Some sensitive content. Written out of compassion only.
Mac's POV
I take a deep breath and cool down, thinking to myself about how Ariana would be scared if I was angry in front of her.
On the other hand, I've got to protect my baby.
"Sean" I say indifferently, sliding between so that Ari hides behind me, clinging onto my arm and peering past my shoulder.
"Mac."
"Sean. What are you doing here?"
"Just saying hi to Ariana."
"-. Last time I checked, grabbing someone by the wrist is not 'just saying hi." I roll my eyes.
Sean looks at me defiantly. But he's a good guy, so he doesn't defend himself.
He looks straight through me at Ari.
"I'm sorry Ariana."
There is a silence. Ari's grip loosening on my arm.
I feel slightly uncomfortable.
I just feel like that sorry was on a much, much deeper level.
Sean turns to me.
"I'm sorry too man. I was just catching a flight to Paris. I wasn't trying to steal your girl."
"I'm not an accessory Sean." Ari says through gritted teeth.
Sean ignores her and looks back at me.
"Treat her right Mac.
You are holding what was once my world.
I could have been her husband,
the father to her kids.
But I blew it."
And he is gone.
I turn to Ari. She looks up at me as we share a glance of knowing.
"Did he hurt you baby?"
"No." She shrugs. "He said hi, then he tried to check out my ring. I didn't want him to do that."
"Ok." I take her hand. Asking no further questions.
"Our gate has opened so we better go catch the flight."
She squeezes my hand and smiles gently.
"Portugal here we come." She tugs me towards the gate.
.........
5:30 am, BARCELONA.
Ari's POV
My text tone chimes.
Not once.
60 times.
...
My text tone has never chimed 60 times.
.
Something must have happened.
.
My heart is racing so fast.
I try and squeezed under Malcolm's arms, but he has me cradled in an iron strong grip, pressed up against his chest.
"MAC, WAKE UP MAC."
He sits suddenly in utter fear and shock,
When he see's I'm in his arms.
He relaxes immediately.
"Let go I need to get to my phone."
I take my phone from the bedside table and scan my newsfeed.
A text from Nicki appears at the top.
"Ariana get that weed out of your system. If you're not on weed. Someone has hacked your Insta account. Fix it before they post something SERIOUS babygirl."
I look up to the heavens and praise the lord that I have no nudes on my phone.
When I see what the hacker has posted I feel sick. Not just sick. Terrified. And immensely humoured.
The posts are crude but lighthearted.
"Thank god they kept this shit PG." I murmur under my breath.
We contact Instagram, shut it the hacker down immediately.
By 7am everything is back to normal. My passwords have been changed and Malcolm and I are sitting out on the porch enjoying the mountainous Spanish scenery and drinking coffee.
Malcolm is smoking.
I guess I'm okay with it.
I mean. I wish he wouldn't. I care about him.
But that's a serious conversation I will save for another day. He's struggled enough with being sober.
"Ari?"
"Yes." I peel my gaze from the scenery to his beautiful green eyes.
"If we ever had kids." He takes his cigarette from his lips, " what would we call them?"
I am a little taken aback by what Mac just said.
"Kids?" I blush
Malcolm nods, shrugging.
" Not saying we will... it's just. If we do."
"Mm..."
"Perhaps." He ponders " If it was a boy, Eddie. If a girl, Sophia, or something beautiful like that."
I lift my eyes to meet his.
" I was thinking Saffie."
I smile a little. "If we had a girl."
There is a silence between us.
He smiles. But his eyes swim with tears.
I've never seen Malcolm cry before.
He's always been so strong for me.
I reach out and take his hand, the Spanish sun gifts us with comforting warmth.
I say nothing.
It's one of those things, that words cannot do justice to.
So I get up. Go over. Sit on his lap and hug him.
I smell the redolences of toffee and coffee as I hold him tight.
It's my favourite smell.
The smell of the man I love.
"Malcom?"
"Ari —"
I look down into his eyes.
His gorgeous green eyes.
"Malcolm. Can I kiss you?"
There is no answer as his.
His lips crash into mine gently.
I part my lips and kiss him back. Tenderly.
"I love you."
