Page 132 of Before Dawn

Lucio tilted his head, studying me. “There’s something else bothering you. I’ve known you for a decade, and this side of you has always been there. It’s the one thing you’ve never really liked about yourself. So…”

I sighed, feeling the weight of his words, but I wasn’t sure I was ready to say it out loud. But I needed to get it offmy chest.

“I told Abigail about it,” I said quietly, looking down at my hands. “I opened up about it a while ago, and I just feel different. It feels like maybe she’s scared, but I don’t know for sure. She doesn’t show it, but I know how much she can get lost in her head, and I don’t want her to feel like I’ll snap at her.”

Lucio was silent for a moment, his eyes softening. “You think she’s scared? No. You are, Mikkel.”

I looked up at him, confused. “What?”

“You’re just like me, Suarez,” Lucio said, his voice matter-of-fact. “We’re not talkers. We don’t open up unless it’sabsolutelynecessary. We stay out of the media, not by chance but because it’s a preference. And when Abigail came into your life, you wanted to make it perfect for her because of whatever you know she’s been through. You think sharing your vulnerabilities will make you less of a man in her eyes, but it won’t.”

I sat there, stunned by how well he read me, how he could peel back the layers I’d always worked on suppressing. I didn’t realize how much I was holding back until he put it into words.

I didn’t even notice that Sugar had curled up in my lap until I felt her claws pressing into my thigh.

“You’re scared of letting her see you like this,” he continued. “And that’s why you’re holding on to the anger, because it’s easier than showing her your weaknesses.”

I didn’t have a response. He was right, and that truth hit me harder than I expected.

He leaned back in his chair, his drink in hand, and a satisfied look on his face . “You’ve gotta let go of the idea that you need to be perfect for her. She’s with you because she wants to be, not because you’ve built some illusion around yourself. You’re allowed to have flaws, Mikkel.”

The weight in my chest started to lift, the tension in my shoulders easing as I let out a slow breath. Sugar stretched in my lap, her fluffy tail swishing lazily.

I gave Lucio a dry look, shaking my head. “You should add therapist to your portfolio. All this wisdom, and I didn’t even have to book an appointment.”

He smirked, tipping his glass toward me. “Therapy’s too much work. I’ll stick to reading you like a book for free. Besides, I prefer my current job—drinking expensive scotch and being right.”

I laughed, the sound feeling lighter than it had all day. “You’re a real pain, you know that?”

“And yet we’re best friends.”

“Yet we are.” I stood up, gently moving Sugar off my lap and giving her one last pat. “I’m heading out. Thanks for the session, Lucio.”

He chuckled, standing as well. “That’s what brothers are for, Suarez. Anytime.”

I gave him a firm handshake, the tension in my chest completely gone. “Appreciate it, man.”

“Anytime. Tell your love I said hello, and that she’s a saint for putting up with you.”

I laughed again as I made my way to the door. “I’ll let her know. Try not to scare Marina with all this wisdom when you get to Italy.”

Lucio waved me off with a grin. “She’ll just tell me I’m full of it, like always.”

I left Lucio’s house feeling lighter, his words still echoing in my mind. The weight that had been pressing on me seemed to lift as I stepped out into the fresh air. Instead of going straight home, I decided to stop by my office to catch up on work. The quiet atmosphere helped me focus as I cleared emails, reviewed contracts, polished proposals, and tied up loose ends.

When I finally wrapped up, I grabbed some Chinese takeout for dinner before driving to pick her up from the salon.

Warning

The following chapter contains heavy mentions of mental health/physical health issues. Please refer to the content warning list to be reminded of any potential triggers. Your well-being is important to me, so please take care of yourself while reading.

Chapter Twenty-nine

Abigail-Ann

“Romance is the glamour which turns the dust of everyday life into a golden haze.”

~ Elinor Glyn

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