Matched his breaths to hers. Called her baby like he used to. Waited like he always did when she was scared— never pushing, never demanding.
Her heart shattered right there on the pavement.
She blinked, tears streaking hot down her cheeks.
Then everything cracked open.
She folded forward, collapsing into his arms like her body had decided for her. He caught her instantly. Wrapped himself around her like armor. His hands moved over her back, her shoulders, her hair. Soothing. Familiar. Safe.
“You’re okay,” he murmured into her hair. “You’re okay. I’ve got you.”
She didn’t fight him. Didn’t want to.
Didn’t pretend she was fine.
Didn’t pretend she didn’t still love him.
Didn’t pretend that being held by him didn’t feel like the first time she could breathe in years.
She didn’t know how long they sat there— wrapped in the quiet hum of the parking lot, the cooling pavement beneath them, her body slowly unwinding from the grip of panic.
Eventually, her breathing steadied. The tightness in her chest loosened enough to let air in without pain. Her fingers unclenched from the fabric of her dress. She didn’t move from his arms, though. Not yet. She couldn’t.
Dylan shifted first, just enough to ease back and tilt her chin with the gentlest pressure from his fingers.
“Hey,” he said softly, coaxing her gaze up.
But she kept her eyes down, or to the right, anywhere but on him. Her face was still blotchy, hot from the aftershock of the panic attack— and worse, from the embarrassment. She hated that he’d seen her like this. Again.
“Ali,” he said again, firmer this time. “Look at me.”
She did, finally. Briefly. Then her lashes dropped again, like her body betrayed her.
He stilled. And then she saw it— realization dawning in his eyes. The soft click of understanding.
“It’s not just the panic, is it?” he murmured. “You’re embarrassed.”
Her lips parted, ready to lie. To deny it. But she was too tired. Too raw. So she just gave a tiny shrug, her cheeks flaming hotter.
He moved closer, ready to reassure her— his eyes already gentle, his voice gearing up to soothe.
But she cut him off.
“What about her?”
He blinked. “Who?”
“Cali,” she said, “or whatever.”
A pause. Then he chuckled. Just a puff of air through his nose, but it was something.
“It’s Kay-Lee,” he said, smiling softly. “She’s my agent. And one of my closest friends. Nothing more.”
Ali arched a brow, skeptical. “You sure? She looked pretty comfortable following you around all night.”
Dylan huffed. “She’s actually half in love with my teammate, but they think they hate each other, so that’s gonna implode one day.”
Ali blinked. “Wait— seriously?”
