Always You || Simon Minter (miniminter)

Chapter 28

Sleep doesn't come.

I lie there curled on my side, facing the wall, trying to breathe through the tremor in my chest. My room feels too cold, too quiet, too far away from everything and everyone.

And Simon's voice from the car keeps replaying in my head.

I can't see you like that. Not again.

I squeeze my eyes shut, but it doesn't stop the sting. At some point, footsteps creak in the hallway. Slow. Heavy. Hesitant.

JJ.

He knocks once, soft. "Millie? You awake?"

I wipe my cheeks with the back of my sleeve. "Yeah."

He cracks the door and peers in. He looks exhausted — like he hasn't sat down since we came home.

"You scared the shit out of him," he murmurs. "And you scared me."

"I know," I whisper.

He steps inside, but only barely, his hand holding the door. "You want me to stay in here tonight?"

The offer makes something warm bloom under the ache — JJ has always been the safe one, the steady one.

But I shake my head. "I'm okay. I just... need to think."

He hesitates, jaw tightening. "Alright. But you call me. Anything — you call."

"I will."

JJ gives me a last searching look, then leaves, pulling the door almost shut behind him. I hear him walk to his room, pause, then sigh and close the door.

Silence again.

I toss and turn, frustration bubbling in my chest. My head won't stop replaying everything — Chris, the car park, Simon's face when he saw me.

I sit up, pressing my palms to my eyes.

I don't want to be alone. Not tonight. Not after everything.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I slip out from under the covers and open my door. The hallway is dim, lit by the soft glow of the nightlight at the end. Simon's door is closed.

Going to him might be stupid. We're not okay. He doesn't want to look at me right now.

But my feet move anyway.

I knock quietly.

No answer.

I turn the handle slowly, it isn't locked.

The room is dark, but the faint blue from his PC monitors glows across the bed. Simon is lying on his back, one arm over his eyes, chest rising in slow, uneven breaths. He's awake. Or at least... not properly asleep.

I stand there, frozen, unsure if I should speak, leave, apologise.

His voice cuts through the silence, low and tired, "...Millie?"

My heart stutters. "Yeah."

He doesn't move. Doesn't look at me. Just says, barely audible, "Are you okay?"

I swallow. "No."

A beat.

Then he shifts to the side, lifting the duvet wordlessly.

An invitation without forgiveness. A truce without words. I walk over, slide into the space beside him. The mattress dips under my weight.

He still doesn't look at me.

But when I turn onto my side, facing the ceiling, his hand finds mine under the duvet, a soft, unsure touch.

Not a reconciliation.

Just... comfort.

Just I'm still here.

We fall asleep like that, silent, tense, both exhausted beyond measure — fingers barely intertwined.

-

I wake slowly, the morning sun piercing through the blinds. My head aches slightly and my body feels heavy. I glance around and realise I'm in Simon's bed. Simon. I need to find him. I need to apologise.

I swing my legs off the bed and creep toward the door, careful not to make a sound. Voices drift from the hallway — Simon and someone else.

"We're all heading out today, and if she isn't your girlfriend by the time we get back, I'll kill you." Vik's voice.

"Right, whatever mate. Enjoy," Simon mutters.

"Tell her I'll call her when I land, I don't want to wake her." JJ's voice.

The bedroom door starts to open, I freeze, panic rising, and slip back onto the bed, pretending to have just woken up.

A soft chuckle interrupts my thoughts. "Good morning." Simon's face appears over the bed, a small smile tugging at his lips, dimples showing. His eyes look gentle, but there's something else — lingering tension.

"Hi," I murmur, rubbing my eyes. He sits beside me, hands resting loosely on his knees.

There's a pause. I can't bear it any longer. "Simon..."

He exhales, finally meeting my gaze. "Look... about last night. I shouldn't have yelled. I just... I couldn't—"

"I know," I interrupt, voice shaky. "And I should've told you. I should've been honest. I'm so sorry I lied to you."

He reaches for me, pulling me into a hug. I let myself melt into him, feeling the weight of fear, guilt, and relief dissipate in the warmth of his chest. His heartbeat steadies mine.

"Millie," he whispers, pulling back just enough to look at me, eyes searching mine. "You scared me. I can't..." He swallows, lips pressing into a tight line. "I can't ever see you in danger again. Not like that. Do you understand?"

"I understand," I murmur, fingers curling into his hoodie. "I won't put myself in that position again."

His gaze softens, dimples on full display as he smiles faintly. "Good. Because I... I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you. You're mine, Millie."

I blink, heat rising in my chest. "Yours?"

"Yeah," he says firmly, voice steady, leaving no room for argument. "You're mine. If you'll have me."

I smile despite myself, a mix of relief and something stronger, something I've been holding back. "I'll have you."

He grins, tugging me to my feet. "Then get ready. McDonalds waits, and I'm not letting you beat me there."

I groan, trying to protest, but he dips his head and brushes a soft kiss against my lips. "Meet me downstairs in thirty," he murmurs, dimples and crinkles around his eyes making my heart stutter.

I rush to my room, quickly throwing on black jeans, a white hoodie, and some Vans. I brush through my hair to tame the bed head, wash my face, and brush my teeth, the conversation from this morning still replaying in my mind. Maybe things really are looking up for Simon and me.

When I reach the bottom of the stairs, Simon is already there, grinning like the world couldn't touch him. He holds his hand out, and I take it gladly. "For some reason," he says, "I set up the camera." I glance at the dash — sure enough, I'm in view. He just smiles and presses record.

"Put a song on," he says, handing me his phone. I scroll through Spotify and pick Eminem's Shake That.

"Three to the one, to the one, to the three!" Simon shouts at the top of his lungs, startling me.

"I like good pussy and I like good trees!" I shout back, laughing and pointing at the camera. Simon bursts out laughing, eyes crinkling, dimples on full display.

Before I know it, the drive to McDonalds has turned into full-blown carpool karaoke. Every laugh, every playful shout, every glance at him makes me forget the fear and tension from last night. For the first time since Chris, I feel light. Safe.

So sorry guys updates will be a bit slower now, I have so much college work to do as I have exams coming up soon. But I have an idea for another book once I finish this one if anyone will be interested, not decided wether it'll be a Simon or Harry one so let me know what you would prefer! Thank you all again for the support on this❤️