Page 129 of Before Dawn

When I pulled back, breathless, I whispered, “Thank you. For this. For everything.”

He smiled, brushing a strand of hair from my face before pulling me close again. And just like that, the morning melted into easy laughter and quiet moments of comfort. We curled up on the couch, scrolling through movie options until we settled on a lineup of cheesy classics—starting withClueless, thenLegally Blonde, and finally wrapping up with TheHoliday Calendar.

Mikkel turned to me with a knowing look. “Since Friday’s your day off, I was thinking of taking you on a date.”

I arched a brow, intrigued. “Back to this conversation again? What kind of date?”

He smirked, leaning back into the cushions. “That’s a surprise. But I’m picking you up on Friday.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “YouknowI hate surprises.”

“All the more reason it’s going to be perfect.”

The conversation drifted into a comfortable silence as the credits rolled. Mikkel’s hand rested on the arm of the couch, his lips curved into a faint smile—but I didn’t miss the flicker of weariness in his eyes, the quiet frustration lingering beneath the surface.

I tilted my head, studying him for a moment. “Hey,” I said gently, my voice cutting through the quiet. “What’s wrong?”

He paused for a beat, his smirk faltering just slightly before it returned. “Just tired,” he muttered, glancing away for a moment.

I raised an eyebrow, watching him more closely. “You work too hard, Mikkel.”

He shrugged, his posture slumping just enough to show the weight of the words. “It’s what I do.”

I let out a quiet sigh, my gaze softening as I reached over and placed a hand on his arm. “I just hope you know you’re doing great,” I said sincerely. “All of this... you’re amazing.”

His smile widened, a rare vulnerability slipping into his voice. “Thank you, Red.”

I stared at him for a moment, a thought forming in my mind which caused my eyes to light up. “I have an idea.”

He raised an eyebrow, looking intrigued. “Tell me.”

Without warning, I grabbed his hand and tugged him up from the couch. “Come with me,” I said, guiding him toward the bathroom. “Let me cut your hair.”

Mikkel blinked, surprise and amusement flashing across his face. “You want to cut my hair?”

I nodded, grinning. “Trust me.”

He laughed softly, shaking his head. “I trust you.”

A few minutes later, I was standing behind him, my fingers working with careful precision as I trimmed the ends of his dark hair. The sound of scissors snipping and his occasional low chuckles filled the air, making the room feel cozy in its own way.

When I was halfway through, I stepped back, admiring my handiwork. “See,” I said, brushing my hands together in satisfaction.

He turned his head, running a hand through his hair and giving me a grin. “I never doubted you, Red.”

I beamed. “Let me finish up.”

By the time I finished trimming his hair, a comfortable silence settled between us. The simple act of doing something just for him felt intimate. His neatly styled hair and relaxed jaw made him look effortlessly sexy—so much so, it stole my breath for a moment. Stepping back, I smiled, marveling at how the small change softened his stress, even if only for a brief moment.

“All done,” I said, gently tapping his shoulder.

He turned to face me, running his fingers through his freshly cut hair. A lazy smile spread across his face.

“Muchas gracias, mi amor,58” he said, his voice soft. “I needed that.”

Before I could respond, he glanced at his watch, his expression shifting. “It’s almost time for your shift, and I have a call.”

I nodded. “I’ll get ready for work.”

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