Always You || Simon Minter (miniminter)

Chapter 10

It's Christmas Eve, and the house is buzzing with chaos. The boys are downstairs setting up for a video—laughter, shouting, and the occasional crash echoing through the rooms—while I sit alone in the guest room, curled up in Jide's oversized hoodie.

The past few days had been a whirlwind. I'd gotten my car, shared drives with JJ and Simon, laughed, and even felt a spark of excitement that had been missing from my life for months. And yet, here I was, shutting everyone out. The holidays made the absence of my mum feel heavier than ever. I tried to convince myself I was okay, but the truth was, I missed her terribly. Christmas without her felt impossible.

I sit in a ball on the bed, hoodie hiding me as much as it can. My phone lies next to me, a YouTube video playing softly, though I barely watch it. The soft knock at the door makes me flinch, and I hope whoever it is will go away.

"I know you're just not answering me," JJ's voice comes through before he barges in. He frowns slightly when he sees me like this.

"Oh, Millie," he says, sitting on the bed beside me. The mattress dips under his weight, and my body follows instinctively.

"Ugh, Jide," I mumble, pulling the hoodie closer.

"Why have you been stuck in your room?" he asks gently, turning so he faces me. I meet his eyes, knowing he'll see through any lie.

"I miss my mum... Christmas won't be the same without her," I whisper, my voice cracking.

JJ frowns and lies down next to me, wrapping an arm loosely around my shoulders over the hoodie. "I know, Millie. I miss her too. She was amazing. Remember when she didn't want you seeing me because she thought I was a bad influence?" His lips twitch in a small smile, wrapping me closer.

I turn into his chest, nodding as I rest my head there. "I do. But she learned to trust you. She apologized for years after we moved away... she said leaving me was one of the hardest things she'd ever done." I mumble into his chest, earning a soft chuckle from him.

I let myself sink into the comfort he offered. JJ had always been there to protect me, even before I realized it. He had been a constant presence, reliable and grounding, and right now, I needed that more than anything.

Some time passes, and the quiet gives me a chance to breathe. "You haven't let me call you JJ in a while," I murmur.

"You know," he says lightly, "you're the only person I let call me Jide."

I look up at him, surprised. "Not even Simon?"

He shakes his head, laughing softly. "Not even Simon." I smile faintly under the covers, letting the small warmth of this moment fill me.

A sudden voice startles me. "I heard my name," Simon appears in the doorway, leaning casually against the frame. I pull the covers over my head, embarrassed. Both boys laugh, and I groan at my own silliness.

Simon walks over and sits on my other side, and now I'm trapped, caught between them. Silence falls for a moment before they both reach forward, tugging the covers from my grasp.

"Millie, you don't need to hide from us. We're here to help," Simon says gently, prying my hands away. He frowns slightly as he notices the mess of my hair and my weary eyes. He exchanges a look with JJ, and together they nod.

"Right, Millie. Get up," JJ commands, standing and pointing toward the bathroom. His voice is firm, but caring.

"Amelia," he adds, making me flinch slightly at the use of my full name.

I do as he says, standing up and realizing just how underdressed I am—panties and hoodie aren't exactly presentable. I glance at Simon, whose cheeks betray a faint blush.

"Aw, c'mon, Millie. Don't you know what pyjamas are?" JJ groans, stepping in front of me like a shield.

I roll my eyes and step past him. "Okay, dad," I tease lightly, heading to the bathroom. I pause and glance back. Simon hasn't moved, and JJ swats his arm as a warning. "Oi! No looking!"

After a quick shower, I slip into JJ's hoodie again, paired with grey leggings, and head downstairs. The cold air hits me immediately, but the scene waiting outside is enough to lift my spirits. The boys have set up a football goal, a table piled high with presents, and—of course—JJ is in full Santa costume.

I grab a cup of tea to warm myself and pull out my phone, checking Instagram for the first time in days. Simon's photo of me with the car has exploded—300,000 likes. I can't help but smile, letting the warmth of the moment and the appreciation from others wash over me.

"Yo, Millie, you coming?" Ethan's head pops through the doorway, and I set down my cup, following him outside.

The boys are ridiculous—messing around with the crossbar challenge, shouting, laughing, and trying not to hit each other with footballs. JJ, predictably, is teasing everyone relentlessly, making faces, and generally being chaos incarnate. I laugh, feeling lighter than I have in weeks.

For the first time in a while, I feel like I belong. Like I can breathe. And for the first time this Christmas, I feel like maybe everything will be okay.