaded. Walking toward them like she owned the entire resort.
Jayna muttered under her breath, "Oh no."
Ginny looked up. "What?"
"Trouble," Jayna said simply.
And right on cue—
"Jaaaaaayna Stewart!"
TK Prince's voice rang out like a musical announcement as she strutted straight toward them, sunglasses perched on her head, energy radiating flirtatious chaos.
Jayna sighed. "Speak of the devil."
TK stopped right in front of them, hands on her hips, eyes scanning them both—slowly.
Very slowly.
"Well," TK said, dragging out the word, "this is... interesting."
Ginny straightened beside Jayna, slipping naturally into her role. "TK. Long time no see."
TK's gaze snapped to Ginny—and then softened into a playful grin.
"Oh I remember you," TK said, tilting her head. "Event stylist, right? You planned the alumni gala three years ago. I was very impressed."
Ginny blinked. "You remember that?"
"I remember beautiful women who are good at their jobs," TK replied smoothly.
Jayna rolled her eyes. "Of course you do."
TK ignored her.
Instead, she stepped closer to Ginny—just a little too close—and reached out, gently brushing an imaginary speck of lint from Ginny's shoulder.
Ginny froze.
Jayna's eyes narrowed.
"And now," TK continued, voice low and teasing, "you're suddenly engaged to my favorite sports therapist? I feel like I missed an entire season of this show."
Jayna stepped in.
Without thinking.
Her hand slid around Ginny's waist—firm this time.
Claiming.
Protective.
"Yeah," Jayna said lightly, but her tone had an edge now. "You did."
Ginny's breath hitched again at the sudden contact.
TK's eyes flicked down to Jayna's hand on Ginny's waist.
Her smile widened.
"Oh this is going to be fun."
They all sat together at one of the outdoor lounge areas.
Which, in hindsight, was a mistake.
Because TK Prince flirting was not subtle.
Not even a little bit.
"So," TK said, crossing her legs and leaning forward, eyes locked on Ginny, "tell me, Ginny... how did you manage to steal Jayna Stewart's heart? Because I've been trying for years."
Ginny choked on her drink.
Jayna coughed. "TK—"
"I'm asking a valid question," TK insisted, waving her off. "She's hot, successful, emotionally unavailable—"
"I am not emotionally unavailable," Jayna snapped.
TK smirked. "Oh? Since when?"
Ginny was now staring between them like she had walked into a tennis match she did not sign up for.
Jayna squeezed Ginny's waist again, grounding herself. "Since I met her."
The words slipped out naturally.
Easily.
Too easily.
Ginny's heart skipped.
TK blinked.
Then leaned back, impressed. "Oh wow. We're using lines now. This is serious."
TK turned her attention fully back to Ginny.
"So tell me," she said, voice softer, flirtier, "what's your favorite thing about Jayna?"
Ginny blinked. "I—what?"
Jayna raised a brow, clearly entertained now.
TK leaned in closer to Ginny. "Come on. You're engaged. You must have a favorite thing."
Ginny's brain scrambled.
Her eyes flicked to Jayna.
Jayna was watching her.
Calm.
Curious.
Dangerous.
Ginny swallowed.
"My favorite thing about Jayna is..." she started slowly.
Her gaze dropped unconsciously to Jayna's lips.
Then back to her eyes.
"...she makes me feel safe."
The words hung in the air.
Jayna's expression softened immediately.
Something quiet and real flickered across her face.
TK noticed.
Of course she did.
Her smirk softened into something more knowing.
"Oh," TK said quietly. "That wasn't fake."
Ginny's heart lurched.
Jayna didn't say anything.
But her hand tightened slightly at Ginny's waist.
TK wasn't done though.
Of course she wasn't.
She leaned back again, grinning. "Okay okay. My turn. Jayna—what's your favorite thing about Ginny?"
Jayna didn't hesitate.
"Everything," she said simply.
Ginny's brain completely short-circuited.
TK clutched her chest dramatically. "Oh my god. I love them. I hate them. I want to break them up just to see what happens."
"TK," Jayna warned.
"I'm kidding," TK said, holding up her hands. Then she looked at Ginny again, eyes glinting with mischief. "...mostly."
A waiter passed by.
TK waved him over.
"Three cocktails," she said.
"It's noon," Jayna said flatly.
"And?" TK replied.
Ginny laughed despite herself.
Jayna glanced at her—and for a moment, her expression softened again.
That same soft look from earlier.
The one that made Ginny's chest feel too tight.
The drinks arrived.
TK raised her glass.
"To unexpected engagements," she said.
Jayna clinked her glass.
Ginny followed.
"To chaos," TK added with a grin.
Ginny laughed. "To chaos."
Jayna's eyes flicked to Ginny.
"To chaos," she echoed.
But as the conversation continued, something shifted.
Because every time TK leaned in too close to Ginny—
Jayna's hand tightened.
Every time TK complimented Ginny—
Jayna pulled her just a little closer.
And every time TK joked about "stealing" either of them—
Ginny felt something strange twist in her chest.
Sharp.
Hot.
Possessive.
At one point, TK leaned toward Jayna, her voice low and teasing.
"You know," she said, "if this engagement doesn't work out, you know where to find me."
Ginny's head snapped toward them.
Before she could stop herself—
she slid her arm around Jayna's.
Firm.
Close.
Clingy.
"...it's working out just fine," Ginny said sweetly, her voice laced with something new.
Something territorial.
Jayna went still for a second.
Then slowly... her lips curved.
TK's grin turned feral.
"Oh," TK said, delighted. "Now that... that was interesting."
Ginny blinked, suddenly aware of what she'd just done.
Her arm was still wrapped around Jayna's.
Jayna's body was warm against hers.
Jayna leaned slightly into her, voice soft and amused as she whispered only for Ginny—
"Getting possessive, fiancée?"
Ginny's face burned.
"...maybe."
And Jayna's smile widened.