Always You || Simon Minter (miniminter)

Chapter 44

I eventually make it to the little café Freya booked a table for, my fingers numb from the cold by the time I push the door open. The warmth hits me instantly, along with the smell of coffee and baked pastries. I spot Freya straight away and she lights up when she sees me.

"Millie!" she calls, standing up.

I drop my bag and wrap my arms around her, squeezing tight. God, I needed this. I love the boys, I really do, but lately my entire life has revolved around shoots, schedules and Simon's moods. Some girl time feels like oxygen.

We sit opposite each other, menus forgotten almost immediately.

"How are you?" Freya asks, her smile softening as she studies my face. "You look... tired."

I let out a small breath. "I am. Not physically—just mentally." I hesitate for a second, then decide there's no point sugar-coating it. "It's Simon."

Her eyebrows lift, but she doesn't interrupt, just waits.

"He's been off for a while," I continue, wrapping my hands around my mug when it arrives. "Jealous, I guess. Or... insecure. He finally told me yesterday what's been going on in his head, and now everything kind of makes sense, but it's still a lot."

Freya leans forward. "About what?"

"Harry," I say simply. "And the comments. Ever since Ibiza, people keep shipping us—liking edits, commenting hearts, saying we look good together. Simon sees it all. Even when he says he doesn't, I know he does."

I shake my head, frustrated. "It's like it's planted this doubt in him. Not that I'd ever do anything, but I think it makes him question whether he's enough, or whether people see something he doesn't."

Freya frowns. "That's horrible. Especially when it's literally strangers online."

"Exactly," I say. "But he takes it all to heart. He told me it made him doubt everything—us, himself, even moments that happened nearly a year ago. Like New Year's. Like Ibiza. Like he's replaying it all in his head and punishing himself for things that never even happened."

I stir my coffee slowly. "And I love him, Frey. I really do. But watching him spiral over something I can't control... it's draining. I reassure him constantly, but sometimes I don't think he believes it sticks."

She reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. "That's not on you, Millie. You're doing everything right."

"I know," I sigh. "And part of me understands it. He's been getting hate lately too, more than usual. So I think the jealousy, the protectiveness—it's all mixed together. He's hurting, and I just don't know how to fix it."

Freya gives me a knowing look. "You can't fix it. You can support him, but he has to work through it himself."

I nod, chewing on my lip. "I think that's the hardest part. I just want him to feel secure. I want him to know I choose him. Every day."

She smiles softly. "From the outside? It's obvious you do."

That helps more than she probably realises.

Our food arrives and the conversation lightens naturally. We talk about work, about random TikToks Freya's obsessed with, about Halloween plans. She laughs when I tell her about the corpse bride costume idea and immediately starts listing makeup looks I could try.

For a little while, my chest feels lighter.

But even as I laugh, a part of my mind drifts back to Simon—probably alone in his office, scrolling through comments he shouldn't be reading. I make a mental note to check in with him later. Not to confront, not to reassure again—but just to remind him I'm there.