Rejected: A love story-Chapter 55: The fair 2

Fiona POV

Leo returned quickly, his cheeks still pink a little, but his eyes were still bright.

"Okay," he said, bouncing on the his feet, "what else should we do now?"

I glanced at my phone to check the time, it was 9:05. My stomach sank a little.

"We have school tomorrow," I said gently. "So we need to start heading home."

Leo’s face fell. "Already?"

Nathan crouched slightly, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You’ve been running around a lot tonight. I think it’s time you rest. I can carry you."

Leo’s eyes lit up. "Really?"

Nathan nodded, bending down just enough to let Leo climb onto his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around him to steady him, and Leo laughed, his arms tight around his dad’s neck.

I smiled at the sight, warm inside despite the tiredness.

"Speaking of which," Nathan said, glancing at me, "we haven’t seen Ella or Caleb yet."

I frowned. "Ella hasn’t replied to the text I sent. She’s probably still at the fair."

Nathan pulled his phone out. "I’ll call Caleb instead."

The call went through quickly, and Caleb answered, sounding casual.

"Hey," Nathan said, his tone even.

"Hey. Everything okay?" Caleb asked.

"We’re leaving," Nathan said simply.

"Go ahead," Caleb replied. "I’ll drop Ella off and be home soon. Don’t wait for me."

"Alright," Nathan said, hanging up.

I slipped my phone back into my bag, glancing at the fair one last time. The lights were bright and loud, activities were still going on.

"You must be tired after all that activities," Nathan said softly.

Leo laughed. "I’m fine! But this is fun."

As we stepped toward the exit, a man with a small camera jogged up to us, slightly out of breath.

"Excuse me!" he called. "Just a quick picture—It won’t take long, I promise! I charge very little!"

I shook my head. "No, thank you."

Nathan smiled faintly, his eyes on me. "why not? It will be nice to have a picture."

The man didn’t give up. "please stay together! Just like that!"

Before I could protest further, he raised his camera and snapped a shot. Leo was on Nathan’s shoulder, grinning like the happiest kid in the world. Nathan’s expression was calm, strong, and protective.

He handed the picture over immediately.

"Here. You have a beautiful family sir." he said as Nathan handed him some cash.

Nathan’s gaze shifted to me briefly, The photographer nodded toward Nathan.

"Thank you sir, lovely family," he said again, a smile in his voice. Then, before either of us could respond, he jogged away, disappearing into the crowd.

Leo leaned forward a little, whispering, "Can we do this again sometime?"

Nathan smiled, tilting his head so their faces almost touched. "We can, but only if you behave like you did tonight."

Leo laughed and hugged him tighter. I watched them, my heart full. For a brief moment, everything felt calm.

Nathan glanced at me then, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "You okay?"

I nodded, still smiling. "Yes. Seeing you two like this... it’s nice."

Nathan only smiled softly. Then he began walking, carrying Leo toward the car.

I followed behind, feeling like we had a little bubble of happiness, I just wanted moments like this to last.

Nathan POV

The car hummed along the quiet streets, and the city lights flickered past, blurred slightly by the window.

Leo was curled up in the back seat, his small body slumped against the soft leather. The slight rise and fall of his chest was steady and calm. I let my hand rest lightly on his knee, just to make sure he stayed comfortable.

Fiona sat beside me, leaning her head slightly against the window. Her breathing was slow, steady, even—deep in sleep. Her lips were parted just a little, the softest hint of a smile on her face. I wanted to reach over, brush a strand of hair from her cheek, but I didn’t. Not yet. I didn’t want to wake her.

I exhaled quietly, loosening my grip on the wheel just slightly, and allowed myself a small, private smile. Tonight had been... different. Carefree in a way I hadn’t allowed myself in years. Watching Leo light up, seeing Fiona laugh, feeling her excitement—it was simple, and yet it hit me harder than any business deal victory ever could.

I stole a glance at her again. Her eyelashes rested lightly against her cheeks, She had a way of looking effortless, even after all the chaos.

I looked at the mirror and watch as Leo shifted slightly, mumbling in his sleep. He trusted me enough to fall asleep like this, and that made something warm and heavy settle in my chest.

I drove in silence for a long moment, listening to the quiet hum of the engine and the faint sounds of our breathing. It struck me how much responsibility I felt—not just for Fiona, not just for Leo, but for the fragile, delicate balance of this small family I had and was trying to make it work. One wrong move, one careless word, and I could loose all this.

I thought about the photographer back at the fair. That snapshot, felt like we were frozen in time, of all of us together... I couldn’t get that moment out of my head. It wasn’t just a picture. It was proof that this—us—was real. That we could have something normal, even fleeting, moments like this in the middle of all the chaos.

I glanced in the rearview mirror at Leo again. I wanted to memorize this—every detail of his little sleeping face, the way his hair fell slightly across his forehead. Protecting him wasn’t just about keeping him safe from the world. It was about keeping him happy, letting him feel loved, letting him feel like he mattered.

My hand brushed lightly against the console, thinking of Fiona. Even asleep, she had this pull on me I couldn’t shake. That kiss back at the fair, the way she had looked at me with that shy, loving smile—God, it had broken something open in me. I wanted her. Not just for tonight, not just for convenience or distraction. I wanted her, entirely, recklessly, and nothing was going to stop me.

I slowed the car slightly as we neared the house. The house grew closer, the familiar outline coming into view. The moment I pulled up, two of the servants rushed toward the car, moving quickly and efficiently.

I opened the door to the backseat first. Leo stirred slightly but didn’t wake fully. I lifted him gently, careful not to jostle him.

"Make sure he’s well tucked in," I told one of the servants, handing him over. They nodded and carried him inside with practiced care.

I turned to the passenger side. Fiona sat there, her eyes half-closed, tiredness in every line of her face. I leaned down and lifted her in my arms, holding her close enough that she barely made a sound.

The driver, already alert, shut the car doors, then moved around to drive it to the garage. The hum of the engine faded behind us as I walked inside the house.

I carried Fiona to my room. She murmured something, barely audible, but didn’t struggle. Her head rested lightly against my chest as I adjusted my hold to make her comfortable.

Once inside, I set her gently on the bed, making sure she was fully covered with the blankets. She shifted slightly, letting out a soft sigh, and I smoothed the covers over her shoulders.

"You’re safe," I whispered, more to myself than to her. My hand lingered on the blanket for a moment, tracing the curve of her shoulder before I stood back.

I had a quick bath, It warmed me up, cleared my mind, but didn’t calm the restlessness in my chest. I toweled off, put on a short quickly, and walked over to my desk. I opened my Laptop, there were files that needed my attention tonight. After working for hours, I suddenly felt a soft touch wrapped around my torso, light but insistent.

"Why are you still working?" Her voice came, warm and teasing, murmured close to me.

I turned my head slightly to see her, the moonlight catching her eyes. "Why are you awake?" I asked quietly.

"I was... alone on the big bed," she whispered, voice soft, almost pleading. "Please... come join me."

I tried to argue, but with the way her hands tightened around me, her weight pressing lightly into my back, with that soft, unguarded look—I couldn’t say no. Not to her.

Finally, I sighed, conceding. "Alright," I said, almost like a whisper. "But just for a bit. I’ll take you to bed, and then I’ll continue my work once you’re asleep."

Her smile was immediate, radiant, and I felt the corners of my lips twitch upward. She looked up at me, expectant.

"Carry me?" she asked softly.

I blinked. "Of course," I said. And I slid my arms under her, lifting her carefully. Her warmth pressed against me, comforting, intoxicating.

I carried her to the bed. My plan was simple: get her comfortable, leave, and resume work.

But she didn’t let me go. Her arms still up, wrapping around my neck. Her lips met mine, soft, insistent, and I froze for a second, caught off guard by the force of it.

Her kiss wasn’t long, but it held everything—pleading, affection, and desire. I leaned over her, responding.

"You..." I whispered against her lips, my hands lingering at her waist, "are impossible."

She smiled, her breath warm on my skin, and her fingers threading through my hair. "Am I?"

"Yes," I murmured, leaning back slightly but letting my forehead rest against hers. "And I love it."