Chapter Forty-five
Mikkel
“Love is a friendship set to music.”
~ Joseph Campbell
I woke up with a jolt, the warmth beside me gone. My arm instinctively reached out, but I grabbed nothing but the cold sheets. I frowned, pushing myself up. Where is she?
I blinked, my vision hazy. My glasses. Fumbling on the nightstand, I knocked over my phone before finally finding them and slipping them on.
“Abigail?” I called out, my voice sounding harsher than I intended.
Nothing.
A sudden quietness filled the air, eerie and unnerving. Then, faintly, I heard water running. The shower.
My heart rate picked up, and I threw the covers off, nearly tripping over my feet as I rushed toward the bathroom. The moment I stepped in, the mist hit me; warm and suffocating. Through the steam, I saw her, sitting on the floor of the shower with her knees drawn up to her chest, head down, and water pouring over her as if it was trying to wash everything away.
My heart lurched.
“ Amor ? 158 ”
She didn’t move, didn’t even flinch and I felt a sinking pit in my stomach as I stepped closer. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
She slowly lifted her head, the curls sticking to her face. Her eyes were red and filled with something I couldn’t read.
Without hesitation, I opened the glass door, stepped into the shower fully clothed, and let the water soak through me. She blinked in surprise, her brows furrowing as if confused by my presence.
“W-what are you doing?”
I knelt down beside her. “Sitting with you.”
For a moment, she just stared at me, like she wanted to argue but couldn’t. Then something in her broke. She leaned in, burying her face in my chest, and sobbed—deep, gut-wrenching cries that shook her entire body.
I held her close, whispering soothing words that may not have even made sense. Each sob hit like a punch to my chest, and I wished I could carry the weight for her.
“I’ve got you, baby,” I whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “I’m right here with you.”
It took a while for her to calm down, her sobs fading into soft sniffles. As her breathing steadied, I reached up to turn off the water and pulled her closer.
Gently, I cupped her cheek, tilting her face to meet my gaze. “Talk to me, baby. What’s going on?”
She shook her head, wiping at her eyes. “It’s s-stupid,” she muttered, her voice small.
I brushed away a tear with my thumb. “Your feelings are never stupid. Tell me.”
Her lips trembled as she sucked in a breath. “My anxiety’s just high all of a sudden,” she whispered. “It feels like a weight on my chest, like I can’t breathe. Like I’m losing control... or that someone’s going to hurt me.”
Her words cut through me. I saw the fear, the worry, the burden she carried.
I cupped her face, making sure she saw the conviction in my eyes. “No one’s going to hurt you. That’s a promise, mi reina .”
She didn’t speak, but something in her gaze flickered—trust, hesitant but there. I held her stare, waiting, letting her find comfort in my presence.
After a long moment, she sighed, leaning into me, her body easing just a little. When she was ready, I helped her out of the shower, dried her off slowly, then quickly dried myself.
She looked exhausted, worn down. I wanted to take it all away, to make it easier. And it fucking killed me that I couldn’t.
“I’m going downstairs to get some things for you,” I said, pulling on a sweatshirt.
“I can get it,” she mumbled, wiping at her eyes.
I shook my head. “You stay here. Let me take care of you.”
She hesitated, then nodded.
As I made my way downstairs, the weight in my chest refused to lift. Rounding the corner into the kitchen, I stopped short.
Alicia stood by the counter, a mug in her hands. At the sound of my footsteps, she turned.
“Mikkel?” she said, brows knitting together. “Is everything okay?”
I hesitated. “By any chance, do you have barbecue Lay’s or cake?”
“Aurora had the last ones. Is Abigail okay?”
I ran a hand through my damp hair. “She’s anxious, and those usually give her comfort.”
She set down her mug, her face softening. “Oh, sweetheart. It’s late, though—”
“I’ll Uber if I need to,” I cut in, more determined. “I need to get them for her.”
She studied me, then handed me her car keys. “Take my car. ”
“Thank you.”
She nodded. “Drive safe, Mikkel. Call if you need anything.”
I gave her a small smile before heading out.
For thirty minutes, I scoured the city, frustration mounting with every closed sign, until I finally found an open store. Spotting a bag of Lay’s and a small chocolate cake nearly made me sigh with relief.
An hour later, I pulled into the driveway, grabbed the snacks, and dropped Alicia’s keys on the kitchen table before heading upstairs.
Abigail sat on the bed, knees to her chest, arms wrapped around them. She looked so small, so fragile. Her eyes widened when she saw me.
“Where did you go?” she asked, her voice soft, almost timid. “I went downsta—”
“I got you something,” I said, cutting her off gently as I walked over. I held up the bag. “The closest stores didn’t have the right flavor, so I kept looking.”
Her eyes flicked between the bag, the cake, and me. “You... drove around for that?”
I nodded, sitting beside her. “I know they help calm you down.” My heart pounded as I searched her face. “I’d do anything to make you feel better.”
Her lips trembled. She stared at the chips in her lap before meeting my gaze, her glassy eyes making my chest tighten.
“Mikkel...”
I cupped her face, brushing my thumb across her cheek. “You matter to me, Red. More than I can put into words.”
Her breath hitched. For a second, I thought she’d pull away, but instead, she leaned into my touch, eyes closing.
“I’m here,” I whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Always.”
She let out a shaky breath, her body relaxing. She wasn’t okay yet, but she wasn’t alone.
“You mean everything to me,” she murmured.
I smiled softly, resting my forehead against hers. “Eres todo mi mundo.”
The next morning, I woke to the smell of fresh coffee and instinctively reached for her, only to find empty space. Rubbing my eyes, I sat up and spotted her by the window, bathed in soft light, a cup in hand, lost in thought.
Running a hand through my hair to shake off the sleep, I paused as my phone buzzed with a reminder of our plans for the day.
My voice finally broke the quiet. “You’re up early.”
She turned at the sound of my voice, a faint smile playing on her lips as she made her way toward the bed. “I couldn’t really sleep.”
Seeing her so broken in the shower had gutted me, but now, watching her offer me a smile felt like a reward. I pulled her wrist, guiding her beside me. She melted into my arms with a soft laugh, her head resting on my chest.
“How are you feeling this morning?” I asked, my hand brushing through her locs as I tried to gauge her mood.
“Better.” Her voice was soft, almost as if she were trying to convince herself more than me.
I pressed my lips to her head, holding her as she curled into me. After a moment, she whispered, “Thank you for last night. For everything.”
“You never have to thank me,” I whispered back. Then, shifting gears, I added, “We’re going to Pier 39 today.”
She pulled back, amused. “We’re in my city, and somehow, you have the plan?”
I grinned. “I like keeping you on your toes.”
She laughed softly, shaking her head. “I know you do.”
I kissed her, pulling her closer.
“I’m ready!” she exclaimed, and I turned around, taking in her appearance. The high-waisted light blue jeans fit her perfectly, and the long-sleeved bodysuit gently followed the lines of her figure.
“You are….” I trailed off. There weren’t enough words in the dictionary to describe how fucking ravishing my girlfriend was. “You are divina 159 , truly.”
She smiled, taking a few small strides over to me. “You make me feel like the prettiest woman in the world.”
“Because no one can ever compare to you, Red.”
She kissed me softly, whispering, “You have no idea how good you always make me feel.”
Smiling, I pressed my lips to hers again. “Then let me keep showing you.”
We took the private car I’d arranged to the pier, arriving in about twenty-five minutes, where the lively crowd and the mingling scents of saltwater and freshly baked churros heightened our excitement.
“Look at that!” She pointed to the towering rock-climbing wall that loomed over the pier.
“Race you to the top?” I suggested, already breaking into a run. “I may just win.”
“You will win. These girls,” she said, gesturing dramatically to her breasts, “cannot handle the hassle of running.”
“Fair point,” I noted with a chuckle. “But I’ll give you a head start as an advantage, amor .”
She laughed, her competitive spirit ignited. “You’re on!”
With adrenaline rushing through us, we scrambled up the colorful handholds, the cheers of onlookers spurring us on. I never thought I’d be doing this, but it didn’t matter. Not when her laughter rang out, not when every second with her felt like winning something I never even knew I needed.
At the top, as she caught her breath, I reached for her, fingers tangling in her hair as I pulled her close. Every kiss felt like a promise of something more, and in that moment, nothing else existed except us.
When I finally pulled away, her eyes sparkled with surprise and delight. “What was that for?”
“A taste of victory.”
“Consider me inspired,” she teased, the playful glint in her eyes making my chest tighten.
“I felt like a kid again,” she admitted as we made our way down. “Are we going back now?”
“Not yet,” I said, taking her hand. “There’s still so much to see.”
We drifted toward an outdoor stage where acrobats performed daring feats, their graceful movements holding the crowd spellbound. Just beyond them, a street magician worked his illusions, drawing gasps and applause as objects vanished and reappeared in his hands.
Laughter bubbled between us as we stepped onto the musical stairs, each note adding to the playful energy of the moment. The city buzzed around us, but the world felt smaller—just the two of us moving through it.
As we wandered closer to the water, sailboats cut smoothly across the bay, the golden light reflecting off their sails. The sight pulled us in, leading us to a quiet bench overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. A salty breeze wrapped around us, carrying the chatter of passersby, the distant clang of a buoy, and the rhythmic calls of seagulls overhead.
She squeezed my hand, her fingers threading through mine. “I don’t know what I did to deserve someone like you,” she whispered.
I pulled her close, my hand resting on her ass, and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. “Deserving has nothing to do with it,” I murmured, brushing my thumb over her hand. “In a lifetime of wrong and calculated turns, you’re the one I never want to lose.”
Her gaze softened, a quiet smile tugging at her lips as she met my eyes. We continued our walk, and she bumped into someone, quickly looking up with an automatic apology on her lips .
“Joshua,” she uttered, her voice carrying a hint of surprise and uncertainty.
I paused, scanning the scrawny guy from head to toe with complete and unconcealable disgust.
His gaze rested on me, his already unpleasant features dulling. “And who’s this? Your new fling?” he taunted, his voice dripping with contempt. “Are you sucking his bank accounts dry too?”
“Men with money don’t worry about their bank accounts being dry,” I replied, sarcasm edging my words. “But you don’t strike me as wealthy, nor a man, so I shouldn’t expect better.”
As he struggled to muster a response, she leaned in to me. “He’s my boyfriend.”
“Your boyfriend in…” He paused, his eyes flicking over me, dissecting my clothes as if it were evidence of some grand deceit.
“Hermès,” I finished, a smirk creeping across my face, relishing the shift in the atmosphere. “Mr. Dumas sent it to me himself. Nice, isn’t it?”
His expression darkened, the taunt replaced by annoyance, his jaw tightening. He was gearing up to respond, but I realized we’d entertained this conversation long enough.
“Let’s go, mi reina ,” I said, my voice steady and sure. “He’s not worth it.”
But then, his whispered insult or what I was assuming he thought was an insult, hit my ears. “ Coward .”
My steps faltered as I turned to face him, my gaze sharp. “I don’t argue with imbeciles,” I stated evenly, my voice low and steady, refusing to let his provocation rattle me. “You let that remarkable woman —no, that goddess— slip through your fingers, and you think you’re smart? Get a grip, puta madre . 160 ”
“Gonna let him talk to me like that, Abi?” He smirked, his arrogance radiating from him like a noxious cloud.
She opened her mouth to respond, but I cut her off, my expression hardening. “I suggest you keep your distance from her.”
“Or what?” He leaned forward, his bravado faltering.
I narrowed my eyes, letting a cold smile creep onto my lips. “That depends on how much you value your limbs.”
“Is that a threat?”
“Oh, God no.” I chuckled, shaking my head. “What kind of man do I look like? That’s a promise , and I keep my promises.”
His face paled, anger—or maybe sheer bewilderment—overtaking him as his jaw tightened. Ignoring him, I took her hand, her warmth grounding me as we walked away.
“I knew I’d run into him,” she whispered, worry flickering in her eyes. “I just didn’t ex—”
I silenced her with a kiss. “He wasn’t worth a response, but I wasn’t going to stand by in silence after everything he did to you.”
She huffed a quiet laugh, shaking her head. “You make it sound so simple.”
I squeezed her hand. “It is. He doesn’t get to take up space in your life anymore.”
She didn’t say anything right away, just exhaled and let her fingers tighten around mine. Then, as if shaking off the last of the moment, she nudged me. “Come on. I want a churro.”
A smirk tugged at my lips as I led her toward the stand. “One churro? I was thinking at least three.”