Chapter 22: A Proposal
Months Later
"Stop running." I say, hands gripping Mini's car seat straps. My hands were shaking, however, so I'm sure she saw me as a bit of a hypocrite.
She looks up at me with big blue eyes that make my heart melt. Her eyes start to fill with unshed tears and I cringe. Mini hated the car seat. She would start crying as soon as she saw it. If I weren't so concerned for her safety, I'm sure the daddy in me would've caved and had her sitting up front next to me. Fortunately, I had a far more wise girlfriend who nipped that idea in the bud.
"Hey, sweetie, it's okay." She pulls at my finger and tries to force it in her mouth. I laugh a little, which causes her to smile.
Damon's case had fallen in his favor. I was happy. At least, I should be. But I was also nervous and so anxious that I wanted to throw up.
"Promise me that this will work out." I tell Mini, clipping her into her seat. She looks at me and I swear she nods. That's all the confirmation I need.
"Is she in?" Elena says, walking away from Caroline and joining us at the far end of the parking lot.
I hand Mini her stuffed bunny and nod. "Yeah, she's good."
Elena moves closer and winds her arms around my neck to give me a peck on my lips. "Are you ready to be done with all of this?"
I was. It felt good. It felt like one huge, traumatizing chapter was being closed. And it finally felt like I had some say in the content of the next one. I felt in control and happy. I had everything that I wanted.
It won't last, but for now it's enough.
"I'm more than ready." I affirm, kissing her gently.
A blaring horn jolts us from our kiss and I turn to glare at Nik, who's driving away with Caroline in the passenger seat. She waves, her blonde hair whipping around her and then ducks her head back into the car.
"Those two..."
"Are kind of adorable." Elena finishes. I raise an eyebrow at her. "What? They kind of are."
"You think that's adorable? How on earth can Nik be involved in anything related to being adorable?"
She rolls her eyes while Mini squeaks in agreement. "You know who's truly adorable? Me."
She snorts. I start to the other side of the door and slide into the driver's seat. "What? I am. You should start treating me that way, too. I don't want all my adorableness to go to waste."
"How about some cookies when we get home. Will that suffice?"
"It's a start."
I stuff a sugar cookie in my mouth and groan. "This is so good."
Mini looks up at me from her place by my feet and glares. "Bet you wish you could eat these..."
"Stop taunting Nellie or you won't be having anymore." Elena chastises, settling herself down beside me with a glass of milk. A few minutes pass and she places it down on the coffee table and snuggles into me, clearly tired.
The day couldn't be over yet.
"So when are you leaving?" I ask, trying for conversation. She hums and curls further into my front.
"In two weeks. But I'll be back in four weeks and then Henry, my intern, will be taking over with Dr. Avery." I was now starting to see the busy schedule that came with her career. I hated it.
"That sucks."
"Why." she smiles against my chest. "No sex?"
"And no food." I point out. She giggles and pulls me closer. I watch the closing of CSI on the screen ahead of us and frown when her breath evens out beneath me. I look at Mini and she simply blinks.
