Page 165 of Before Dawn

“What if I’m just too much for them?” I whispered.

She leaned forward slightly, her eyes kind. “What if you aren’t?”

“I don’t know,” I whispered. “It feels like I’ve always been too much. Too loud, too bold, too me. I’m scared they’ll see it the same way… and that it’ll matter.”

Dr. Green tilted her head slightly. “Do you think Mikkel would let anyone else’s opinions about you dictate how he feels?”

“No,” I admitted, though the word came out hesitant. “But—”

“But you’ve been deeply hurt before, and that hurt is causing your anxiety and self-doubt to overshadow everything?”

I nodded, the lump in my throat too big to speak.

She sat her pen down. “The past has a way of whispering lies about the present. Meeting Mikkel’s parents will be a new experience, one that doesn’t have to look anything like your past. And if there’s anything you need, you know you’re not alone in facing it. You’ve got Mikkel now.”

Her words comforted me, even though fear still lingered beneath the surface.

We wrapped up the session with a grounding exercise—simple, practical, and exactly what I needed. She encouraged me to keep reading my self-help books and practicing grounding techniques whenever anxiety crept in. By the time I left her office, I felt a little lighter as I headed to work.

If nothing else, I was grateful for the store’s quiet. A few patrons browsed, soft music played, and there was no chaos. I busied myself at the circulation desk, scanning returns and restocking carts—routine work thatlet my thoughts slow down.

My phone rang midway through my shift, and when I saw Mikkel’s name, I glanced at my coworker, who gave me a knowing smile and waved me off.

“Hey,hermosa,92” he greeted, his voice warm despite the bustle I could hear in the background. “The conference is dragging a bit, but I’m just checking in.”

“I’m okay,” I said, smiling. He’d been texting me throughout the day—little summaries of his meetings, random observations, and even a photo of the Hartford skyline from the venue. “How’s everything going?”

“Productive but boring. Wish I was with you, though.” His voice softened on the last part, and I felt a warmth bloom in my chest.

“I wish I was with you too.”

He sighed. “I have to oversee a pitch in five minutes. I’ll call again later, okay?”

“Okay.”

The call brought me peace. While restocking, I spotted a romance novel Azzy mentioned, grabbed the series, and bought them with my discount before my shift ended.

Me:I hope your pitch went well.

Me:Always proud of you, handsome *yellow heart*

“Abi!” Azzy greeted me with her usual warmth when she opened the door, her hand resting protectively on her small bump.

“Hey,” I grinned as I held up the books. “I brought you something.”

Her eyes lit up as she took them from me. “You are my soulmate. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” I nudged her playfully. “How’s the wedding planning going?”

She groaned dramatically, letting her head fall back against the cushions. “Exciting but stressful. Dillon’s been helping too, but there’s just so much to do.”

I chuckled. “You’re doing great, Azzy. Everything will work out.”

“Thank you.” Her eyes softened as she looked at me. “I always thought I’d be doing this with my mom by my side. It’s just… hard without her, sometimes.”

“I can’t imagine how much you miss her, but what I do know is that she’s watching over you every step of the way.”

Azzy nodded, blinking back tears. “I just miss her, that’s all. Anyway…”

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