After a while, the Ferris Wheel rose to the sky, and I looked down at the world beneath us. I wanted to make tonight memorable for her, so I cleared my throat. Fiona looked at me with raised brows.

“I love you,” I said, and the blush that took over her would make anyone think it was the first time I was saying the words to her. She looked down at her hands, in a desperate attempt to calm herself down.

When she looked back at me, I brought my face closer to hers. Fiona blinked, and I smiled at her.

“Be my girlfriend,” I said to her, and her eyes grew wide. Quickly, she nodded, and I took the opportunity to press my lips to her. It was nothing like I imagined it to be. Her lips were soft, and her hand clung lightly to my shirt.

When I pulled back, her eyes were still closed. I took the chance to kiss her again, pressing my lips to hers. This time, I moved my lips, and Fiona kissed me back. She moved closer to me, as close as the belts strapping us would allow.

“Come home with me,” I asked, and Fiona nodded again before kissing me this time.

I grinned into the kiss because this might just be the happiest I’ve ever been, and the woman of my dreams was in my arms, kissing me. It felt like I was on top of the world, and the butterflies in my stomach took the chance to be a stampede of elephants.

Chapter Twenty-One

Fiona

“When are you going on a date?” I asked Allison with a smile on my face.

Her immediate look of horror filled me with satisfaction and turned my grin into a smile. Allison opened her mouth and closed it several times, and I regretted the fact that I was witnessing this behind a screen.

It looked like the type of event that would thrill you if you were to witness it up, close and personal. I picked up the phone from the kitchen counter where I had it leaning on the salt and pepper shakers and made my way back to my bedroom with a glass of water in my hand.

I had no idea how long the phone calls had lasted, but I didn’t exactly mind. Talking with Allison has taken my mind off a lot of things like it always did. I was beyond grateful for her and hoped she understood how much.

But that didn’t stop me from teasing her about her dating life. With my crush on Christian finally blooming into something other than a distant affection displayed by longing eyes and slightly opened jaw - Allison’s description of the events (I disagreed, of course) - I figured it was high time we got her back into the dating scene.

“What are you talking about?” Allison said finally, pretending not to have heard or understood me.

“Think about it, I’m in a relationship now, and it would be even better if you were in one too,” I explained to her, the smile on my face hidden this time when I took a sip of my water.

Allison scoffed at this declaration. “I think it’s a pity that you’re an only child. If you had a brother, he would have made a move long ago.”

“I apologize for being an only child and hogging all of my mother’s attention.”

“As you should.”

We both fell into fits of giggles. It was a new joke that had settled between us since Christian and I got together. The more I brought up the prospects of her dating someone, the more she reminded me of my lack of a sibling, and how her having one had made sure I didn’t waste time looking for love.

Which was ideal if your boyfriend’s mother didn’t spend the majority of her time looking at you like you stole something from her. I thought it was pretty impressive how consistently she made me feel unwelcome.

“How are things with my mother? Are there any improvements?” Allison asked when we’d both come down from our laughter-induced high.

I let out a sigh and shook my head. “It’s like she hates me more with each passing day. I would have walked away a long time ago if I hadn’t been in love with Christian. I mean, I knew she didn’t like me, but it’s like she has amped it up a whole lot.”

“Has she done anything crazy?”

“I mean, she keeps inviting us to these dinners where she spends all the time between first hello, and last bite telling Christian she has all these women lined up if he ever decides to come to his senses.”

“And you both keep going to these dinners because?”

I rolled my eyes at Allison. “You know why. She’s his mother, and I’d hate to be the reason why they don’t see each other.”

“Come on, Fiona. We’re talking about my mother here. She won’t just back away if she thinks she has the upper hand. You have to put your foot down eventually.”

***

I didn’t put my foot down immediately because I had a date with Christian. What I did instead was get ready for it in hopes that when he picked me up, his jaw would be on the floor. Every girl’s dream, really.

The instructions for the date were to dress formally, and I took that to mean sexy.

I decided on a midi cream dress with thin straps. The waist of the gown has a corset-like shape that has been achieved with zippers, which means I didn’t need anyone pulling at any ropes to get me into it. I did that all by myself.

To accessorize, I wore gold threader earrings and gold rings. I let my hair fall freely. For makeup, I decided on something light not to take all the attention away from my gorgeous dress.

Everything had to look like it was working together instead of fighting each other for dominance.

And I knew it worked the second I opened the door, and Christian stumbled over his hello. I stood in front of the door, watching him take me in, opening his mouth to say something, only to let out a couple of babbles.

And if I wasn’t enjoying his attention, I would have been in the same mess he was in.

Christian was wearing a three-piece suit, and even though I saw him in a suit every single day - not counting the weekends - I thought this particular outfit was what all the others were trying to live up to.

It was black, a safe color that went with my dress. The suit made sure to highlight the fact that Christian worked out religiously by putting on show his broad shoulders. His shoes had some shine to them, and his hair was slicked back.

Like every woman my age would act in that moment, I took my time fighting the urge to gawk at him. The looks were not subtle in any way, but Christian was looking at me in the same way he didn’t have the chance to notice how I looked at him.

When he finally got some wits about him, Christian took a step towards me and wrapped his arms around my waist. He pulled me closer to him and placed a light kiss on my cheek.

“You look absolutely divine.”

I beamed at the compliment and greedily dove in for a peck on his lips. I would kiss him, but I didn’t want the makeup I spent a lot of time putting on to get wiped off.

“We should go,” Christian said, “before I lose my mind. I almost don’t want to leave and have people look at you in this dress, but at the same time, I want to show you off.”

I giggled as Christian led me to the car. I didn’t miss the way Liam stared at me before nodding and giving me a thumbs-up. An act Christian caught and sent a frown his way.

“Where are we headed?”

Christian took my hand in his and placed a light kiss on the back of my hand. “It’s a secret. You’re going to love it.”

If I was being honest, he could have taken me to the worst place on earth, and I wouldn’t have noticed it because I was too busy being taken by him. But Christian wasn’t one to half-ass on a date, so when Liam pulled up to La Roz Restaurant, I already knew my mind was about to be blown.

It was blown when we were led to the hotel rooftop and sat in what should have been a greenhouse if it didn’t lack flowers and plant life. There was a table in the middle of the glass house, and candles were already lit.

The night sky was already bearing the orange sign of a sun now bidding goodbye to this part of the world. The air should be a little cold, but I was shielded by the protection of the glass walls.

Christian pulled out a chair for me, and I took my seat. I looked around with wide eyes, taking in everything rolled out in front of me.