A few minutes later, I spotted her walking out with Ella. My grip on the steering wheel tightened as I thought of Ella’s brother touching her. I pushed it down, got out, and flashed a casual smile. Her eyes t mine, and her smile faltered, her gaze searching mine. I could see the questions in her eyes—the uncertainty.
"Hey, cupcake," I greeted Fiona, my eyes flicking to Ella.
"Hi," Fiona said nervously.
"Hi, Nathan," Ella chid in.
"Hi," I responded, my tone relaxed.
Fiona said goodbye to Ella. I followed her to the passenger side, opening the door. As she got in, I shut it and walked around to the driver’s side. Ella was still standing there.
I stepped closer, lowering my voice, a smile curving my lips that didn’t reach my eyes.
"I need you to tell your brother to stay the fuck away from Fiona."
Her eyes widened. "Nathan—it’s not—"
I cut her off smoothly. "I’m not a man who plays with what’s his."
"Keep this to yourself," I continued quietly. "If my girlfriend finds out you and I had this conversation, I’ll know. And trust —I’m capable of doing anything."
Her face went pale. I turned away before she could respond, walked back to the car, and slid into the driver’s seat like nothing had happened. I started the engine and pulled away from the school.
"What were you talking to Ella about?" Fiona asked, glancing at .
"I invited her to join us," I lied easily. "She declined."
"Oh." Fiona nodded, accepting it without question.
There was silence between us for a while.
"So," I said after a mont, forcing lightness into my tone, "how was school?"
"Fine," she answered.
I glanced at her. "Just fine?"
She nodded again and turned to look out the window.
My grip tightened on the steering wheel. Why couldn’t she just trust enough to tell things? What else had she been hiding from ? I turned for a second to look at her before facing the road again.
The drive back to my place was silent. I could feel her eyes on , but I didn’t look at her—didn’t dare. I knew if I did, I’d lose it.
As we pulled into the driveway, I got out and opened the door for her, my expression hard.
"Fiona," I said, my voice low.
Her eyes locked on mine. "Nathan. What’s wrong?"
I took her hand, my fingers intertwining with hers. "Let’s go," I said, my voice tight. "We need to talk."
We walked into the house, the door closing behind us. I didn’t even care to notice if anyone was around as we headed upstairs. As soon as we got to my room, I shut the door and turned to her, my hands framing her face.
"Tell ," I said, my voice raw. "Tell what happened last night."
Her eyes widened, and I could see the truth in them—the uncertainty.
"Nathan, I—"
I cut her off, my lips crashing down on hers, silencing her. The kiss was hard, possessive, and desperate. I needed to know she was mine.
She lted into , her arms wrapping around my neck, her lips opening to mine. And for a mont, everything was okay. She was in my arms, where she belonged.
But the photo lingered in my mind, a dark shadow. I pulled back, my breathing ragged.
"Tell ," I said again, my voice low. "Tell what happened."
She looked up at , her eyes searching mine. And I knew I wouldn’t like what she had to say.
Fiona POV
Ella and I were still buried in our books when my phone vibrated softly against the table. I didn’t even have to check the na to know who it was—my heart jumped before my fingers reached for it.
Nathan: I’m around. Take your ti.
My stomach twisted.
"He’s here," I whispered.
Ella looked up instantly, her expression shifting. "Already?"
I nodded, slipping my phone back into my bag. The uneasy feeling that had followed all afternoon crept up my spine again. After the ssages. After the photo. After the fear that soone had been watching .
We packed up quietly and walked out together. The mont we stepped outside, I saw him.
Nathan leaned against his car, when his eyes t mine. It wasn’t warmth. It was intensity. Scrutiny.
My smile faltered imdiately.
"Hey, cupcake," he said casually, though his gaze briefly slid to Ella.
"Hi," I replied, my voice softer than I ant it to be.
"Hi, Nathan," Ella greeted.
"Hi," he answered evenly.
I hugged Ella goodbye, whispering a quick text , then followed Nathan as he opened the passenger door for . His movents were careful, controlled. He shut the door gently, then walked around the front of the car. But he didn’t get in right away.
Through the windshield, I saw him pause near Ella. I couldn’t hear what was said, but I saw the way Ella stiffened, the way Nathan smiled without smiling. My stomach dropped.
When he finally slid into the driver’s seat, his face was composed again.
"What were you talking to Ella about?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
"I invited her to join us," he said smoothly. "She declined."
"Oh." I nodded, even though sothing about his tone didn’t sit right.
"So," he said after a mont, forcing lightness into his voice, "how was school?"
"Fine."
He glanced at . "Just fine?"
I nodded again and turned to stare out the window. I could feel his eyes on , feel the tension radiating from him like heat. My chest tightened. I wanted to tell him. I really did. But fear held my tongue hostage.
The rest of the drive passed in silence, when we pulled into the driveway, Nathan got out first and opened my door. His expression was hard now, the casual mask completely gone.
"Fiona," he said quietly.
My eyes locked on his. "Nathan. What’s wrong?".
He took my hand, his fingers threading through mine. "Let’s go. We need to talk."
Inside the house, Gabriel looked up from the living room, Natasha’s polite smile already in place. Caleb stopped talking. Leo’s face lit up the mont he saw us.
"Fiona!" Leo bead, hopping off the couch.
But Nathan didn’t slow down, he didn’t even look at them.
He walked straight past, pulling gently but firmly toward the stairs. Leo’s smile faded, confusion replacing it. I felt a pang of guilt, but Nathan didn’t hesitate.
Upstairs, in his room.the door shut behind us with a soft click.
Nathan turned to , both hands framing my face. His touch was warm, grounding—and trembling.
"Tell ," he said, voice raw. "Tell what happened last night."
My breath caught. "Nathan, I—"
He kissed ...really hard. It was possessive...desperate.
It stole the air from my lungs, silenced every thought. His hands slid to my waist like he needed to anchor himself, like he was afraid I’d disappear if he let go.
For a mont, everything else faded, then he pulled back, his forehead resting against mine, breathing heavy.
"Tell ," he said again, softer this ti. "Please."
I swallowed. "Nothing happened," I said quickly. "Nathan, I swear. The picture—it’s not what it looks like. We were just dancing. That’s it.
I rushed the words out, fear clawing at my chest. "I would never betray you. Never."
He lifted a finger and pressed it gently to my lips.
"Shh," he murmured.
My eyes searched his. "Nathan?"
"I trust you," he said without hesitation. "Whatever you tell you."
Tears burned behind my eyes. He exhaled slowly, stepping back just enough to look at properly. "I saw the picture today," he admitted. "In the middle of a board eting. I lost my damn mind."
My heart sank. "I should’ve told you—"
"No," he cut in firmly. "I should’ve handled it better."
He ran a hand through his hair, frustration etched into every line of his face. "I don’t get jealous easily. But with you... it’s different. Seeing another man touch you—" His jaw clenched. "It makes crazy."
He looked at again, eyes dark but sincere. "I’m sorry if I scared you. Or crossed a line."
"You didn’t," I whispered. "You just... care."
"I care too much," he said quietly. "I know that. But I’m not sorry for loving you."
"I’ve never felt this way before," he continued. "It’s intense. It’s irrational. And it terrifies because I don’t want to lose you."
I stepped closer, resting my forehead against his chest. "You’re not going to."
His arms wrapped around instantly, holding like I was sothing precious, sothing he’d protect at all costs.
"I’m crazily in love with you," he confessed, voice low and honest. "And I’ll spend every day proving I’m worthy of your trust—if you let ."
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