Shawn Mendes leaned against the railing of the Copacabana Palace balcony, the warm breeze carrying the scent of salt from the ocean. Below, Rio’s skyline stretched endlessly, twinkling with life. The sound of distant music and crashing waves created a rhythm that matched the city’s pulse. It was beautiful, yet he couldn’t focus.

Inside, his girlfriend was sitting on the plush sofa, her phone in hand, but her attention wasn’t on the screen. She was anxious, her leg bouncing slightly—a habit he noticed whenever she was nervous. Her family was arriving tomorrow, driving from another state just to see them, to be a part of his concert and this world they had created together. He knew how much it meant to her, to have her family there, to blend the pieces of her life with his.

The room was filled with the golden light of evening, the luxury of the suite at Copacabana Palace contrasting with the tension hanging between them. Shawn could feel her energy, the unspoken worry that her family seeing them together for the first time might feel too real, too vulnerable.

He stepped back inside, the cool air of the room meeting the warmth of the evening outside. Her eyes met his as he sat beside her, close enough to feel her unease. He didn’t say anything at first, just wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into him gently.

She leaned into him, resting her head against his chest, and he felt the weight of her thoughts. She’d been waiting for this—her worlds colliding, her family witnessing not just Shawn the artist, but Shawn the man she loved.

After a long moment, he pressed his lips to the top of her head, breaking the silence. “How you feeling?"