The next morning, Vincent’s things were packed and ready. He loaded them into his car, with Ava by his side, having insisted on escorting him.
Nica, secretly watching them leave around the corner, held back her tears. Where was he going? Would he be back soon? She was already missing him-so much.
Morticia bit her lip, trying to hold back her tears. Why was she about to cry when her annoying, overprotective brother was leaving? She sighed, waving as his car pulled away.
She stood there for a moment before heading back inside, only to meet Klaus’s gaze.
“Oh… You’re still here?” Morticia stuttered. It had been a while since she’d spoken with Klaus privately. Though she wondered how he was doing, she hadn’t asked.
“Nah, I’m heading out,” Klaus replied, brushing past her. Morticia swallowed, watching him leave. Clearing her throat, she went back inside, feeling a sense of emptiness.
As Klaus got to his apartment, he received a call from Josephine. His mother, who hadn’t expected him to answer, stayed silent for a moment before speaking.
“How have you been, son?” she asked.
“Just pushing,” he replied briefly, putting the call on speaker as he took off his shirt.
“Has Vincent left?” Josephine asked, unsurprised; Ava must have told her already.
“Hm,” Klaus responded, folding his shirt neatly.
“Oh, I wish him a safe journey,” Josephine replied, the tension palpable.
After a pause, Josephine asked, “Are you still mad at me?”
“I won’t be, once you tell me what’s going on,” Klaus replied, his gaze on the phone.
“I’ll tell you after the wedding,” Josephine replied, and Klaus sighed. Even after so much argument, his mother still wanted to attend that messed-up wedding. Why go when her presence means nothing to them?
“Klaus?” Josephine’s voice broke his train of thought.
“I heard you,” he replied. At least she had finally decided to tell him. It was a start.
“Have a good day, son.”
“You too,” he murmured, his voice barely audible before the call ended.
_
After finishing her classes, Morticia headed to the cafe with Valerie and Rhea. Valerie was now much more comfortable around them.
“Why do you think Peter didn’t break off the engagement with her?” Rhea asked. She had always been curious and observant.
“Who cares. At least Vincent’s name is cleared now, and the world knows her true colors. Honestly, they’re a perfect match-the son and daughter of a fucking b! tch,” Valerie replied, taking a bite of her burger.
Rhea shrugged it off and sipped her cola, while Morticia’s mind drifted to Vincent, and then to Klaus. Great, she was back to her usual crush fantasies.
“Little nerd.”
Morticia’s face turned cold at the voice she would recognize anywhere-Dimitri. She hadn’t seen this ugly ass since she tried to kill her.
Dimitri walked over and stopped at her table with a small smile. “Long time,” she murmured, and Morticia rolled her eyes again.
Dimitri leaned close to Morticia’s ear. “How’s your brother? I heard what happened to him.”
“Do you mind fucking off?” Valerie mumbled, while Morticia glared at Dimitri.
“Whoa, relax. I’m not here for a fight, tomboy,” Dimitri said to Valerie, then turned back to Morticia. “I’m watching you,” she whispered low, then left the cafe with Zara trailing behind her.
Morticia sighed, clenching her fists. She looked down at her food, suddenly losing her appetite. She grabbed her bag.
“I’m heading home. Bye, guys,” she said, standing up and leaving as her friends watched her with worried expressions.
—
By evening, after making a video call with Vincent, Ava set her phone aside and took out the meal she had prepared for Klaus.
“Mom, you could have called him over,” Morticia said when her mother asked her to take the meal to him.
“I did call, but he said he’s busy. I made his favorite to thank him for helping my son. Now, run along, darling,” Ava said, urging her out the door.
Morticia sighed, determined to drop it off and leave immediately. Besides, what was he busy with? With other girls like he used to be? Couldn’t he just come over instead?
She crossed the gates, feeling the familiar scent of his place. She rang his doorbell and heard his deep voice inviting her in.
She stepped in and found Klaus completely focused on his computer, with a chilled orange juice by his side. He was shirtless, like he usually was when home alone, revealing those dark tattoos she wanted to run her fingers over.
“Do you plan to stand there all night?” Klaus’s question broke her train of thought.
She approached him and dropped the meal on the table with an unnecessary thud, which made him look up at her. Gosh, he was so handsome in the dim light.
“Why didn’t you come pick it up yourself?” she asked.
“Because I knew you’d be the one to bring it,” he replied so straightforwardly that it made her swallow.
“Whatever,” she mumbled, turning to leave.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“Back home, of course.”
“Aren’t you staying for a while?” he asked.
“Why should I stay?”
“Because I want you to,” he said, making her stop in her tracks. His words echoed in her head. He’d purposely made her come here and wanted her to stay? She turned to ask him, but he was already close to her, making her flinch as her back pressed against the wall.
“…”
Her mouth opened and closed without a word coming out.
He placed one hand against the wall behind her, the other tucked into his pocket, his gaze locked on hers, his face inches away.
What is he doing?
“Do you miss me?” His question came so suddenly that her brain couldn’t process it.
“Huh?”
“Do you miss me, Bunnie?” he asked again, taking his hand out of his pocket to tilt her chin up.
“Don’t touch me,” she muttered, moving her face away, and surprisingly, he obliged.
“But it sets your body on fire. I’ve seen it,” he whispered. His closeness was affecting her, and now his words were making her head spin.
“Can I go now?” she asked, knowing she might do something stupid if she didn’t leave. He was too hard to resist.
“No,” he stated firmly.
“Why?” she raised a brow.
“Like I said, I want you to stay… even if it’s just for a while,” he replied, and her heart skipped a beat. “You don’t want to?”
Morticia bit her lip, which made his eyes darken. “I’m not here for you to play me, Klaus. I’m not here for some fling.”
Klaus’s lips curled into a smirk, and his next question made her knees weak.
His voice, thick. “Will you be my girlfriend, then?…
Her breath caught, only for him to add more fuel to the fire burning inside her. He drew his lips close.
“Or do you want to be something more than that… Bunnie?”