Page 193 of Before Dawn

“Let’s go,” Mamá said, and we headed out toward Midtown Manhattan.

By the time we arrived at the Empire State Building, the sky had settled into an overcast gray, but nothing about the day felt dull. The city hummed with life, and Abigail stood in the middle of it all, her excitement shining through.

“It’s bucket list day,amor,144” I whispered, wrapping my hand around her from behind.

Abigail spun around, her face lighting up before she kissed me quickly. “It feels so surreal to be here.”

I held her close, letting my fingers settle at her hip. “This is just the beginning.”

We moved inside, and I made sure everything was taken care of—the best tickets, the best view, everything. As we navigated through the crowd, my mom pulled Abigail aside for a moment. I watched them exchange a few words, their soft laughs blending with the noise of the bustling floor.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it,querida?145” I overhead mom ask, her eyes searching Abigail’s as she took in the view.

“Even more than I ever expected,” Abigail replied, smiling back. “I’m just happy to be here with you, Mikkel, and Manuel.”

Mamá’s expressionsoftened, and she reached for Abigail’s hand, squeezing it gently. “We’ll have plenty of moments like this because we’refamilia146now.”

My heart thumped at her words. I’d never doubted they’d get along, but seeing it unfold before me was a reward in itself.

We stepped out onto the observation deck, and I grinned at the awestruck looks on everyone’s faces. The city stretched out before us, its pulse unmistakable in every corner.

“Now this is what I call a view,” my dad commented as he admired the skyline.

I smiled, brushing a hand against Abigail’s back. “Es hermoso, Papá147.”

As we wandered around the deck, snapping pictures, I noticed my parents busy with their cameras. I took the opportunity and pulled Abigail aside, pressing her lightly against the wall.

“You look amazing,” I murmured, my voice lower than I intended.

Her breath hitched, a familiar reaction that only fueled the hunger building inside me.

“Are you obsessed with me, Mr. Suarez?” she asked, her eyes gleaming.

“That shouldn’t even be a question.” I leaned in, brushing my lips along her jawline. “You’re all I think about, Red. Every damn second.”

Her smile deepened as she kissed me again, slow and deliberate. “I feel it every day I’m with you.”

And that—her knowing it, feeling it—was all I could ever ask for.

Before the moment could escalate, my mother’s voice called out for us to take pictures. I exhaled, forcing myself to pull back. “We should join them.”

We spent the rest of the time capturing moments with the skyline, then had lunch at the restaurant on the ground floor. The conversation was light, filled with laughter, mostly about the neighborhoods we’d seen earlier.

“The views here are almost as good as the food,” Abigail said, smiling across the table at me.

I held her gaze. “The views are incredible.”

She shook her head, amusement flickering in her eyes. “You’re looking at me.”

I leaned in just enough for only her to hear. “And I have no plans to stop.”

Abigail-Ann

The Empire State Building exceeded my expectations, made unforgettable by exploring it with Mikkel and his parents. Valeria insisted on dozens of pictures, and while Mikkel groaned, he indulged her, his smile returning each time she teased, “One day, you’ll be glad I made you do this,hijo.148”

Now, back in the bedroom, I was packing for our trip to San Francisco while Mikkel hadn’t returned from his meeting. A soft knock at the door startled me. I turned to find Valeria standing in the doorway, a small box in her hands and a gentle smile on her face.

“Do you have a moment,cariño?149” she asked, stepping inside.

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