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Damien stands suddenly, and crosses the distance between us without drawing anyone’s attention. They’re all doing something, focused on it. And I’m still trying to catch my breath.

When he reaches me, he stops when his body blocks me from everyone else.

“Look at me.”

His fingers find the back of my hand, one soft tap there and my eyes find his.

“I’ve got you. No one is looking. Breathe.”

Another tap, slower this time. He holds my gaze for another second, then turns toward the counter like nothing happened.

“Can you help me with something?” he asks, voice loud. Then lower for me, “Come with me,” he whispers.

I walk upstairs after thanking Edna, and he’s behind me following every step I take.

We quickly reach the guest room where my gift for Milo is.

Damien closes the door behind him, the moment we’re in. He doesn’t speak, he simply looks at me and then after a few seconds he says, “Come here.”

I do. His hand closes gently around my wrist, thumb brushing over my pulse.

“Your eyes on me, Mireya.” I lift my eyes, and there’s nothing soft in his expression but his hand is careful. “Breathe.”

I try, he waits, and when I struggle I feel it again. A tap. His fingers touch mine again. “Again,” he demands in an almost severe voice.

I breathe in, then slowly exhale, my eyes never leaving his.

“That’s good.” The sentence is somehow approving, and something in my chest loosens.

His gaze drops briefly to my mouth before returning to my eyes. “I don’t want you thinking about him right now.”

My throat tightens when I reply, “I can’t just–”

He cuts me off as his hand wraps around the back of my neck. “You can.” He pulls me closer, lowering his voice, “Whatever he said can wait.” His thumb presses slowly against my jaw. “I’m here. With you.”

For a moment, I don’t move, then melt against him, my head falls on his chest and his fingers tangle in my hair.

We stay like that for a few minutes, and after a soft kiss on the top of my head, his eyes flick toward the wrapping paper and gift.

“Let me help you wrap this,” he whispers, pulling away as he grabs my hand.

“That’s your plan?”

He nods as he stares at everything, “The only one I have right now.”

A soft laugh escapes me, and somehow that’s enough to make the girl who disappeared come back.

We start, and I can tell he never did this before. It takes him three tries to understand how to wrap a gift correctly. A small smile tugs on the corner of my lips when he slips it into a colorful bag that says ‘Happy Birthday’ on it in a metallic blue lettering.

After that, he steps closer to me, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear and my eyes dart upwards to find his gaze.

“I want you to always be happy,” he says softly.

“I am, I promise,” I reply as I stand up. “But don’t stop repeating it…”

“I won’t, until I’m sure of it,” he replies, certain.

I turn to head towards downstairs as he shuts the bedroom door behind us.