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"How can the dead be truly dead when they still live in the souls of those who are left behind?" – Carson McCullers

Chapter 72
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"Merry Christmas!" I jumped at the sound of Raven yelling into the phone.

The girl had a set of lungs on her, that was for sure. "Merry Christmas to you, too. Where are the twins?"

The three of them were going to spend Christmas together with the Maggie and Jax's grandmother, since Raven's mother was out of town. I did find it fucked up that her mom left her during a holiday, and it genuinely broke my heart.

I'd only found out yesterday when she called for my birthday. If I would have known before I left, I would have stayed for her. It was never okay for anyone be alone on Christmas, but after I called Maggie and Jax, we immediately compromised. Raven had woken me up by a video call, though.

She was already dressed in Christmas pajamas, a cup of hot chocolate in hand as she smiled at me. "They'll be over in a couple minutes," she answered with an excited expression that shifted to appreciation. "Thank you, Kimberly. Really."

I smiled as I turned over on my pillow. Kade was in the bathroom so I could get comfortable. We still had a couple of hours until Grandma Jacky was finished cooking. She claimed that we would only mess with her 'craft' and to stay out of her way until then. What she actually meant was that she didn't want us to see her heating up the pre-cooked food that she bought from a restaurant.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I answered nonchalantly. "I don't even know you."

She wore a knowing expression. "Right, right. Well, I just wanted to thank you for totally not being the best friend I've ever had."

With a laugh, I nodded my head. "Is Levi coming over, too?"

"He should be over sometime after noon," she responded, shuffling around on her bed. "You're not the only one getting Christmas sex." Her eyebrows suggestively danced in my direction, causing me to groan.

"You're never going to shut up about it, are you?" As soon as I told her about Kade and I's night, she joined Jax in the call immediately. The two threw so many cheers, and questions at me I couldn't keep up. Jax even popped a bottle of champagne in my honor.

She shook her head, her pretty face scrunching with laughter. "Absolutely not. In fact, what was it that he said? It had me sweating, and I wasn't even there. I'm gonna have to tell Levi to start saying it, now. Didn't he say you take his—"

Just as she started to mimic me, the door to the bathroom opened. Kade came out, black strands dripping, and a towel wrapped around his waist. I considered throwing my phone across the room as my very loud, and oblivious friend mirrored my moans.

My eyes widened to saucers as they glared down at her. "Raven!"

Her eyes snapped open as she paused mid-groan. "What? Was I getting it wrong?" Just as she finished speaking, Kade leaned down to peck my cheek.

Her eyes skipped to me, then back to him. She grinned, waving at her phone. "Hey, Kade." My skin heated under both of their gazes.

Kade acknowledged her with a nod, then looked to me with a cocky grin. He knew, of course he did.

The following idea left me throwing a grin to Raven. "You know...whenever Levi stops by, I'm going to let him in on all of your adventures," I teased, raising up from the bed. "You know, just for fun."

Her eyes widened immediately, shaking her head. In the corner of my eye, I heard Kade chuckle as he dressed himself.

The present under my pillow was practically burning through the bed. The longer it stayed there, the longer I washed in nerves.

Raven's attention jerked up. "Looks like the twins are here," she lied as she stood up from her bed. "Merry Christmas to you and your very lovely, lovely relationship! Love you, bye." I laughed at her bait even though I wasn't planning to say anything, anyway. The incidents were when the two were broken up anyway, and it never led to anything more.

After we hung up, Kade turned toward me with a chuckle. "Should I call Levi?"

I shook my head with a chuckle of my own. "I was only talking about her dancing with another guy. Her and Levi were broken up at the time."

Kade frowned before a mischievous expression passed over it. In a second, he was in front of me.

His arms trapped me in my spot as he lowered himself down to me. "Were you in these adventures of hers as well, sweetheart?"

My body trembled with laughter as I shook my head. My hands pressed at the muscles on his stomach. "At the time, I was on that stupid Ferris wheel with you, actually." I paused before throwing a smile at him. "If I was, though?"

His brown eyes narrowed as he smirked. "You really wanna find out, sweetheart?"

I nodded, stroking a hand over his chest. "Maybe."

We spent all last night, and even the following morning hours in bed. With his stamina, the man never grew restless. He even had to drive into town to buy more condoms. By the time we leave for Washington, it would be a miracle if we didn't run out by then.

His grin grew at me. His hands were quick as one ran down to my inner thigh, using one hand to part them for him. It hovered just above my core while his other trained around my throat, his thumb casually tracing over a mark he left last night.

Shit. I had to snap out of it. I wanted to give him his present before anything else.

As dreadful as it was, I shuffled out of his grasp. He released me immediately, continuing to examine me over.

"Stay," I demanded, lifting my back from the bed.

His body relaxed as he cocked his head at me. He crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm not a dog, sweetheart." He did what was asked, though.

I picked up the pillow. His present had been there since this evening. I made sure to pack it since we agreed to exchange presents here.

The mall I got it from did amazing. I was sure he would love whatever I got him, but this present was personal.

I pulled the gift out, my hands clammy as I held it. I wrapped it perfectly in plain colored wrapping paper so that nothing could give the contents inside away.

Kades' arms fell with his eyes, immediately following toward the gift. "What's that?"

I grasped it into his hands, shoving it into his grasp. "Your present. Open it." I crossed my legs from underneath me in order to stop from bouncing up and down in nerves.

Kade frowned, though I could hear traces of appreciation. His thumb ran over the paper. "I told you you didn't have to get me anything, Kimberly. You're all I wanted."

I rolled my eyes at him. He was out of his mind if he thought that I wouldn't.

My fingers tightened around my knees. "Open it," I demanded, nodding toward the gift. At this point, I was going to open the damn thing for him.

A tsunami of worry came crashing over me. What if I overstepped with it? It was personal, extremely personal. I knew that it might awaken some emotions, but I wanted to honor his strength, him.

He tried to cover his smile, but I caught it and held on. My fingers itched to take hold and shake him as he started to slowly remove the paper. He examined the box underneath before lifting it.

I held my breath the entire time. Every bone in my body was clenched tight with tension and nerves.

I examined him over closely. Maybe I should have warned him.

His expression was blank, his entire body frozen. His head dangled down at the gift without a word.

After a minute, I couldn't take the silence any longer. I shifted closer. "Do you...do you like it?"

At the mall, I texted and asked Susie for a picture of Kade, and his brother. I gave it to the man in the mall, who used the picture as well as one I had of us. Then, he put the images in a LED lamp that could be used as a night light, as well. On either side, it would be a picture of him and Kacen, or him and I.

Kade appeared distraught. From here, I could see the way his skin paled. His fingers were trembling around the frame as he drew in a shaky breath. I saw his chest fall.

"I know that you said you feel like you're in the dark sometimes," I said softly. "So if you ever start to feel that way again, you look at the picture and you can see your brother and I. We can be your light." My words slowed to a stop as he placed the picture down beside him.

A shaky hand skipped over his face before he turned to face me. Gently placing the picture down, he shifted closer. His eyes were bright with tears, but that was all I caught before he pulled me into him.

I was caught off guard, but once I realized, I relaxed into his arms. I didn't realize he was crying until I felt the wetness against my neck.

Immediately, my grip tightened around his figure. I held him to me by the back of his head, my other hand falling to the middle of his back. "I got you," I whispered out, kissing the side of his head.

"I love you, god I love you," I heard his choked voice say. His body shook so hard it startled me. His arms squeezed me tighter as he nestled his face into my neck. "Thank you so much." He continued to murmur the words before his voice grew hoarse. I held on and held on. I always would.