A Kiss At Midnight (Delilah and Caelum) novel Chapter 110

A Kiss At Midnight

SITUATIONSHIP

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By the time we were done shopping. Leo had settled on getting his brother a watch instead, to which I agreed

1. to.

It was a simple black watch with a dark leather strap, a clean silver face and a small white marking around the edge. Nothing too fancy or ridiculously expensive, but it looked polished enough to make a good birthday

present.

Once we were done shopping, we decided to stop at one of the café inside the mall, joining the short line.

Turning slightly, “What do you want?” I asked.

Leo gaze drifted up to the menu, plastered on the screen, studying them for more than a couple second, that you would think he was making a life changing decision.

Then after a while he says. “Chicken sandwich, fries, and a chocolate milkshake.”

Raising a brow slightly at this. “You’re hungry.”

“I’ve been stuck eating hospital food,” he shakes his head, letting out a subtle groan.

“That explains everything,” fighting back the smile, I turner to the counter, ordering a chicken wrap with fries and an iced caramel latte for myself before we found an empty booth near the window.

On eve we found a booth, Leo picks up his cup, taking a long harsh sip from it, before setting it down with a sigh and I shake my head at this, finding his behavior slightly..just a tiny bit cute.

Then he grabs a fry from the basket the server had just placed on the table, popping it into his mouth. He leans back in his chair, as he casually says, “So, about the boy you came with the first time..”

I raised a brow at this as he continues. “You know the one that isn’t your boyfriend, but your boy friend,” he makes an exaggerated air quote in the air, getting an eyeroll from me.

“Don’t even start.”

A smirk tugged at his mouth. “What..I haven’t even said anything.”

“I think you have said enough,” he let’s out a small laugh before reaching for another fry.

For a moment, his expression remained playful, till it change. And his gaze drops toward the table. “I’ve seen him around a few times,” he said quietly, “Jace, right?”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

Leo picked at the edge of his napkin. “He’s been around the hospice a lot,” my smile faded as his voice became quieter, “She hasn’t been doing well and can barely lift herself up anymore. Most days, she needs help just to sit up.”

My chest tightened at this as he continues, gulping. “And the doctors think..” he hesitated, “It’s only a matter

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12:06 Sat, Aug 22

A Kiss At Midnight

of days now,” the words settled heavily between us.

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I know Jace had told us about what the doctor had said concerning his mother, but hearing it again from Leo. made my heartache. It was like a confirmation of something that was going to happen regardsless of what was done.

I looked down at my drink, feeling somewhat complete hopeless, knowing that there was nothing I could do. It was not like I had the ability to fix this for Jace, making his mother’s illness disappear.

All I could do was watch yet another person that I care about lose someone they loved.

My gaze drifted toward Leo, and suddenly, another thought crept in, out I didn’t want anywhere near my

head.

What if.. No. I immediately pushed it away, knowing I couldn’t think like that.

Not about him

Forcing my expression to remain neutral, I reach for my drink as though nothing had happened. But when I looked up at Leo again, he was already watching me, his eyes narrowed slightly. Enough reason to let me know that he had noticed, despite how hard I tried.

He stares at me for another second before his expression suddenly brightens. “I thought you weren’t going to be like everyone else.”

My brow crease together, “What does that mean?”

He tilted his head, mimicking an exaggeratedly sympathetic expression. “You know..the pity face.”

I scoffed as his lips stretches to a grin “Guess you do have a heart after all.”

Rolling my eyes, I take a sip of my drink. “What made you think I didn’t?”

“Because your face is always like this,” he immediately straighten his back, pulling his eyebrows together, making his expression ridiculously severe, “like someone is gunning for your life and you’re personally offended that they had the audacity to try.”

I stared at him for e second, and then a small smile betrayed me, making his face lit up with triumph.

“I will take that as a point, since I got you to smile..”

“Don’t get too excited.”

“Too late,” shaking my head at this, even thought the smile lingered.

After a moment, I studied him, watching how his face lits up so brightly, and the curiosity slips in as I found myself asking, “How are you so.. unaffected by all of this?”

He looks at me, and I continued. “You’re twelve, Leo. Most people your age aren’t exactly dealing with this

kind of stuff.”

12:06 Sat, Aug 22

A Kiss A Midnight

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He was quiet for a while, before shrugging his shoulders. “I am affected,” his voice became quieter, “I just can’t always show it.”

“Why?”

“Because of my family,” he pushes a fry around his plate, “I told you before, everyone already worries enough. If I start falling apart too, it will just make everything worse.” Taking in a deep breath, “sometimes I just pretend I’m brave so I don’t have to think about how fucked up everything is.”

I immediately frowned. “Watch your language,” the words came out automatically, which was rich coming from me, given the fact that Ipractically use that word as punctuation.

Leo raised an eyebrow, making me sigh. “Okay, fine. I’m a hypocrite, but still,” a small smile returned to my face, “you’re doing really well, Leo. Seriously. I know you probably don’t feel brave, but you are. Being scared and still getting through each day takes more courage than pretending you’re never afraid.”

He stared at me for a moment before his grin returned, “Careful. Keep saying things like that and I might start thinking you’re falling for me.”

I shook my head, playing along, “Once again, little guy, you’re eleven.”

“Thirteen..” he corrected almost instantly, but I ignored him as I held mt hand, weighing the words.

“Thirteen,” pointing at myself, “eighteen, no can do.”

“Bummer,” he mutters, before letting out a laugh.

“I do admit, you’ve got decent taste, but maybe stick with girls your own age.”

He stared at me suspiciously, then his mouth dropped open. “Oh my God.”

Raising an eyebrow. “What?”

“Are you rejecting me because you have another man on the side?”

I pressed my lips together. “You really are a ray of sunshine.”

He completely ignored the sarcasm, “You’re not denying it.”

“Because there’s nothing to deny, I’m not seeing anyone.”

He leans back, narrowing his eyes at me, “I can smell the bullshit from across this table,” I gave him a warning look and he immediately raised both hands in surrender but I knew damn well that he wasn’t.

I bite at the wall of my lips, staring at him for a second before saying. “I don’t have a boyfriend, we’remore of a.. situationship,” scoffing immediately scoffed at myself, “why the hell am I telling you this?”

“Sharing is caring,” he leaned forward, clearly interested now as I narrowed my eyes. “Situationship,” he repeated thoughtfully, “sounds spicy.”

“It isn’t.”

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A Kiss At Midnight

“Tell me more.”

:

ร

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Taking another sip of my drink before sighing. I mean, what was the harm in telling him about Caelum and 1. even though there wasn’t much to tell.

He wasn’t my boyfriend

“We started off as tutor and student,” I began, “that’s still technically what we are,” he nodded along, “and it was kind of a secret at first because we weren’t exactly from the same social group.

“So, apart from the tutoring, the school doesn’t know about you two?” clearing his throat, “the.. situationship.”

“Kinda.” I sighed softly.

His eyes immediately widened. “Forbidden romance!”

I groaned. “That is not what this is.”

“That’s my favorite trope.”

“There is no romance,” pausing for a moment, “It’s just..a situationship.”

“Yeah, right,” he gave me a knowing look, “your face says something completely different.”

I instinctively touched my cheeks. “My face says nothing.”

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