Mia sat curled on the couch, her blanket wrapped tightly around her shoulders as the city lights blinked faintly through her window. It was quiet, too quiet. The kind of quiet that pressed down on her chest until she could hardly breathe. The TV was on, a soft hum in the background, but she wasn't watching it. Her eyes stayed glued to the dark screen of her phone lying on the coffee table.
How many times had she picked it up today? How many times had she scrolled through her call log, her messages, just hoping to see his name appear? Too many to count. And every time there was nothing, her heart sank a little deeper.
She had tried to convince herself it didn't matter, that Ryan was busy, that life couldn't stop just because she missed him. But every excuse she made sounded hollow in her head. And then Suzanne's words echoed back—her smug voice, that fake picture. He was at my house, making babies with me.
Mia shook her head, trying to push it away. She knew Suzan. She knew the woman would do anything to get Ryan's attention. But still, the doubt had rooted itself deep inside her chest.
Just as she was about to give in to the tears threatening to fall, her phone buzzed sharply against the table. The sudden vibration made her jump. She blinked at the screen.
Her heart nearly stopped.
Ryan.
Her hands trembled as she reached for it. She stared at his name for several seconds, almost afraid that if she answered, it would all turn out to be a dream. But finally, with a shaky breath, she swiped the screen.
"Hello?" Her voice came out soft, fragile, like it might break if she tried to say more.
"Mia." His deep voice filled the line, rich with emotion. It was the first time in days she had heard him, and just that sound unraveled something tight inside her.
She pressed a hand to her chest. "Ryan…"
There was silence for a heartbeat, like he was drinking in the sound of her voice as much as she was his. Then he spoke again, hurried, almost desperate. "How are you? How's the company? Have you been managing okay without me?"
Mia let out a shaky laugh, though it was tinged with bitterness. "I've been… surviving. The company hasn't burned down yet, so that's something." She paused, her throat tightening. "But I thought you forgot about me. You didn't call. Not once."
His exhale was heavy, filled with guilt. "Never. I could never forget you, Mia. Not even for a second. I'm sorry… for making you feel like I did. I should have called. I wanted to. But everything here has been… complicated." His voice dropped, softer, almost breaking. "But you—every night, you were in my thoughts."
Her lips trembled. "Then why did it feel like I was alone?"
Ryan's silence was long, but not empty. She could almost hear the regret weighing down his chest. Finally, he said, "Because I was a fool. I thought… if I pulled away for a while, I could focus on fixing things here without distracting myself. But the truth is, I can't function without you. Not really. You're not my distraction, Mia. You're my anchor."
The tears she had been holding back spilled over, sliding down her cheeks. She quickly wiped them, though he couldn't see. "Ryan…" she whispered. "You don't know how much I needed to hear that."
"I do," he said firmly. "Because I needed to say it. And I'll say it a hundred times more if that's what it takes. I missed you, Mia. Every little thing about you. Your voice. Your smile. Even the way you scold me when I'm being stubborn. Especially that."
A soft laugh escaped her, broken by a sniffle. "You're ridiculous."
"Ridiculously in love with you," he countered without hesitation, his tone warm and teasing, yet so sincere it made her chest flutter.
She bit her lip, her heart racing. "Do you promise you'll come back soon? That this isn't just… words?"
"I promise," Ryan said, his voice steady and sure. "Soon, Mia. I'll be back. And when I am, I'll take care of everything—the company, the pack, all of it. But most of all… I'll take care of you. No one—not Suzanne, not Daniel, not anyone—will come between us again. You're mine. You've always been mine."
Mia closed her eyes, letting the warmth of his words sink into the cold parts of her heart. "I'll hold you to that," she murmured, smiling through her tears.
"Good," he said softly, a smile audible in his voice. "Because when I see you again, the first thing I'm going to do is show you exactly how much you mean to me. And believe me, words won't be enough."
Her cheeks flushed. "You always know what to say."
"I don't," he admitted. "Not really. I just know what I feel. And that's you, Mia. Always you."
For the next hour, they talked. About little things at first—how her day had gone, the projects she managed at the company, the meals she had been cooking for herself. Ryan listened carefully, asking about every detail, even teasing her about how she burned toast once. She laughed, the sound lighter than it had been in weeks.
Then he told her about his long days—though he left out the dangerous details, his voice softened when he admitted how much he missed the quiet moments with her. The breakfasts. The late-night movies. The way she fell asleep in his arms.
At one point, Mia yawned softly. "I should probably go to sleep soon. I have an early meeting tomorrow."
Ryan's chuckle was low and affectionate. "Then go to bed, baby. I'll stay on the line until you do."
Her heart melted. "You don't have to—"
"I want to," he said firmly. "I don't want to hang up yet. Not when I finally have you here with me, even if it's just your voice."
Mia lay down, curling under her blanket, phone pressed to her ear. Her eyes grew heavy, but she fought sleep, wanting to hold onto him a little longer.
"Ryan?" she whispered.
"Yes, baby?"
"Don't leave me again."
His voice was a vow, strong and unyielding. "Never. Not again. Rest now, Mia. Dream of me. I'll be back before you know it."
Her lips curved in the faintest smile. "Goodnight, Ryan."
"Goodnight, my love."
Her breathing steadied as sleep pulled her in, but Ryan stayed on the line, listening. Even with miles between them, it felt like he was right there beside her.
And for the first time in weeks, Mia's dreams were peaceful.