Page 40 of Before Dawn

I blinked.

Not my number.My Instagram.

My fingers curled around the strap of my bag before I even realized it. Men rarely asked for anything other than my number—because they thought they wereentitledto it. I’d had a man grab my wrist once, yanking when I refused, slurring insults in my ear as I wrenched myself away. Another had followed me forblocks, shouting how I was stuck-up, ugly, a tease.

So no, it wasn’t weird at all. It was… a relief.

“Not at all,” I said, surprising myself. “It’s abi_asher.”

He nodded, his expression unreadable.Thoughtful.

“Thank you,” he mused. “So, where are you off to, Abigail?”

“San Francisco for a bit,” I said, adjusting the strap of my bag.

He hummed. “I’m headed home, too. My cousin’s engagement party, then businessin Chicago.”

“Home as in?”

“Sacramento.” He tilted his head. “And I hope your trip is great, Red.”

“I hope you enjoy yours too, Mikkel.” A soft chuckle escaped me. “Thought you were calling me Abigail now?”

He shrugged. “Depends. How many people call you Red?”

“A couple,” I teased.

He gave an exaggerated pout. “Really?”

“No,” I admitted. “You’re the first.”

Something flickered in his expression—pleased, almost smug—but it softened into something else when he murmured, “I hope to be the last.”

The words were so quiet, I almost convinced myself I imagined them.

“Huh?”

“Nothing at all, Red.” His grin was slow, teasing, and dangerous.

Before I could press him, the intercom crackled to life, announcing my flight’s boarding. I exhaled, a part of me reluctant to leave this conversation unfinished.

“Well,” I sighed, adjusting my bag, “looks like that’s my cue. It was nice seeing you again, Mikkel.”

His smile held something unreadable. “The pleasure is all mine.”

I turned, stepping toward the gate, but the moment I disappeared into the crowd, I knew.

This wasn’t over.

Not even close.

The plane touched down with a jolt, and I exhaled, relieved to be back in San Francisco after that turbulence-filled flight.

Stepping into the arrivals area, I scanned the sea of travelers until my eyes landed on Aurora, her bright smile standing out even in the crowded terminal.

“Abigail!” she called, waving me over.

I rushed to the car and pulled her into a hug. “Aurora, I missed you.”

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