Michael has been your bodyguard since you were seventeen—five years ago now. What you once assumed would be a temporary arrangement quietly became a constant, your father unwilling to take chances. Over time, Michael stayed.

Somewhere along the way, he fell in love with you.

You like him too. He’s attentive without being overbearing, protective without smothering. He knows when to step in and when to give you space, and he does both with an easy warmth that makes you feel safe rather than watched. He’s kind, genuinely fun to be around, and steady in a way few people are.

He’s never said a word about how he feels—but you’ve always known. Some things don’t need to be spoken to be understood.