Epilogue - Maddy
EPILOGUE - MADDY
T he faint light of Christmas morning filters through the curtains, painting the room in soft, warm hues. I wake up slowly, the comforting weight of the duvet cocooning me, and for a moment, I just lie there, feeling the peacefulness of the moment.
Mihai’s scent lingers on the sheets—spiced woods and citrus from his cologne—and it’s enough to make me smile before my eyes even open.
It’s the first time in months I’ve woken up feeling content. No dread, no heaviness, just warmth.
Stretching under the heavy duvet, I can’t help the lazy smile that spreads across my face. Therapy’s been hard—brutal at times—but this morning, I feel light, like I can finally breathe without the weight of the past crushing me.
I’ll always feel thankful to Mihai for bringing it up.
The door creaks open, and the man himself steps inside, a tray in his hands, balancing what looks like breakfast. He’s shirtless, of course, in his grey sweatpants that hang low on his hips, curls wild and unkempt like he hasn’t bothered to tame them.
“Morning, baby,” he says, his accent thicker than usual, probably because he’s tired. His voice is like warm honey, and it makes my stomach flip. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” I mumble, sitting up and hugging the duvet to my chest. “What’s all this?”
He strides over, setting the tray on the bed. It’s laden with pancakes, fruit, and coffee. “Breakfast in bed for my girl. Thought you deserved it.”
My cheeks heat at the possessive tone in his voice. I pick up a piece of fruit and pop it in my mouth, humming in appreciation. “This is perfect. You’re spoiling me.”
He sits on the edge of the bed, watching me with that intense gaze of his. “I like spoiling you.”
I take another bite, feeling a little shy under his scrutiny. “You’re not eating?”
“Oh, I’ll eat later,” he says, his smirk turning wicked. “Right now, I’ve got other plans.”
“Plans?” I raise an eyebrow.
He reaches over, tugging the tray away and placing it on the nightstand. “Yeah, plans. Like getting you out of bed so we can open presents. Come on.”
I laugh as he pulls the duvet off me, leaving me exposed to the cool morning air. “Mihai! I’m not finished eating!”
“You’ll survive,” he says, grabbing my hand and tugging me to my feet. “Besides, I’ve got something better than breakfast waiting for you.”
M ihai sits on the floor by the Christmas tree, his legs crossed like a kid, waiting impatiently as I join him.
“Go on,” he says, nudging a small box toward me. “Open that one first.”
I sit beside him, picking up the gift. It’s wrapped perfectly, the edges crisp and clean, and I give him a teasing look. “You didn’t wrap this.”
He grins. “Nope. Chiara did. Now open it.”
I tear open the package and inside is a stunning leather-bound journal with my initials embossed in gold on the cover. I run my fingers over the smooth surface, my throat tightening.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper. “Thank you.”
“Thought you might like to start putting your thoughts somewhere,” he says casually, though his gaze softens. “You know, for the songs you’ll write when you’re ready.”.
I swallow the lump in my throat, leaning over to kiss him softly. “Thank you, Mihai. I love it.”
“Good,” he says, smirking again and making grabby hands. “Now your turn to spoil me.”
I laugh and reach for the box I’d set aside earlier. “Here. It’s not as fancy as yours, but…”
He takes the box, raising an eyebrow at my nervous tone. When he opens it, his expression shifts to something I don’t see often—genuine surprise. Inside is a set of custom knives, sleek and deadly.
“Connor mentioned you’d had your eye on these,” I explain, feeling a little self-conscious. “I thought… I don’t know. You’d like them.”
“Of course, he did, the little snitch,” he chuckles and looks up at me, his dark eyes warm. “Maddy, this is perfect. Thank you.”
He leans over, kissing me deeply, and I can’t help but smile against his lips. “You’re welcome,” I say.
We continue exchanging gifts, each one more thoughtful than the last. I give him a leather belt with his initials engraved on the buckle, and he gives me a necklace with a delicate silver pendant shaped like a rose.
Each gift feels like a piece of him, a reminder of how much he listens, how much he cares. By the time I’ve unwrapped the last box, I’m already overwhelmed with gratitude, but then he stands, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“Wait here,” he says, disappearing into the bedroom.
When he returns, he’s carrying a large rectangular case. My heart skips a beat as he sets it on the floor in front of me and gestures for me to open it.
My hands tremble as I undo the latches, and when I lift the lid, I can’t stop the gasp that escapes me. Inside is a guitar—sleek, polished, and absolutely stunning.
But it’s not just any guitar—it’s the guitar . A Gibson Hummingbird and one identical to the one I used to play in my videos and on stage, down to the smallest detail. The same one I left behind when the gunshots started.
“Mihai…” My voice trembles as I lift it carefully, my fingers brushing over the strings. “How did you…?”
“I had it custom-made,” he says, his voice softer now. “I know how much you love music and thought you’d want to play again.”
I stare at him, my eyes welling with tears. “It’s perfect. I don’t even know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.” He leans forward, brushing a tear from my cheek. “Just promise me you’ll play it. When you’re ready.”
I nod, unable to speak as I run my fingers over the strings. The sound is perfect, and it sends a wave of emotion crashing over me. Before I know it, I’m throwing my arms around his neck, burying my face against his shoulder.
“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “Thank you so much.”
He holds me tightly, his hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. “You deserve it, Maddy.”
I pull back slightly, wiping at my cheeks with a watery laugh. “Now my gifts to you look silly.”
He shakes his head, a soft smile on his lips. “As long as you’re in my life, that’s the best gift I could ever have.”
We sit in comfortable silence for a while, me gently strumming the guitar as Mihai leans back against the couch. The warmth of the fire and the contentment of the moment make everything feel perfect.
“You know,” I say, glancing at him. “You’re not so bad at this whole boyfriend thing.”
He snorts. “Not so bad? That’s the best you’ve got?”
I grin. “I’m British. We don’t do over-the-top praise.”
He chuckles, shaking his head. “You’re impossible.”
“And yet, here you are,” I tease, using his own line on him this time and sticking my tongue out at him.
He reaches over, tugging on a strand of my hair. “Yeah, well… I’m in love with you, so what does that say about me?”
The words hang in the air, and I freeze. Mihai does too, his eyes widening as if he just realized what he said.
“Shit,” he mutters, running a hand through his hair. “That wasn’t supposed to… I mean, I didn’t mean to—fuck.”
“Mihai,” I start, but he’s already on one of his famous spirals.
“No, let me fix this,” he says quickly. “What I meant was… I don’t know what I meant. Fuck, Maddy, I’m not good at this. I wasn’t supposed to say it like that. Or now. Or?—”
“Mihai,” I interrupt, reaching out to place a hand over his mouth. “Stop talking.”
He freezes, his dark eyes locking onto mine, uncertainty flickering in them. Slowly, I lower my hand, letting out a shaky breath as I cup his face.
“ Te iubesc , Mihai,” I say softly, my voice steady despite the butterflies in my chest. “I’ve known for a while. Just didn’t know how to say it.”
His shoulders relax, and the tension melts from his face. “You really mean that?”
I nod, smiling up at him. “Yeah. I do.”
He lets out a breath, pulling me into his arms and burying his face in my hair. “ Te iubesc, Madison,” he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion. “So fucking much.”
As we sit there, tangled in each other, I know this is what love feels like—raw, messy, and absolutely perfect with the occasional spiral.
Loving Mihai isn’t safe or simple. It’s reckless. But I don’t mind the risk. Some things are worth it.
And Mihai Vasile? He’s worth everything.