"Tell about her," he murmured against my hair.
I swallowed. My fingers had sohow curled into his shirt, holding on. It felt strange talking about my mom after so long — like opening a box I kept taped shut.
"She loved trying new recipes," I whispered, staring sowhere near his collar. "Even the ones she knew she was terrible at."
He chuckled softly, still holding . "Sounds brave."
"She was," I smiled a little. "One year on my birthday, she made this Indian dish. It was so spicy we both cried while eating it."
A small shaky laughter escaped my mouth.
"She kept apologizing and still forced to finish it because she said we must never waste food."
Nathan smiled — I felt it more than saw it.
His chin lightly brushed the top of my head.
"She sounds like she was fun."
"She was everything," I whispered, blinking fast as a tear escaped. "Ho never felt the sa after she died. The house beca... cold. I was hoping to rebuild my bound with my father.... i guess i never expected him to get married again"
Nathan didn’t speak, he just rubbed my back slowly with his thumb, like he understood silence better than words.
"You don’t have to hide that kind of pain from ," he said softly.
I looked up at him — his face was so close.
Too close.
"I’m not used to anyone caring," I admitted quietly.
His t mine gently.
"I care."
The room suddenly felt warm and dangerous in a different way.
I didn’t know if he ant it or if it was part of the act.
But right now, wrapped in his arms, I wanted to believe it.
He brushed a strand of hair from my face, his fingers barely grazing my cheek.
He never once let go.
"You’re strong, Fiona," he whispered. "Even when you don’t feel like it."
I nodded, breathing him in.
His voice, his warmth — it felt safe.
His arms were still around , warm and steady.
I could hear his heartbeat — calm, controlled, like him.
Maybe that was why the question slipped out before I could stop myself.
"Nathan..." my voice was barely above a whisper.
He humd in response, thumb still tracing slow circles on my back.
"Why did you stop earlier?"
I swallowed.
"In the room... when you said we shouldn’t go that far."
His hand paused only for a second, he just breathed in slowly, like he was choosing his words carefully.
"I wanted you," he admitted quietly.
"No point pretending I didn’t."
My heart thudded so loud I was sure he felt it against his chest.
"Then... why?"
I lifted my head enough to see his face.
His eyes t mine — soft but conflicted.
"Because you deserve more than a mont that happened out of emotions and desire," he said lowly.
"You deserve soone who chooses you with a clear mind... not because things got intense."
My throat tightened imdiately, he was right, but it still stung in a way I couldn’t explain.
"So you regret it?"
I hated how small my voice sounded.
He shook his head imdiately.
"No."
His gaze held mine, steady like he needed to believe it.
"I regret stopping. But I’d regret crossing that line even more if it hurt you later."
"You matter, Fiona. More than you think and i wouldn’t want to cross the line between pretense and reality."
I looked away for a second.
"I never thought of it that way." I admitted.
"But... Nathan, I don’t care if we’re pretending or not. I ant what I said earlier, if I’m loosing my virginity to anyone... it should be you".
He loosened the hug just a little — enough to not look at properly, but not enough to break the mont.
"We should head downstairs," he murmured.
"My mother wanted to co see you... we should go now."
We finally went downstairs, everyone was still eating. Natasha’s eyes flicked to imdiately — slow judging scan like I was a bug on her wall.
"Feeling better?" she asked with fake sweetness.
"Much," I smiled, taking the seat beside Nathan.
I just started eating when Natasha’s voice interrupted.
"Fiona... where’s your engagent ring?"
The table fell silent at once.
"I an, I heard Nathan was engaged and it’s to you right"?
Nathan’s eyes went wide for a split second. He actually forgot to give a ring.
Natasha smirked like she won.
I swallowed, wiped the corner of my mouth gently and looked up — calm, sweet, but not backing down.
"Oh the ring? I told Nathan I want to finish college first before wearing it."
I turned slowly and looked Natasha straight in the eye.
"That doesn’t stop us from getting married once I’m done."
Her smile dropped, but mine didn’t.
I looked at the rest of the family, still holding Natasha’s gaze with the corner of my eye.
"Nathan is mine,"
then I laid my hand gently on Nathan’s.
"And I am his."
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