Page 99 of Before Dawn

I gestured wildly at the venue. “The outfit. The venue. Mikkel, are we going to see Lana?”

He smirked, pulling two VIP tickets from the glove compartment. “We’re going to see Lana.”

I gawked at him, my pulse racing. My eyes darted between the tickets and his face, trying to process what was happening. “I’m going to have a heart attack. You…this…oh my gosh!”

He reached over, taking my hand and squeezing it gently. “Breathe, Red. Let’s go. We’ve got floor seats.”

Floor seats. I was going to melt.

He climbed out first, opening my door with a steady hand, and we walked toward the entrance. Grinning, I followed him through the crowd, his hand firmly on my waist, guiding me. When we reached our seats, I nearly teared up—front and center, the best view in the house.

“Mikkel,” I breathed, turning to him. The words I wanted to say eluded me, so I just stared, hoping he’d understand what I couldn’t express.

He smiled, his expression softer now, and leaned in close enough that I could feel his breath against my ear. “Anything for you.”

The concert started with an explosion of lights and sound, and the crowd erupted in cheers. From the first note, I was completely swept up in it, singing along with the songs I’d memorized years ago.

Mikkel didn’t jump and shout, but I could tell he was enjoying it in his own way. His eyes never left me for long, and whenever I glanced at him, he’d smile—a real, genuine smile that made my heart ache in the best way.

At one point, I joined a group of strangers singing along to “Born to Die,” swaying with them as if we’d known each other forever. Mikkel captured it all, his phone held steady as he took videos and pictures of me.

When I returned to him, breathless and exhilarated, he wrapped an arm around me and leaned in close. “You’re having fun?”

“More than fun,” I replied, my head resting against his shoulder. “This is perfect.”

All night, he spoiled me, making sure I had anything I wanted—a drink, a snack, a souvenir. By the time the concert ended and we stepped outside, I was still on a high, practically floating.

I turned to him, my smile so wide it hurt. “This was the best night of my life.”

“Seeing you happy is worth everything, Red.”

His words struck deep, warmth blooming in my chest. I looked away, blinking fast. How did he always know what to say—make me feel treasured?

We walked on, his hand steady in mine. I glanced at him, amazed by his calm after everything tonight—the outfit, the venue, the energy. Anyone else would’ve been overwhelmed, but not Mikkel. He stood beside me, unwavering, as if nothing could change the way he saw me.

I still couldn’t believe he’d let me wear this outfit, let alone that he was the one who bought it—looking ready for the spotlight instead of the crowd. Joshua would’ve lost it—accusations, threats, making me feel ashamed, like my body wasn’t mine to dress. But Mikkel? He hadn’t even flinched. He just looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered.Like I was meant to be seen.

Before I knew it, I stopped in my tracks again, and when he turned to me, confusion flashing in his eyes, I didn’t even think. I kissed him.

It wasn’t planned or even logical. It was instinctual, like something I’d been holding back for too long. The second our lips met, the world blurred—just him, just this.

He didn’t hesitate. His free hand came up to cradle my face, his touch gentle but sure, and kissed me back like he’d been waiting, like he already knew exactly how to meet me in this moment. His lips were soft and warm against mine, his thumb brushing lightly over my cheek, and the way he kissed me—it wasn’t rushed or demanding. It was deep, steady, unshakable.

Like he wanted me to feel every second of it.

Like he needed me to know this was real.

And I felt it.

I felt it in the way my heart pounded, in the way my body melted intohis, in the way every inch of me screamed that this—this—was different. Because for the first time, a kiss wasn’t about proving something or seeking reassurance. It was about being wanted. About being chosen.

When we finally pulled apart, I was breathless, my heart a wild, unsteady thing. His gaze locked onto mine, dark and searching, filled with something unspoken—something I felt all the way to my toes.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.” His voice was low and steady, but the emotion in it made my knees weak. “And it was even better than I imagined.”

My chest tightened at his words, my breath catching as I smiled softly and whispered, “Me too.”

His hand stayed on my face for a moment longer, his thumb tracing an invisible pattern on my skin, like he wasn’t ready to let go just yet. Then he leaned in and pressed a kiss to my forehead—tender, lingering.Like a promise.

---