Page 10 of Before Dawn

Chapter Three

Mikkel

“The soul always knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is to silence the mind.”

~ Caroline Myss

Red.

Those striking green eyes I had the privilege of gazing into Friday night.

That captivating woman I’d had the pleasure of seeing not once, but twice.

Que Dios me ayude.2

The black fitted romper hugged her in all the right places—a masterpiece of temptation. The fabric clung like a second skin, tracing every curve and dip with maddening precision. She was perfection—art in a museum I had no right to admire. But thatdidn’t stop me.

Then there was her hair—a fiery halo of deep copper-platinum curls, pulled into a loose bun, stray strands teasing the nape of her neck. I spent hours last night scrolling through Pinterest and Google, searching for the perfect shade. I couldn’t get it out of my head—the most stunning color I’d ever seen, on the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on.

And her skin. Rich. Dark. Luminous. The contrast against the black romper was breathtaking, her beauty timeless. Untouchable. My glasses weren’t enough to frame the sight of her; she was a masterpiece, and I was helpless—completely undone by the very thought of her.

I couldn’t stop thinking about her all weekend. Each rep at the gym felt heavier. Her laughter echoed in my mind, throwing off my rhythm. At the office, I caught myself staring out the window, wondering if I’d ever see her again. Even while cooking, the scent of rosemary and thyme reminded me of her—but no meal could compare to those fleeting moments with her.

The weekend slipped through my fingers like sand, and now, as Monday morning dawned, memories of her clung to me, igniting a quiet, reckless hope that I’d see her again.

My phone buzzed incessantly, snapping me out of it. The group chat. Unsurprisingly, Arnoldo and Ronan were already bickering.

Reyes:When are we hanging out again?

Alex:ask Ronan. he’s too busy being a hero.

Ro:My apologies for saving lives. Won’t happen again.

Me:When you aren’t saving lives, you’re soul searching in Italy.

Ro:stronzo.

Luci:dio mio.

Dill:Why are you all awake so early?

Ro:Why are you still in bed, Mr. Busy?

Dill:One night out drained my social battery. Need a week to recover.

And there it was, the goddamn catalyst. One message was all it took for everyone to start typing.

Alex:youwillinglywent out?

Ro:what?

Reyes:I’m on my way to your house.

Luci:what a revelation.

Dill:Everyday I contemplate muting or exiting this chat.

Dill:If you all must know, I went to have a drink with Mikkel.

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