Chapter 186 Enjoying each other's company

Chapter 186 Enjoying each other's company
She burst into laughter. "Put me down!"

"I cannot."

"You absolutely can."

"I have waited weeks for this moment."

"You are attracting attention."

"I do not care."

People walking past smiled at the sight of them.

One elderly couple exchanged amused glances before continuing toward the exit.

Nathan finally set her back on her feet. The moment her shoes touched the ground, she gently smoothed the front of his jacket.

"You are impossible."

"And yet..." He reached for her hand. "you still said yes."

She intertwined her fingers with his. "I did."

For a while, neither of them spoke.

They simply walked, hand in hand. They had finally stopped running from what had been obvious for a long time. They wandered through the amusement park without any particular destination.

Nathan insisted they try nearly every game stall they passed. He failed spectacularly at knocking over bottles.

Amelia laughed so hard she almost doubled over.
"I thought athletes were supposed to have good aim."

"We use hockey sticks."

"So throwing balls is beyond your skill set?"

"It appears so."

She folded her arms with exaggerated disappointment. "I am reconsidering my decision."

"Oh?" Nathan pointed toward another game. "Give me one more chance."

The stall owner arranged six metal cans into a pyramid before handing Nathan three balls.

Nathan narrowed his eyes dramatically. "This time."

He threw. The first ball missed completely. The second barely clipped the edge of the stack.

Amelia covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

Nathan sighed dramatically. "I feel judged."

"You should."

"I am being emotionally attacked."

"You are losing to stationary cans." She laughed.

The third throw finally sent every can crashing to the ground.

The stall owner applauded. "There we go."

Nathan accepted a large stuffed bear and immediately handed it to Amelia.

"For my girlfriend."

The word caught both of them off guard.

Nathan looked almost embarrassed.

"I..."

Amelia smiled before he could correct himself. "I like how that sounds."

His smile returned instantly. "So do I."

She hugged the stuffed bear against her chest.
"I am keeping this forever."

"You are required to."

"Required?"

"It is proof that I eventually defeated those cans."

She shook her head, laughing. "I will make sure our children hear this story someday."

Nathan froze. "Our..."

Amelia's face turned bright red. "I did not mean..."

Nathan could not stop smiling. "I like the way you accidentally think."

She buried her face against the stuffed bear. "Can we please pretend I never said that?"

"Absolutely not."

"You are never letting this go."

"Not even a little."

She lightly hit his arm. "You are enjoying this.”

"I really am."

They continued walking until they reached a quieter section of the park overlooking a small lake.

The noise from the rides became distant. Only the gentle sound of water and soft music drifting across the park reached them.

Nathan stopped beside the railing. "So..."

Amelia leaned against it beside him. "So."

"We are officially together."

"We are."

Nathan smiled to himself. "Do you know how many nights I spent wondering whether I'd ruined everything?"

Amelia turned toward him, curiosity softening her expression. "Why would you think that?"

He let out a quiet laugh and rubbed the back of his neck. "Our first kiss."

A smile tugged at Amelia's lips. "I remember."

Nathan nodded. "I walked away thinking I'd crossed a line I wasn't supposed to cross."

"You did."

His eyebrows shot up. "I did?"

Amelia couldn't help laughing at the alarm on his face. She reached over and slipped her hand into his. "You definitely crossed a line."

Nathan sighed dramatically. "Well, that's not exactly comforting."

"It wasn't supposed to be."

He looked at her, waiting.

Amelia's smile softened. "The problem was..." She looked down at their joined hands for a moment. "I couldn't stop thinking about it afterward."

Nathan stared at her. "You couldn't?"

She shook her head. "Not for a single day."

A slow smile spread across Nathan's face. "I thought I was the only one."

"I wanted to be angry with you," Amelia admitted quietly.

"Were you?"

She met his eyes and smiled. "Not even a little."

Nathan chuckled. "I kept trying to convince myself I should apologize."

"And?"

"I never found the courage."

"You seemed perfectly confident that day."

"I was pretending."

She laughed. "So was I."

The laughter faded into a comfortable silence.

Amelia moved a little closer until her shoulder rested against his. A moment later, she gently laid her head on his shoulder.

Nathan smiled to himself and pressed a gentle kiss against the top of her hair. "You know..."

"Hmm?" Amelia murmured without lifting her head.

"I still owe you something."

She looked up at him. "What exactly do you owe me?"

Nathan's eyes sparkled with amusement. "A proper first date."

Amelia looked around the amusement park, then back at him. "So this doesn't count?"

"It counts."

"Good."

"But I can do much better."

She folded her arms with playful suspicion. "Oh? That sounds ambitious."

Nathan grinned. "I already have plans."

"Should I be nervous?"

"You absolutely should."

She laughed, the sound light and effortless. "I have a feeling I'll enjoy whatever you've planned."

Nathan looked out across the water where the reflections from the rides danced beneath the evening lights.

When he spoke again, his voice was much quieter.
"There's something I've been meaning to tell you."

Amelia turned fully toward him. "I'm listening."

He looked into her eyes. "You changed my life."

She blinked in surprise. "I don't think I did."

Nathan smiled and gently intertwined their fingers again. "You really did." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "When we first met, I spent every day pretending to be the person everyone thought I was."

He gave a small, almost embarrassed laugh. "I got so used to wearing that version of myself that I forgot who I actually was."

His gaze never left hers. "But somewhere along the way, you reminded me.” He squeezed her hand gently. "When I'm with you, i don't have to pretend anymore.I don't have to perform. And I don't have to be the guy everyone expects."

He smiled, a quiet, genuine smile that reached his eyes. "I finally get to be myself."

Amelia felt her chest tighten. She didn't trust herself to answer. Instead, she stepped closer, lifted one hand to his face. And kissed him.

When they finally pulled apart, Nathan rested his forehead against hers and whispered with a smile,

"I think saying yes was the best decision you made today."

Amelia laughed softly. She looked into his eyes and answered, "No."

Nathan raised an eyebrow. "No?"

She smiled. "The best decision I made.." She tightened her fingers around his hand. "Was agreeing to fake-date the most stubborn hockey captain on campus."

Nathan chuckled. "Then I suppose we should thank the ridiculous idea that started all of this."

She nodded. "I suppose we should."

Hand in hand, they left the amusement park beneath a sky filled with stars, carrying far more than souvenirs.

Nathan drove more slowly than usual. Neither of them seemed eager for the evening to end.

Soft music played through the car speakers, but neither paid much attention to it. Their conversation drifted from the amusement park to random childhood memories, then to absolutely nothing at all. Comfortable silence had become one of the things they shared best.

When the hostel building finally came into view, Nathan pulled into the parking lot and turned off the engine.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Amelia looked out through the windshield and sighed dramatically. "I suppose I should go."

Nathan leaned back in his seat. "I suppose."

She turned to him with an amused smile. "You sound very disappointed."

"I am."

She laughed. "We spent the entire day together."

"It wasn't long enough."

Her smile softened. "You really are hopeless."

"I blame you."

"How exactly is this my fault?"

Nathan reached for her hand and intertwined their fingers. "You made me enjoy your company too much."