Hailey Bieber's cousin

Chapter 4

The sound of airplane engines in the background and the coming and going of people with suitcases and luggage through LAX airport created a busy and noisy scene. Hailey and Justin waited in the arrivals area, while Hailey looked anxiously at the door where her cousin Michael should appear at any moment.

Justin stood next to her, trying to appear calm, but Hailey couldn't help but notice her husband's growing nervousness. He fidgeted with his fingers and occasionally adjusted his jacket, as if he were preparing for something big. Hailey, laughing softly, put her hand on his arm.

"Relax, love. I told you, Michael will love you. He's easygoing," she said, smiling reassuringly.

Justin took a deep breath and looked at his wife. "I know, I know. But it's hard not to get nervous. You've talked about him so much, about the missions and everything... the guy is basically a fighting machine."

Hailey shook her head, still laughing at Justin's concern. "He may be big, but he's a sweet guy. Trust me."

Before Justin could respond, the automatic door to the arrivals terminal opened, and out stepped a man who made Justin stop breathing for a moment.

Michael Baldwin was even more impressive in person than he was in the photos. He was easily over six feet tall, with broad shoulders and muscular arms that made his T-shirt look almost too tight. His hair was short and his beard perfectly trimmed, giving him an intimidating appearance, but his expression was relaxed and friendly. And the sunglasses, coupled with the casual way he carried his backpack, made him look like he was straight out of an action movie.

Hailey waved excitedly. "Michael! Here!"

Michael smiled at his cousin, a warm smile that belied his elite soldier appearance. He walked toward them with firm, confident strides, while Hailey ran to hug him.

"Hailey!" he said, wrapping her in a tight hug. "It's so good to see you after so long!"

She pulled back a little, looking at him fondly. "You're huge, cousin! You haven't changed at all, you've just gotten stronger."

Michael laughed, running a hand through his hair. "You look amazing too, cousin. And here's the famous Justin Bieber."

He turned to Justin, taking off his sunglasses and extending his hand.

Justin, who was trying not to look intimidated, shook Michael's hand, immediately noticing how strong the handshake was.

"Yeah... it's me. Justin. Nice to meet you, man."

Michael chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Relax, bro, no need to be so formal. I'm just Hailey's cousin. I've heard a lot about you." He then looked at Hailey, smirking. "She talks about you all the time."

Hailey laughed, crossing her arms. "And I've told him a lot about you too, so he's a little nervous. You know, SEAL and all."

Michael looked back at Justin, a playful look in his eyes. "Oh, I see. Well, Justin, let me reassure you. You don't have to be afraid of me... unless you hurt my cousin. If that happens..." He paused dramatically, leaning forward a little and lowering his voice. "I'm a pretty low-key guy. I can hide bodies and all."

Justin's face went pale for a moment, but when he saw the smile in Michael's eyes, he got the joke and let out a nervous laugh.

"Oh, good to know... I, um, will remember that."

Hailey, laughing loudly, lightly slapped Michael's arm. "Michael! Don't scare him like that!"

Michael shrugged with an innocent smile. "What can I say? It's always fun to joke around a little."

Justin, now more relaxed, managed a real smile. "Okay, you got me this time. But seriously, it's nice to finally meet you. Hailey talks about you a lot."

Michael nodded, looking at Justin more seriously. "It's nice to meet you too, Justin. I've heard a lot about what you do and how much you care for my cousin. And from what I've seen, you're doing a great job. She's happy, and that's all that matters to me."

Hailey smiled, hugging her cousin again. "I told you he was cool, Justin. Now come on, the car is waiting."

The three of them walked towards the parking lot, with Michael telling some light stories about his recent travels and Justin finally starting to feel more at ease.

Michael, despite his intimidating appearance, was easy to get along with and seemed genuinely interested in getting to know Justin better.

As they walked to the car, Justin commented, "So, you said you're going to be staying with us for a while... do you have any plans yet for where you want to live here in Los Angeles?"

Michael shrugged. "I'm still thinking about it. I'll stay with you guys for a while, then I'll start looking for a place. But I'm not in a hurry. I want to settle in slowly. Besides, I have a lot to do now that I'm officially retired."

Hailey looked at him curiously. "And you're ready for this quieter life? I mean, after everything you've been through, doesn't it seem a little... weird?"

Michael smiled, looking out at the city that stretched out in the distance. "Yeah, it's going to be a big change. But honestly? I'm ready. And with you guys around, I think this transition will be easier than I thought."

Hailey smiled, holding Justin's hand as they approached the car. "We're here for you if you need us, cousin. And it'll be great having you around."

Michael nodded, looking at them both gratefully. "It's good to be back. And I can't wait to see what this new phase will be like."

With the mood lighter and more relaxed, they got in the car and headed home, ready to start a new chapter, now with Michael as a part of their daily lives.

Chapter 5

It was inevitable. Justin and Hailey knew that the moment they set foot in the Los Angeles airport, the paparazzi would be lurking. It was always like this. The flashes, the cellphones pointed, the incessant whispers about where they were going or with whom.

But today, the photographers seemed to be even more alert. Justin and Hailey were not alone. Standing next to them, carrying a worn-looking backpack and exuding an impressive presence, was Michael Baldwin.

The flashes started the moment the three of them walked through the glass doors of the airport. The paparazzi shouted constantly, trying to get Justin or Hailey's attention.

"Justin! Hailey! Who's that guy with you?"

"Is that a new security guard?"

"What do you think of the latest Hollywood controversy?"

But neither of them was prepared for the visual impact of Michael. Apparently, the photographers only realized who the man next to the couple was after a few minutes.

Standing at over six feet tall, with broad shoulders and muscles visible even under his T-shirt, he was impossible to ignore. And with his carefully trimmed beard and relaxed demeanor, it was easy to see why they were confused about who he could possibly be.

As they walked down the path to the car, Michael seemed completely unfazed, almost as if he was used to being the center of attention. He carried his backpack as if it were nothing, ignoring the photographers as if they were invisible.

Justin, on the other hand, was still trying to adjust to the frenzy around them, while Hailey, laughing lightly, took her cousin's arm. "Relax, cousin. They'll go crazy when they find out who you are," she whispered amusedly.

Michael just laughed. "Let them. It's not like they know who I am anyway."

But that would soon change. When they reached the car, Michael put his backpack in the trunk and climbed in with Justin and Hailey. As the doors closed and the car sped off, Hailey grabbed her phone and sighed.

"Well, just wait and see," she said, scrolling through her news feed.

It didn't take long for the headlines to start circulating. That same day, gossip sites and entertainment outlets began posting photos of the trio leaving the airport, with captions offering all sorts of theories about who the mystery man with Justin and Hailey could be.

"Who is the mystery man with Hailey and Justin Bieber? A new bodyguard or something else?"

"Justin Bieber and Hailey spotted at the airport with a huge man. New friend or bodyguard?"

Michael's photos were circulating on social media within hours, and the public was quick to react. There were several photos of Michael leaving the airport: in one, he was laughing alongside Hailey; in another, he was helping Justin with his bags. But it was the combination of his impressive physique and his tough-guy appearance that really captured everyone's attention.

And then, the next morning, the bombshell went off.

The identity of the mystery man was leaked.

"Hailey Bieber's cousin, Michael Baldwin, is a former Navy SEAL!"

"Hailey Bieber's cousin, who recently retired after 15 years of military service in the elite forces, has just moved to Los Angeles."

"Michael Baldwin, a former member of DEVGRU (known as SEAL Team 6), makes a stunning entrance into LA. Hailey Bieber's cousin is a hero and... incredibly handsome."

Social media was quick to react. Michael's looks, combined with his impressive military history, became the new hot topic on the internet. Comments began to pop up everywhere.

"Who the hell is this man and why didn't I know about him before?"

"What do you mean Hailey has a cousin who looks like he's straight out of an action movie??"

"Okay, Justin Bieber has competition in the house now. Someone tell me this guy is single!"

"I was not prepared to find out that Hailey Bieber has a HOT cousin who was a Navy SEAL!"

Hailey's unknown cousin Michael Baldwin became the talk of the internet. Most of the comments focused on his stunning looks. Old photos of him, especially one of Michael in his white dress suit, circulated quickly, showing off his many military awards.

But what really got fans going was a photo of Michael, bearded and in tactical gear, holding a rifle, next to President Obama. The contrast between the dapper man in formal attire and the rugged, intimidating soldier with a rifle on his chest became the meme of the week.

"When he takes you out to dinner and then saves you from a dangerous mission."

"This guy was DEVGRU and still has a body like that? Where do I sign up?"

The compliments spread quickly. Between memes and thirsty comments, the internet was obsessed with Michael Baldwin. And of course, the celebrity media was not far behind, seeking interviews and trying to dig up more information about Hailey's military cousin.

In the days that followed, Michael began to realize how much his life would change now that he was in the company of one of the most famous families in the world. He had spent years in the shadows, operating on missions that no one would ever know about. Now the world knew who he was and unlike any combat situation, he had no idea how to "disappear" from it.

Hailey, for her part, found the whole thing extremely amusing. As she read the comments aloud to Michael, he just shook his head, chuckling.

"I told you so, cousin," Hailey said, barely able to contain his laughter. "Now you're the new internet darling."

Michael rolled his eyes, laughing. "This is crazy. I've spent my whole life trying to stay out of the spotlight, and now this?"

Justin, standing next to Hailey, finally relaxed after his initial nervousness, shrugged, smiling. "Welcome to fame, man. Brace yourself, because it's going to get worse."

Michael just laughed, knowing that despite all the attention, he was in good company. And in the end, that was what mattered most.

Chapter 6

Hailey was excited. After all the attention Michael had been getting since his arrival in Los Angeles, she decided it would be the perfect time to introduce him to her closest friends.

The dinner she hosted at her house was anything but formal, but there was an air of anticipation in the room. Kendall Jenner, Gigi, and Bella Hadid had all heard about Michael from Hailey herself, and with the photos she had shown them, their curiosity was at an all-time high.

Kendall arrived first, wearing a relaxed smile. She and Hailey hugged quickly, laughing about the dinner that awaited them. Despite her public romance with singer Bad Bunny, it was clear that Kendall's easygoing personality hid a certain interest in meeting Hailey's cousin.

After all, who could ignore the description of the giant, muscular, highly decorated ex-Navy SEAL?

"So, when is the mysterious cousin going to show up?" Kendall joked, as she settled into the living room couch, crossing her legs.

"He's already here," Hailey laughed. "He's out there taking care of a call. He'll be in any minute."

A little while later, Gigi and Bella arrived together, and the air in the room became more lively. The three friends looked at each other with knowing smiles, clearly looking forward to the big moment.

The anticipation grew as time passed, until Michael finally walked through the door, tall, confident and with a relaxed smile on his face.

The room seemed to stop for a second. Michael, with his black fitted T-shirt and jeans, highlighted every muscle. His trimmed beard and serious but friendly blue eyes made his presence almost intimidating, but at the same time irresistible.

Kendall, who was usually the calmest among her friends, momentarily lost her speech. Gigi and Bella couldn't hide their looks of admiration.

"Wow... Hailey, you really weren't exaggerating," Gigi said, still processing the sight of Michael.

Bella, with a smirk, added, "I think we underestimated your cousin a little."

Michael, noticing the reaction of Hailey's friends, simply smiled and greeted each of them politely. "Nice to meet you," he said, his voice deep and soft at the same time. "Hailey speaks very highly of you."

Kendall, trying to regain her composure, finally smiled and shook his hand. "It's a pleasure, Michael. I think we've all been hearing a lot about you lately."

Hailey, who had been watching the interaction with an amused smile, decided to play along. "Girls, please behave. I don't want to have to explain to Bad Bunny why Kendall is drooling."

The room erupted in laughter, and Kendall shook her head, laughing but still with a slight blush on her face. "You're terrible, Hailey."

With the atmosphere relaxed and the laughter flowing, everyone headed to the dinner table. Hailey's friends continued to steal glances at Michael, and the conversation quickly turned to his Navy stories.

"So, Michael," Bella began curiously. "What was it like being a SEAL for so long? It must have been intense."

Michael, modest as ever, shrugged. "It was an incredible experience. Sure, it had its tough moments, but I always enjoyed working as a team and knowing that I was doing something important."

Kendall looked at him in admiration. "And now, after all this, are you ready to settle down in Los Angeles?"

Michael smiled. "I guess so. I've spent too much time traveling all over the world. Now I want some stability."

Hailey, watching how her friends were clearly smitten with Michael, could only smile to herself. She knew he would be a hit, but seeing her friends' reactions so closely was even more fun than she imagined.

Dinner continued to be filled with conversation, laughter, and of course, discreet but undeniable glances in Michael's direction.

The friends left the dinner not only impressed by Michael's charm and kindness, but also completely convinced that Hailey had one of the hottest cousins ​​in Los Angeles. Even Kendall, who was in a relationship of her own, couldn't help but comment to the others on the way home.

"Girls," she began, laughing. "I love Bad Bunny, but seriously… Michael is on another level."

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