Always You || Simon Minter (miniminter)

Chaptet 46

Oh she be a LONG one and all in Simon's pov hehe :)

Simon

The party is thinning out.

Not all at once — just slowly. Music turned down a notch, coats appearing over costumes, the kitchen sink filling with plastic cups. That comfortable, slightly sad feeling you only get when a good night is ending.

Millie drifts away from me, pulled toward Freya and a couple of the girls who want "one last photo before we go." She shoots me a quick smile over her shoulder, fingers brushing mine before she's gone.

I watch her for a second longer than I probably need to.

I'm not anxious this time. Not tight-chested, not bracing for something. Just... thoughtful.

"Alright, Victor," Harry says, appearing beside me with two drinks. He hands me one. "You survived."

"Barely," I reply, clinking my cup with his.

We lean against the kitchen counter, shoulder to shoulder like we have a thousand times before. No cameras. No audience. Just us.

For a moment, we don't say anything. The noise of the flat fills the space — laughter, goodbyes, JJ shouting something incomprehensible from the living room.

I take a breath. "Can I ask you something?"

Harry glances at me. "Yeah, course."

I hesitate. Old instincts tell me to keep it in, not make it awkward. But I'm tired of letting things rot in my head.

"You know... the stuff people say online," I start. "About Millie. About you."

Harry snorts immediately. "Oh my god."

I huff a quiet laugh. "Yeah. That."

He turns properly to face me now, expression serious but easy. "Si, it's bollocks."

I nod slowly, eyes on my drink. "I know that. Logically. It's just—"

"It gets loud," he finishes for me.

I look up at him, surprised.

"Mate," Harry says, softer now. "They'll ship anyone who stands next to anyone for more than ten seconds. If it wasn't me, it'd be someone else. You two are solid. She's amazing, you're amazing, and you're both good for each other. Stop doubting it."

I exhale slowly, trying to let it sink in. "I know... I know we're good. I've just... been seeing the comments, people liking things, speculating. And it gets in my head. I don't want to ruin anything with her — with you."

Harry gives me a reassuring look. "Si, nothing could ruin what you two have. You clearly care about her. She cares about you. That's what matters. Not some nonsense online."

I run a hand through my hair, voice quieter. "It's just... I know it hasn't been long. Eight months, that's it. But I... I feel like I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I know I want to marry her."

Harry's eyebrows lift slightly. "Mate... that's not short. That's love. And she's lucky to have you feeling that way."

I shrug, a small laugh escaping me. "Maybe. I just... I needed to hear it. I needed someone to tell me it's okay to feel this."

Harry pulls me into a hug. "It's more than okay. It's right. She's the one. Don't let anything — anyone — make you question that. Not fans, not comments, not me, not anyone." He mumbles into my shoulder.

Across the room, Millie catches my eye. She's laughing, head thrown back, blue veil slightly crooked, camera flashes going off around her.

She looks back at me, eyes soft, checking in.