Mia's POV — Late Night, After Tony Leaves
The silence in the house was thicker than usual.
Mia lay on the couch, legs curled under her as the soft glow from the lamp painted the walls a warm amber. Her hair, still slightly damp from her evening shower, clung to her shoulders. She wore one of her oversized sweatshirts. One of the few things that made her feel normal outside the stage lights and magazine covers.
But her mind?
Still with him.
Tony.
That awkwardly sweet blush when he saw her in the morning. The way he turned his head when she greeted him. The careful distance he kept, like he didn't trust himself to step too close.
And then, just before he left—
"Remember, I'm here to listen."
She said it without thinking too hard. But now it kept echoing back, threading itself through her chest like a quiet promise.
Her fingers hovered over her phone. It was stupid. It was late. He was probably asleep by now, back in that huge mansion of his with more rooms than anyone could fill.
But still…
She dialed.
Just one ring.
Two.
"...Hello?"
That voice.
Low, groggy—but alert. He hadn't been asleep either.
"I didn't wake you, did I?" she asked, her tone casual, but her heart nowhere near calm.
There was a pause on the other end, then a quiet exhale. "No. I… was just lying down."
She smiled, the corners of her lips curling without effort.
"I figured. You sound like someone who's staring at their ceiling and thinking too much."
He chuckled lightly. "You're not wrong."
Silence stretched, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was the kind that sat between two people who didn't need to fill every space with words.
"Tony," she whispered, softer now, "I meant what I said. You don't have to hold everything in all the time."
"I know," he replied. "And I heard you. I really did."
"I just…" she sighed, biting her bottom lip, "I know I can be a little much. But I don't want you to feel like you're alone when you're not."
He didn't answer right away. She imagined him lying on his bed, probably still in his clothes, one arm over his forehead, eyes staring up.
"I'm not good at this, Mia."
"At what?"
"Letting people in. Trusting them. Especially after everything."
She pressed the phone tighter to her ear.
"I don't need you to open every wound," she said. "Just... maybe crack a window once in a while. Let some light in. Let me in."
Another pause.
Then, quietly, "You're dangerous, you know that?"
Mia blinked. "Dangerous? Me?"
"Yeah," he murmured. "You make me want things I told myself to stop wanting a long time ago."
Her heart caught in her throat. "Like what?"
"Warmth. Peace. Maybe... someone who sees past the name. Past the lies. Someone who sees me."
Her breath hitched.
And then—
"I wish you were here right now," she whispered.
A beat.
"Same."
They both laughed, small and unsure.
Then Tony added, "If I was, would you still be wearing that giant sweatshirt?"
Mia gasped, playfully. "Excuse me, this is peak comfort fashion!"
"I bet it swallows you whole."
"It does! And I look adorable, thank you very much."
He chuckled. "I believe it."
Mia twirled a lock of her hair between her fingers. "And what about you? Still in your shirt from today? Or did you finally change into something less… CEO-ish?"
Tony snorted. "I'm in a t-shirt now. Happy?"
"Very. Next time, I'll pick your sleepwear myself."
"Should I be worried?"
"Terrified."
They both laughed again, and the distance between them didn't feel so big anymore.
After a moment, Mia sighed, her voice turning quieter. "Thanks for picking up, Tony."
"Thanks for calling," he replied. "You made tonight a little less... heavy."
She smiled. "Get some rest, okay?"
"You too."
She hesitated. Then, softly, "Goodnight, Tony."
"Goodnight… Mia."
She didn't hang up immediately. Neither did he. They stayed like that for a while—listening to each other breathe, both smiling in the dark, both thinking the same thing but not ready to say it.
Yet.
End of Bonus Chapter