August didn't stop walking until they were out of sight. Past the noise. Past the parents. Past the kids shouting and the polite chaos of the open day. His hand was wrapped around Celine's, firm but careful, afraid to hurt her, guiding her through the edge of the school grounds toward the parking area.
She followed, slightly confused by the pace.
"Babe, slow down," she muttered, trying to match his steps.
He didn't answer. Didn't even look back.
Only tightened his hold slightly, not enough to hurt, just enough that she stayed with him.
Celine narrowed her eyes at his back. "You're acting like I insulted your cooking."
Still nothing.
They reached his parked car. August stopped.
Then, without releasing her hand, he turned. And gently but firmly guided her back until she was between him and the car. Celine shifted slightly under his hold, still between him and the car door, his arm braced beside her like a barrier without being rough. Not trapping her in a bad way, just… keeping her there.
Like he didn't trust distance anymore.
"You're doing that thing again," she said quietly.
"What thing."
"Brooding. It's distracting."
A flicker moved in his jaw. "I'm not brooding."
"Mhm."
Silence stretched again, tighter this time as Celine studied him properly now. Not teasing. Not defensive. Just watching.
Then softer, "August."
He finally looked at her again. And that was it, whatever restraint he had left snapped quietly.
He stepped in. One hand came up, his fingers brushing a loose strand of hair that had escaped from her bun. Neither of them spoke.
Celine looked up at him.
"August..."
His jaw tightened.
Then he leaned down and kissed her. Not rough, just enough to make his point.
A kiss that lingered a second longer than it should have.
A kiss that said everything he hadn't.
When he finally pulled back, Celine stared at him for a moment, slightly breathless. He rested his forehead lightly against hers.
"You have any idea how hard it was standing there listening to him talk to you like that?"
A small smile tugged at her lips.
"He talks like that to everyone."
"Didn't make me want to punch everyone."
That earned a laugh from her.
"There he is," she said softly. "The jealous one."
August shook his head, though the corner of his mouth twitched.
"You're enjoying this."
"A little."
"I just didn't like him."
"You don't have to."
"No. I really don't."
Celine reached up and cupped his cheek.
"Oh, babe."
Some of the tension finally left his shoulders as his hands settled lightly on her waist, steady and protective.
"You drive me insane."
"That's not new."
A reluctant laugh escaped him as he took a step back, finally putting a little space between them.
His hand lingered at her waist for a second before dropping.
"We should get back."
Celine looked up at him, lips still slightly swollen from the kiss, amusement dancing in her eyes.
"Back to Liam?"
"Yes."
"The same Liam you abandoned to drag me out here?"
August sighed.
"I didn't abandon him."
"You disappeared with his invited guest."
"He'll survive."
Celine laughed softly.
"There he is."
"There who is?"
"Jealous August."
August shook his head and started toward the school entrance.
"Come on."
Celine fell into step beside him. A few paces later, she nudged his arm.
"For the record?"
August already looked tired of whatever she was about to say.
"What?"
A grin spread across her face.
"I like jealous August more."
August stopped briefly and looked at her completely unimpressed as Celine burst out laughing.
He muttered something under his breath and continued walking, still smiling, she followed him back inside. When they entered the building again, the open-day crowd had grown thicker. Parents moved between classrooms, teachers chatting while children proudly showed off projects and artwork.
Liam spotted them instantly.
"There you are!"
He came barreling toward them.
"You disappeared."
August raised an eyebrow. "For five minutes."
"It was at least twenty."
"It was five."
Liam ignored him.
"I got my report."
That got both adults' attention as his grin widened immediately.
"Come see."
He grabbed Celine's hand before either of them could protest and dragged them toward his classroom.
Inside, several parents were gathered around desks while the teacher handed out progress reports.
Liam's teacher smiled when she saw them approach.
"Mr. Creed."
August shook her hand.
"Good afternoon."
The teacher glanced down at the report in front of her.
"Liam is doing very well."
August looked unsurprised while Liam looked extremely pleased with himself.
The teacher continued.
"His reading scores are excellent. Mathematics is above grade level. Science is probably his strongest subject."
"I told you," Liam whispered loudly.
Celine hid a smile.
The teacher laughed.
"The only challenge is that he's... very inquisitive."
August already knew what was coming. Celine could see it on his face.
The teacher sighed dramatically.
"Last week he asked me why dinosaurs couldn't have simply evolved into lawyers."
Liam immediately defended himself.
"It was a valid question."
"It was not."
"It was."
The teacher pointed at him.
"See?"
Celine laughed before she could stop herself.
The teacher smiled.
"He's bright. Very bright. He just asks questions faster than most adults can answer them."
Liam puffed up proudly.
August rubbed a hand over his face.
"Yeah. That sounds like him."
The teacher handed over the report card.
"You should be proud of him."
August looked down at the grades.
Then at Liam.
A small smile appeared.
The genuine kind.
"I am."
Liam's grin nearly split his face in half.
And standing beside them, Celine felt something strange settle in her chest.
Not jealousy. Not sadness.
Just warmth.
Because for the first time in a long time, she was looking at something uncomplicated.
A good father.
A happy child.
Just a family trying to make a little boy smile.
And somehow, she found herself smiling too.