Make It or Break It

Chapter Sixteen: Moving In Together

Fernando sighed as he finished unpacking in Riley’s room, he was grateful that Riley was letting him and Nora stay with her; since the police were now involved in Nora’s abuse case.

Riley smiled at Fernando as she entered her bedroom; it was currently a tight squeeze for the four of them and she knew that he still felt guilty for what had happened the day before.

The police had been insistent that they spoke with Fernando before social services cleared him to spend time with Nora; they had decided that the Spaniard wasn’t involved in the abuse.

This was the first time the couple had been alone with each other since Fernando and Olalla had been taken in for questioning; they wanted to be sure about what Riley had reported before they took further action on the case.

Fernando stood and pressed a kiss to the brunette’s lips as she wrapped her arms around him tiredly; she had had to explain to her father about what was happening minus the details that she and Fernando were together.

“I missed you,” Fernando said softly as he rested his head against hers, Riley smiled softly as she closed her eyes and held on to Fernando.

The children had gone to bed long before he had been able to come round with some of his stuff, luckily Olalla was being detained by the police for several days so he hadn’t run into her.

“I missed you too,” Riley said looking up at Fernando and making him smile softly at her words, it had been hard not seeing one another while he had been questioned by police and social services.

The footballer smiled at her as he lowered his lips back to hers, his hands moved to remove her white top; he wanted to make things up to her for what she had done for him and Nora.

However before they could get any further, Nora padded into the room; Riley pulled away from Fernando who frowned until he realised his daughter was in the room.

Nora quickly made her way over to her father and hugged him making Riley step away from Fernando as he held his daughter close to him; he watched Riley for a minute, before he smiled at her.

The brunette slipped out of the room, as she did Fernando sighed and pressed his lips against Nora’s head; he was going to do so much for his daughter to make up for what her mother had done.

“Don’t worry… everything will be fine” Fernando said as a plan started to form in his head, he just hoped that Riley would be interested when he told her what he had planned.

***

Fernando forced a smile as he walked into the locker room at the Cobham training centre, he knew that the news had gotten out about his separation from Olalla and what she had been doing to Nora.

As Fernando moved to his locker, his team mates offered their condolences for what was left of his marriage with Olalla; they all knew what was going and they felt sorry for him.

Of course, the media was having a field day and Fernando hadn’t been able to leave Riley’s apartment since he had moved in; he knew that they all wanted a comment from him about what was going on.

“Are you okay?” John asked him as he slipped his training jersey top on, Fernando sighed and smiled to him; he knew that no one knew that he was slowly moving on from his marriage and had been for a while.

“I’ve been better… things haven’t been right for a while,” Fernando admitted making John nodded, it taken them all be surprised when they had learnt what had happened; no one had ever suspected that Olalla could do that to Nora or to Fernando.

After they had all changed they headed out onto the training field, Juan dropped back to walk with Fernando; he wasn’t surprised to see Riley here making notes, with Nora and Aiden sitting next to her.

“So how long have you two been together?” Juan asked Fernando looked at him; feeling the slight swell of panic in his chest, as he opened his mouth to deny it Juan looked at him.

“It’s obvious… you spend so much time with her, and the night of the Villa match; where did you think I thought you were?” Juan said making Fernando sigh as he nodded in defeat, he wasn’t surprised that someone had noticed what was going on.

However the couple were going to have to be more careful now about what happened between them, they didn’t need it splashed across the front pages.

“Two weeks now,” Fernando admitted as a smile formed on his face, he still couldn’t believe that he was lucky enough to call Riley his for that amount of time.

Juan looked at him surprised, he had thought that they had been together longer, the way the two of them acted it was as if they had been doing this for months. “

I won’t say anything,” Juan promised Fernando, who looked at him gratefully; they were both knew what would happen if this got out that Fernando and Riley were together while he was still married.

Even if Olalla was now publicly with Damien, it wouldn’t be safe for Fernando to be seen that way with Riley while this investigation was taking place.

“Gracias,” Fernando said, Juan smiled at him as they warmed up before they started to jog around the pitch.

Riley wondered what her father would think if she were to tell him she was now involved with Fernando; she knew that he told the team, she was off limits but she really did care for the footballer and nothing was going to change that.

***

Fernando watched as Riley played with Aiden and Nora, he knew that he was extremely lucky to have her in his life; he had never felt content before when he had been with Olalla.

The footballer leant against the wall as he continued to watch them, he knew he couldn’t consider it a family just yet since it was still very early in their relationship but it did feel like it.

“Papa,” Nora said as she hurried over to her father, a bright smile on her face as she beamed up at him; the little girl idolised her father and Fernando was certain that he would protect her with his life now.

Riley watched the pair for a moment as she smiled softly, she really didn’t know what the future held for them but she knew that it was hopeful. “

What do you fancy for dinner?” the brunette asked as she brushed her fingers through Aiden’s hair, she watched Fernando and Nora; she knew that the two children would need feeding soon.

Fernando looked at Riley as he lifted Nora up, he held his daughter close knowing that the next few weeks were going to be difficult and he didn’t mind.

“Whatever you want,” the footballer said as he smiled at Riley, he wasn’t sure if he was hungry yet but he knew that Nora would want feeding before she went to bed and Aiden was the same.

Riley nodded her head as she looked away from Fernando, she knew that he was still married to Olalla even if he was separated from her; she needed to keep a clear mind until she knew what was going to happen.

Riley knew that she would always be there for Fernando and nothing could change that, she really did just hope that the footballer felt the same way.