A Kiss At Midnight (Delilah and Caelum) novel Chapter 153

A Ki At Midnight

“It feels defective sometimes,” she gave a small, humorless laugh, “Like there’s something wrong with me because I can’t love someone who clearly deserves to be loved by me.”

I knew exactly who she was talking about without her having to say his name. And suddenly, I couldn’t help thinking about them. Things between them had seemed fine on the surface but the tension was there.

It had always been there

They had both simply refused to address what was happening between them, allowing everything to pile up beneath the surface. And now, I couldn’t help wondering how long they were going to keep doing this.

How long could they pretend everything was fine when neither of them was actually saying what they felt?

I watched her quietly for a moment before asking, “Do you want to talk about him?”

Kaia immediately shook her head, “No, God. I have no idea where to start,” her answer came softer this time, “besides, talking about him hurts.” She took a slow breath, “I’m barely managing to keep him out of my thoughts as it is.”

“Mason is a good person,” she continues, looking down at her hands “And I can’t bear to lead him on when I know I might never be able to give him what he wants. He doesn’t deserve that and deserves to be treated right.”

“Does Mason know how you feel?”

She let out a humorless laugh, “Oh, he knows,” then she shakes her 1 head again, “He’s convinced he can make this work between us and keeps asking me to give him a chance,” her phone suddenly pinged again and she glances down at the screen.

And despite everything she’d just said, a genuine smile appeared on her face. I raised an eyebrow and she quickly looked away, but the smile remained.

“He’s pretty relentless.”

3/4

1

O

G

W

O

<

10:38 Thu, Oct 1⇓ in.

A Ki At Midnight

SAYING GOODBYES

Carlum drove with both hands on the steering wheel, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. I sat quietly in the passenger seat, staring at the scenery passing outside the window.

I had barely spoken since we left, every few moments, my fingers fidgetes in my lap before I force myself to relax them again. Eventually, my gaze drifts toward the rear view mirror, through the reflection, I could see the back seat for the flowers rested carefully there.

Daisies and beside it, a bouquet of white lilies

Gulping, the sight of the daisy made something inside me ache. Daisy. My heart tightens as I turn my gaze back toward the window. We were on our way to the cemetery to Daisy’s grave and for the first time, in three years, I was going to see her, I wasn’t sure what I had expected to feel.

But now that we were actually on our way, nervousness had settled heavily in my chest. I hadn’t visited Daisy’s grave in three years, three years of avoiding that place and telling myself I wasn’t ready.

I drew in a slow breath, looking down at my hands. I wasn’t sure what I would say when I finally stood in front of Daisy’s grave, wasn’t even sure I’d be able to say anything at all.

The car eventually began to slow, gravel crunches beneath the tires as Caelum guided the car into the cemetery, driving carefully between the rows of headstones.

A few moments later, he brought the car to a gentle stop. Neither of us moved immediately and I turned my head and met Caelum’s gaze. He looked at me quietly, almost as if checking whether I was ready.

I gave him a small nod, and we both step out of the car. I walked around to the back seat, carefully picking up the bouquet of Daisies while Caelum reaches for the other bouquet, taking the flowers he had brought for the boy.

We walk together through the cemetery, neither of us said much. Eventually, Caelum stopped and I looked ahead to a simple headstone stood before us.

Julian Carter

2002 – 2026

Beloved Son, Brother. Forever Remembered.

My chest tighten knowing Julian had been almost the same age as Leo. A boy whose life had ended far too soon, yet whose family had made an incredibly difficult decision that gave Leo another chance.

Caelum steps forward, crouching beside the grave and gently placed his flowers at its base. For several seconds, he simply stares at the headstone, then I carefully separated one daisy from my bouquet and knelt beside him. placing the single flower next to his.

He remained silent for a moment before finally speaking, “I don’t know if you can hear me,” his voice was quiet. “But thank you. I wish you had gotten more time and wish your family never had to lose you,” his eyes remains fixed on Julian’s name, “but because of you, my brother gets another chance.”

“I promise we’ll never forget what you gave him,” His voice grew heavier and I lowers my gaze, my heart aching for a family I had never met.

O

G

O

10:38 Thu, Oct 1·

A Ki At Midnight

55 vouchers

Caelum slowly reaches for my hand and I let him take it, together, we stood beside Julian’s grave in silence. We stayed beside his grave for a while longer, neither of us felt the need to speak.

Eventually, I pulled my hand gently from his and took a slow breath, “I want to see her now,” his nodded.

I turned and began walking. Daisy’s grave was farther away from the others, tuck beneath a large tree that had been planted there years ago. Its branches stretched overhead, casting a soft shadow across the headstone.

The moment I saw it, my steps slowed. There was already a flower resting against the base. stopped, staring at it and realising how fresh it looked, for too fresh to have been left there days ago

Frowning, I glanced around the cemetery but there was no one nearby. I look between the rows of graves, searching for any sign of whoever had brought it, nothing. Turning back toward the grave, I wondered who had been here. But somehow, knowing someone still came to visit her made my chest ache in a

strange way.

I tightened my grip around the bouquet before carefully taking a few steps forward, then I placed my flowers beside the one that was already there. For a moment, I simply stood there, looking at her name.

My throat tightens, “Hi, Daisy,” my voice came out quieter than I expected and I swallowed as small, sad smile touched my lips, “It’s been a while and I’m sorry for coming so late.”

I stared at the headstone, fighting the emotions gathering in my chest, “I should’ve come sooner,” I took another breath before glancing toward Caelum, he stood a few feet behind me, giving me the space I needed.

I reached for his hand and he immediately steps closer as I laced his fingers through mine then I looked back at Daisy’s grave. “I want you to meet someone,” my smile grew faintly, squeezing his hand, “This is Caelum, my boyfriend.”

Saying it still made my heart flutter, I smiled softly, looking down at the flowers, “You would’ve loved him,” my voice softens, “Actually, I’m pretty sure you would’ve loved him for me.”

A quiet laugh escaped me despite the ache in my chest, “If you were still here, you’d probably tease me endlessly about him,” I looked at Caelum, then back at Daisy’s name, “And I know you would’ve loved him. Just like I do.”

Caelum was quiet for a moment, then he reaches into the bouquet he stepped closer to the grave and crouched beside it, still holding my hand, he stares down at the flower of daisies he had gotten for her as well, then he looks down at Daisy’s name, his expression softer than I had ever seen it, ently, he placed the flower against the base of her headstone.

“I brought this for you,” he murmured. “I hope you like it.” He remained there for a moment, his gaze resting on her name, then he looked up at me.

“Hi, Daisy,” he said quietly. “I’m Caelum,” a small smile tugged at his lips, “I know I’m probably very late to the introduction.”

I let out a tiny laugh through the tears threatening to spill again and he glanced at me before looking back at the headstone. “Delilah talks about you, not as much as she probably should,” he continued and mg chest tightens, “but enough for me to know how important you are to her.”

10:38 Thu, Oct 1 § J1 J1 •

A Ki At Midnight

55 voucher

His fingers tightens gently around mine, “I promise I’ll take care of her. I know she’s strong, probably stronger than she gives herself credit for. But I’ll still be there whenever she needs me,” his voice became quieter, “And I’ll make sure she keeps living. Really living. Not just getting through the days.”

My eyes burns, while he takes a slow breath, “I wish I could’ve met you when you were here. But I’m glad I get to know you through her,” he looks at my sister’s name one last time, then squeeze my hand, “So..thank you for being part of the person she becamic, ans I promise I’ll do everything I can to give her

reasons to smile.”

My lips trembled into a small smile as he turns toward me, brushing his thumb gently across my knuckles, “I’ll give you two some time,” in nodded and he leans down and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead before stepping away, “I’ll be over there.”

I watched him walk a short distance away before turning my attention back to Daisy and for a few seconds, I couldn’t say anything, and just stood there, looking at her name.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify