Mind Code (Coded Connections Duet #2)

Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

Misha

We won’t make it in time for sunrise. I mean, how could we? Hiking with two kids, their parents, Daniel and Grey, who frankly seems like he’d rather be anywhere else, requires way more prep than when it was just Amelia and me.

At least Oliver seems to be trying.

I know he isn’t an outdoorsy guy, but he was up and ready when I told him to be, with a smile on his face.

Worst of all, we have to endure the two-hour drive in Daniel’s Mercedes G-Class. Amelia sits shotgun, and the rest of us are squeezed into the back.

It’s fucking awkward.

We sit in silence. The radio hums softly in the background while Oliver naps with his head on my shoulder. Grey is busy typing away on his phone, his mood souring by the minute. I spend the ride staring out the window, reminiscing about the hikes with Amelia in Seattle while August and his family trail behind us in another Mercedes.

By the time we finally start our hike, the sun is long up, and the wind cuts sharply across the cliffs .

But damn, it’s beautiful here.

I can see why Amelia loves this hike. The view is stunning, and I can only imagine how much more impressive it would have been at sunrise.

I have to smile to myself, though.

No wonder she thought our hikes were tough and came back sore all over.

This is a walk in the park compared with the trails I took her on. The path is mostly flat and runs smoothly along the cliffs. We won’t even cover the entire trail today. This is nothing more than a scenic walk, but I bite my tongue, keeping that thought to myself.

About an hour in, Grey disrupts the silence between us, which was only filled once in a while with some laughter and screams from Amelia’s nieces. “What the fuck are birds so excited about at ten a.m.?”

“They’re seagulls,” Oliver murmurs, barely lifting his head.

“Even worse,” Grey shoots back.

I grin, my eyes darting to Amelia. She smirks, too, and it’s the first time I’ve seen her smile today. She looks exhausted. Without her now-usual layer of makeup, the dark circles under her eyes are just as pronounced as mine.

She’s obviously not sleeping much.

When our eyes meet, there’s a brief flash of something deeper, something raw, but she quickly averts her gaze, hiding behind a curtain of hair.

My body craves sleep, my mind seeks peace, and my heart—it yearns for her.

We need to fix this.

I need to fix this.

As we trek further along the path, I glance at Oliver, whose homebody self is trying its best to enjoy the hike. Occasionally, he stumbles, his attention more on Amelia than where he’s stepping. Behind us, August, Abigail, and the girls are managing to keep pace, albeit a little slower. Daniel, just like Grey, wears a scowl.

This whole situation is far from what I had in mind for today.

The grumpy heads start to lag behind, and I let myself fall back, too, sensing that I may have to step in soon, given the looks they’re casting each other.

“So, Donovan ,” Daniel starts, the tension clear in his tone, and I already know this won’t end well. “When are you guys planning on dragging yourself back across the pond? I imagine they’re missing their star-spangled heroes by now.”

Grey shoots him a glare, unamused. “Probably not in a long while. We’re quite enjoying seeing how the rest of the world lives. Besides, I wouldn’t want to miss watching you fumble around nature like it’s your first day out of the city.”

“Grey,” I caution.

I don’t know Daniel, but Grey is about to kick his ass. With words. And honestly, a small part of me wants to see it happen.

“Touché,” Daniel responds dryly, a humorless smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Though I must say, I’m surprised you’re so willing to stick around when you’re clearly redundant. She’s now under my purview.” His gaze drifts meaningfully toward Amelia, who is talking softly with Oliver a few feet before us, oblivious to the brewing storm behind her.

Daniel, you dickhead.

Grey’s jaw tightens, the muscle twitching visibly as he steps closer, his words coming out in a dangerous growl. “She’s none of your fucking business.”

Daniel chuckles, shaking his head as he reaches back to grab a water bottle, unscrewing it with deliberate slowness. “ Oh, she will be. And just some friendly advice, mate,” he says, his tone anything but friendly. “Holidays end, but the mess you Americans leave behind? That tends to linger. So do her a favor and just fuck off already.”

Grey steps forward, his posture stiffening as he closes the distance between them. “Listen here, you pompous ass,” he hisses, his words loaded with venom. “Amelia is not some territory to be claimed or debated over. She makes her own choices… who she talks to, who she spends time with. You’d do well to remember that.”

I brace myself, ready to physically intervene if needed. The air between them crackles with hostility, and I find myself hoping we can make it through this hike without any bloodshed, verbal or otherwise.

“Grey, come on,” I murmur.

This is not like him. I’ve never seen him with such a bold, verbal outburst like that. But to be fair, it usually only takes a simple glare to have people backing away.

Grey shoots a quick glance my way, a brief flicker of acknowledgment crossing his face before he turns back to Daniel. Reluctantly, he takes a step back, his body language shifting as he attempts to shake off the anger.

Catching up with the rest of the group, the atmosphere remains charged, and the earlier words still echo in my mind.

Daniel, the dickhead, can’t seem to resist getting in one last jab, his smirk all too telling. “Just remember, this isn’t Hollywood, Donovan. Not every story has a happy ending.”

His words are meant to provoke, but this time, Grey’s response is a cool, collected look that belies the irritation I know he feels. Leaning in, Grey replies with a hint of a smirk, “Oh, don’t worry, the endings Amelia and I have are always more than happy.”

That’s my boy .

Daniel’s eyes narrow sharply, a flicker of surprise and annoyance crossing his features before he can mask it with an indifferent facade, but he keeps his mouth shut after that.

Finally, we arrive at the most spectacular spot of the hike—the vast cliffside that offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the coastline.

This is where I’d hoped to have a moment alone with her.

I catch Oliver’s eye and give him a subtle nod. Bless him. He understands immediately. With a gentle nudge that would make a secret agent proud, he signals Grey, who tears his eyes away from Amelia. They slow their pace with all the subtlety of a pair of elephants trying to tiptoe, allowing Abigail, August, and their daughters to catch up.

“You guys are both lawyers, right?” Grey asks, his expression carrying a hint of mischief as he directs his question at August and Daniel.

“Yes,” August replies, his curiosity clearly piqued. “Why?”

Daniel simply raises an eyebrow, waiting.

Dickhead indeed.

“How are the laws for stalking here? How much time can one get?” Grey continues, his gaze flitting to Oliver in a clear challenge.

Oh my God, what an idiot.

“Depends.” August’s response is measured, cautious, his eyes narrowing in a way that broadcasts how done he is with our shit. “What are you getting at? That’s not something you can estimate without knowing all the facts.”

Oliver chimes in with a mischievous grin, “Oh, and how about hacking into company servers?”

“What company? Wait, no, don’t tell me.” August groans, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I don’t want to know shit that can be used against me. Plausible deniability and all that. ”

“Don’t get your knickers in a twist, Stanley,” Daniel drawls, a hint of amusement coloring his voice. “Where did you hack yourself into? Hypothetically speaking, of course.”

Seizing the distraction, I reach out and grasp Amelia’s hand, pulling her aside to stay back with me as the others walk on. Amelia looks at me, her expression a mix of surprise and curiosity, but she doesn’t pull away.

She lets me hold her hand, and though the gesture is small, I will savor whatever she offers.

The cliffs provide a dramatic backdrop, and the ocean waves crash below us, filling the air with the salty tang of sea spray.

It’s the perfect setting.

“I’ve got something for you.”

Sliding my backpack off my shoulders, I reveal the small pack of Twizzlers I’d brought along, and her eyes light up with excitement. She snatches them greedily, tearing into the pack with a grin I haven’t seen in ages. Her face alone was worth sacrificing half the space in my suitcase for this stuff.

She bites into one, and her eyes flutter closed as a moan escapes her lips. The sound goes straight to my groin, my cock twitching in response. Stepping closer, my heart pounds in my chest as I reach out to brush a stray hair from her face.

She opens her eyes, and the gratefulness in them is unmistakable. She leans into my touch, her breath hitching as I trace my fingers down her neck.

So damn beautiful.

“There’s more where that came from,” I whisper, and her smile tells me I’ve scored a point.

“Thank you. I didn’t think I’d ever taste this goodness again,” she murmurs, looking down at her feet.

Something in me tightens. Reaching up with my thumb, I guide her chin so she has to look at me again. Her eyes are wide, a little flustered, as they meet mine.

“I get why you needed space, Bug, but you didn’t plan to come back to me at all?” My words are low, heavy with hurt and hope, demanding an honesty we’ve both avoided. “Talk to me.” Grabbing the pack of Twizzlers from her free hand, I put it in my pocket.

Her lips part, but she hesitates. Then her words come out in a whisper. “I-I already told you guys you hurt me. I don’t know what to… you know I’m not good with this.” The plea in her eyes almost breaks me, but I need answers.

I lean in closer, tracing her jawline with my thumb. “How’s the weather inside you?”

“Fine,” she responds hastily, her reply almost automatic.

“And how is it really?”

She takes a deep breath, her shoulders drooping as the facade begins to crack. For a moment, she looks past me to the others standing a few feet away, engrossed in their own conversation, oblivious to ours.

Their laughter and distant chatter drift toward us on the wind, but here, between us, the air is thick with unspoken words.

“Ladybug?” I press again, softer this time.

She closes her eyes for a moment, then begins to speak, her voice shaking a little. “The weather inside me is… a mess,” she admits. “It’s like a sky full of storm clouds while the sun is setting. Dark clouds are swirling, thundering, and pouring cold rain everywhere.”

“I’m so sorry I hurt you.” Caressing her cheek, I hope she can hear the truth in my words.

Never was I ever that sorry.

When she opens her eyes and looks at me, they’re glistening with unshed tears, a deeper blue than I’ve seen before, and she continues to speak, “But then again, sunlight breaks through, stubborn and bright. Those rays fight through the darkness, casting little rainbows…” She pauses and gives me a small smile that makes my heart ache. “It’s a crazy mix, with the storm raging on but the sun refusing to give up. And my sky is caught in the middle. I want to believe in the sun, to let its light chase away the storm. But right now, the clouds are thick and heavy, and the rain just keeps coming down. I don’t know if my sky will ever be clear again.”

My shoulders tense while I’m fighting the urge to do something—anything—to take away her pain, but I’m powerless, standing here, frozen by the depth of her struggle.

“So, that’s the weather inside me. It has gone mad. Just like me, it seems, because even though it hurts having you here, you leaving would hurt so much more.”

“We’re not going anywhere without you. I promise,” I whisper, reaching down to hold her hand, my heart pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat as I look into Amelia’s tear-filled eyes. My usual charm, which I’ve relied on for so long, completely fails me, and I find myself stumbling over my words like a nervous teenager on his first date.

“Amelia, I… God, I’m such an idiot. You know me, right? I’m the guy who always loses shit. My keys, my phone, my wallet… I swear I spend half my life searching for things I’ve misplaced. It’s like I’ve got some sort of curse or something.” I run my free hand through my wind-messy curls, a nervous habit I can’t shake. “But losing you? That’s something I can’t handle. Because somewhere along the way, I lost my heart to you. And unlike my keys or my phone, I don’t want it back. It’s yours, completely.” My thumb caresses the back of her hand, and her skin is soft, warm. Her pulse races beneath my fingertips, matching my own frantic heartbeat .

Amelia’s eyes flicker with a complex mix of emotions—hope, fear, love—as the wind picks up around us, tossing her hair lightly, and I have to talk a little louder to make sure she hears every word she needs to hear. “I know I screwed up. What we did was wrong, and I’m so, so sorry. But being with you… it’s like finding a piece of myself I didn’t even know was missing. You make me feel whole, complete in a way I’ve never experienced before. It’s like you’ve filled this void I didn’t even realize was there.”

I’ve never been good at expressing my feelings, at least not the complicated ones, but for Amelia, I’m willing to lay my heart bare. “I can’t lose you, Amelia. I’ve lost so many things in my life… losing you would break me. You’re the one thing I can’t afford to misplace. Please give me… give us a chance to make this right. I promise, I’ll spend every day trying to be worthy of your trust again. I’ll do whatever it takes, no matter how long it takes.”

Amelia pushes away a stray tear that escaped with the back of her hand, and I reach out to take it and bring her hand to my lips, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles. Her skin is salty from the tear, and it breaks my heart to know I’m the cause of her pain. “I’m sorry. From the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry. And I swear, if you give me the chance, I’ll prove to you that I can be the man you deserve. I’ll work on myself. I’ll be better. Because you’re worth it, Amelia. You’re worth everything to me.”

Holding her hand, I wait, hoping for a word, any sign that she might feel the same way, that she might see a future for us. Her lips part, ready to respond—

“Amelia!”

Two more minutes, Goddammit.

She looks over her shoulder to where the others are, then back at me, and her mouth opens again to speak .

“Come on, Meelie, don’t dawdle!” August calls again, obviously not happy to see us missing from the group.

“Coming!” she calls back, her voice carrying across the wind. Then, she quickly leans in, her lips pressing a soft kiss on my cheek, and I have to restrain myself from reaching out and pulling her in for a real kiss.

“Thank you for the Twizzlers,” she whispers next to my ear.

It’s okay.

That’s enough.

All I wanted today was to apologize, to lay my feelings out in the open. Now, she needs time to process, and I need to prove that my words aren’t just words.

This is fine.

“Let’s get back before August sends out a search party,” I quip, lighter than I feel.

She laughs, a genuine one, so I step ahead on the path, reaching back with my hand and wiggling my fingers at her.

Giggling, she reaches out, intertwining our fingers, and we walk back to the group together. Her hand in mine, the sound of her laughter, the promise of what might be—right now, it feels like enough.