75

Maybe the fight with Oliver was beneficial. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my chest. I've been able to reconnect deeply with everyone and enjoy the time I spend doing it.

Being able to see Stefan and Caroline interact has felt like a breath of fresh air. Seeing her happy and love her life gives me hope that everything will turn out okay.

I kept slowly spinning the wine glass on the counter.

I could see Lizzie and Josie putting together a puzzle with Bonnie and Enzo at the kitchen table. Elena and Damon are sitting across from them. Her hands are wrapped around Damon's arm as her head is resting against his shoulder.

I turned my attention back to Stefan and Caroline, who were staring at me. "What?"

Caroline tilted her head, "Did you hear anything I just said?"

I shook my head, "No."

She sighed. "I asked if you've heard from Kai."

I thought for a minute. "No, actually." I've been so busy; I haven't been able to even think about him.

"So, he's ghosting all of us," she sighed.

"When was the last time you heard from him," Stefan asked.

Caroline looked at him, "Two weeks ago."

I started to feel worry creep into my mind. How have I not noticed? More importantly, what has he been doing?

I looked over as the front door opened. Kai left the door open as he walked in. He looked at Caroline and Stefan, "Hey." He turned to me.

He grabbed my waist, turning my body to face him. "What are you-" He pulled me against him as he kissed me, shutting me up. I moved my hands to his face, pulling him into me as I leaned into him.

The feeling of his body firmly pressed to mine made every nerve in my body light up, sending heat waves through me. The feverish pace of the kiss slowed down as it became more natural. Everything was as it used to be. I never left Mystic Falls. Kai and I are together.

When he pulled away, all of those thoughts disappeared, and I was back to reality. The breath in my lungs escaped me as I opened my eyes to look at him. He looked from my lips to my eyes.

"I gotta go."

I furrowed my brows. Before I could manage a response, he was out of my reach, closing the front door behind him.

"What was that?" I could hear the smile on Caroline's face.

I snapped out of the shock and glanced at her. I opened my mouth to speak, only to realize I didn't have an answer. I felt a wave of anger spring over me. He just kissed me without saying anything to me, then walked out.

I turned away from them and rushed out of the house. I stopped at the top of the porch steps. "You can't just kiss me and leave without saying anything!"

He stopped and slowly turned to face me. He took a step closer. "Sorry."

I walked down the steps. "Sorry?"

He nodded, "Sorry."

I scoffed, "Sorry." I took a step closer. "You disappear without saying a word and letting any of us know anything, and then you show up and kiss me and expect me to... what, exactly?"

"Do this."

"Really?"

He nodded as he stepped closer, "Yeah. And I really didn't think you cared if I disappeared. It's not like we're together."

I lifted my brows, "Wow." I breathed out slowly. "Maybe you should've just stayed gone."

"Is that so?"

I nodded, "Yes."

A smile appeared on his lips as he tilted his head. "Are you going to ask me what I was doing for two weeks?"

I tilted my head, "What were you doing for two weeks?"

"Well, after you kissed me, I got the idea that there might actually still be some feelings for me in that heart of yours. So, I took a trip to clear my head. I found Oliver and asked him about everything that went down between you two. He told me every detail. Then I beat the guy before leaving. I decided that you should have some space so you can decide if you want to be with me or not. Once I realized you're horrible at making decisions like that, I came back here. Do you know what that led to?"

"You kissed me."

He nodded once, "I kissed you."

"Because you want me to be in love with you."

He shook his head, "I know you're in love with me. I just want you to realize that."

The rush of emotions that were swollen in my chest bled into my mind, mixing with my thoughts to help me form words. "I was going to marry Oliver."

"But you didn't. And then you showed up at my door because you knew I'd be there for you."

"Because you love me."

He nodded as he stepped closer. "I'm madly in love with you."

His words shot straight through me, coursing through my veins as if it were the heart keeping me alive. "You're in love with me?"

He smiled, "Yeah, but you already knew that."

"I did." I breathed out slowly.

His gaze diverted to my lips. "Yes." He looked into my eyes. "And you're in love with me."

I felt like everyone was watching me as he rid my mind of all doubts and fears. "I'm in love with you."

I felt his hands cradle my face gently as he moved within inches of my body. He stared deeply into my eyes. "If you let me into your life again, I'll do everything I can to never let you go. I'll be selfish with you and give you an escape from the purgatory you lived in. All you have to do is tell me."

I pulled his hands to my hips and then wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to kiss me. His lips moved against mine slowly as he enveloped me in his arms. He pulled my body flat against his as I leaned into him.

I moved my hands to his face as I pulled back for air. I opened my eyes and looked into his. "If you ever push me away again, I'll rip your heart out."

He smiled as he looked at my lips, "Glad we're keeping the romance alive." I laughed as he kissed me again.

He slid his hands to my hips as he pulled back from the kiss. I tilted my head, "Did you kill him?"

"It was very tempting, but no. He's just in intensive care."

"Malachai."

He moved his hands to mine, "Trust me." He pulled my hands between us. "He deserved it."

"Whatever you say." I sighed as I started to pull away.

"Hey, where are you going?"

I turned to face him, walking backward. "Goodnight, Kai."

He held his hands out, "Come on."

I smiled, "I'll see you tomorrow."

He scoffed as he dropped his arms to his sides. "Is it too late to change my mind?"

I nodded, "Undoubtedly."

He shook his head, laughing to himself as I turned away from him.

A few seconds later, I squealed as his arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me back against his body. I felt him kiss my neck before his arms loosened around my body. "Let me stay."

I turned to face him, putting my hands against his chest as I looked up to meet his gaze. "No, you'll end up inside of me, and I don't particularly like the idea of traumatizing the twins."

He tilted his head. "You don't think Caroline and Stefan have done that already?"

My face twisted in disgust, "Why would you put that thought in my head?"

He smiled as he pulled me closer. "Sorry." His hands rested against my lower back. "What if we go back to my place in a few hours? Or minutes..." He looked at my lips. "We can catch up on all the time we missed."

I grabbed his jaw, making him look into my eyes. "You're sex crazed, you know that, right?"

"It's been a really long time, and you somehow ended up hotter. How is that my fault?"

I couldn't fight back the smile that consumed my lips. "We leave when I say so."

"Wow, it's like nothing's changed."

"My answer can."

He moved his hand to mine, "I'm only joking."

"Mhm."

He kissed me before I turned and walked back inside. He followed me.

Lizzie and Amelia ran out of the living room toward Kai, throwing their arms around him as they shouted his name. I looked into the living room, seeing that it now enclosed Care, Stefan, Elena, and Damon. They were watching in the window. I walked back to the kitchen, finishing what was left in my glass.

"So, you talked about it," Caroline stated.

I looked up from the glass I put in the sink. "Yeah." I turned to face her. Damon and Stefan were standing by her sides.

"And how did that work out for you," Damon remarked.

I looked at him, "Why don't you tell me? You were the ones watching."

"Your life is just really entertaining," he responded.

I tilted my head, "Entertaining is the last word I'd use to describe it."

"Really," Stefan asked. "You don't think the on and off thing is entertaining?" He looked at Damon.

"Personally, it's my favorite guessing game," Damon declared.

I looked at Caroline. "Why'd you have to marry into their family?"

She smiled, "To spite you."

"Evelyn," Amelia started as she grabbed my hand.

I looked down at her as I took a step back from the island. "What's up?"

"Will you put me to bed?"

"Of course I will." I reached down and lifted her, holding her on my hip. She leaned her head on my shoulder. I looked at Caroline. "After this, I'm leaving."

"Called it," Damon declared as he held his hand out to Stefan, reaching across Caroline.

Stefan put a fifty-dollar bill in his hand. I rolled my eyes as I turned away from them. I walked upstairs to the twins' room and put her down. She rushed to the bathroom and brushed her teeth. I walked in behind her. I started brushing her hair after she was done brushing her teeth.

"Will you play with my hair?"

I could see her eyes getting heavier. "If you change into your pajamas first."

She nodded as she ran back into her room, getting changed quickly. I turned off the light in the bathroom. She ran over to me. "Can we go to your room?"

I lifted her and carried her to my room. I pushed the door closed and walked her to my bed. I let her lay down before I lay next to her. She turned to face me, looking into my eyes.

I wrapped her in my arms, hugging her gently. I felt her curl into me. I ran my fingers through her hair, lightly running my nails along her scalp before running my fingers through her hair. I listened to her breathing get slower, letting my own breathing calm down.

I felt my hair being brushed back from my face. I opened my eyes to see Kai staring at me. His head was tilted slightly to the side, and there was a soft look in his eyes. His thumb strummed across my cheek, resting at the side of my face. I moved my hand from Amelia's hair to his hand. I let my eyes fall shut again.

"I fell asleep."

"Mhm." He slid his fingers through mine, pulling my hand to the bed. "I didn't want you to wake up and realize I left."

"Don't leave." I squeezed his hand.

"There's a kid in your bed."

"So, move her."

He pulled his hand from mine. I felt him move her. I turned to my stomach, resting the side of my face against the pillow and pulling the blanket higher.

I heard the door shut, then lock. A few minutes later, he was lying behind me. I felt his arms slide around me, hugging me for a moment before he slid his hand to mine. He kissed my cheek.

"Sweet dreams, baby."

I hummed in response, squeezing his hand back.