I knew it, I know you

Between Milan and Gracie

Albert's POV

I stared out the window of the black car as it wound through the narrow streets of London, the city's gray skies mirroring my mood. The driver chatted about the usual—traffic, the weather—but my mind was miles away, stuck somewhere between Milan and Gracie.

Milan had been everything I'd hoped for and more. The show had gone off without a hitch, the designers had been thrilled, and Sophie... well, Sophie had been her usual charming self. But none of that mattered when I couldn't shake the image of Gracie's face from my mind. She had seemed off in our last conversation, her voice strained, her words careful, and it gnawed at me.

I reached for my phone, checking for any new messages from her. Nothing. I frowned, feeling a pang of unease. She said it was nothing, but I knew her too well. Something was bothering her, and I hated being so far away, unable to do anything about it.

As we pulled up to my family's townhouse, I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering worry. My family always managed to put things in perspective, and I needed that right now. It had been too long since I'd been home, and the familiar surroundings brought a sense of comfort I hadn't realized I missed.

The front door swung open before I even reached it, and there was my mother, her smile wide and warm.

-Albert! Look at you, all grown up and jet-setting around the world, - she teased, pulling me into a tight hug.

I chuckled, hugging her back.

 -It's good to see you, Mum. I've missed this place.

-Come in, come in. Your father's in the study, but he'll be out soon. He's been looking forward to seeing you.

I followed her inside, the warmth of the house enveloping me. It was the same as always, yet there was something comforting about the familiarity. My mother led me to the kitchen, where the smell of her cooking filled the air. It was another thing I missed—her food always tasted like home.

As we sat down to a meal, the conversation flowed easily, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Gracie. My mother noticed, of course. She always did.

-Albert, is everything alright? You seem a bit distracted. - she asked, her voice gentle.

I hesitated, unsure how much to share.

-It's just... there's someone I care about. A lot. But she's going through something, and I'm not sure how to help her.

My mother's eyes softened. 

-This is the girl you've mentioned before? Gracie?

I nodded, surprised at how easily the words came.

 -Yeah. She's... incredible. But I think she's scared, and I don't know how to make her feel safe.

My mother reached across the table, placing her hand over mine.

-Love isn't about fixing everything, Albert. Sometimes, it's just about being there, letting the other person know they don't have to go through it alone. She'll come to you when she's ready.

I sighed, nodding. 

-I know. I just... I don't want her to feel like she's dealing with this on her own.

-And she won't. Not if you keep showing her that you're there, no matter what. You've always been good at that—making people feel like they can count on you.

Her words were reassuring, but the worry still lingered. After dinner, I retreated to my old room, the one that had remained mostly untouched since I'd left. I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at my phone again, debating whether to call Gracie or just give her space.