Day 49

Kyle looked immeasurably better than the two days before his 49th birthday. I just remember sitting near his bed and just staring at him for longer than normal. "If you stare at me any longer Renata, I'm going to have to start charging you in kisses."

"Last I checked, this wasn't a kissing booth," I smoothly replied. Kyle lightly laughed and wrapped one hand at the back of his neck.

"You're getting better at your comebacks, grasshopper" he replied.

I nudge his arm as I tell him, "Oh, so now both January and I are grasshoppers to you. Well, at least January won't be alone."

"I don't care if he is or isn't alone," replied Kyle truthfully.

Sighing, I kiss his cheek before I added, "No kisses on the lips for mean guys."

"That's bribery, you know," was his answer. "It's considered in most states a criminal offense, Renata."

"Then I'll just have to love them and leave them," I replied. "Here," I said before he could respond. "Happy 49th!"

"Thank you, mistress," replied Kyle before opening his birthday card. "In an act of rebellion, Persephone runs away with a boy who is trouble. You spend your whole birthday looking for her till you find her at 11 pm." He gave me a look of outrage before closing the birthday card. "Nuh-uh, my princess did not just mess with my fucking birthday!"

"Yes, she did. How's it like having a daughter now," I replied with a smirk.

"Dreadful," Kyle grumbled. "And it makes me very sad," he added as he looked over my shoulder at his door. I don't notice the shine of his eyes until Kyle blinked his eyes like crazy to keep the tears at bay. "I don't want my princess to grow up because that means I'm growing up and--"

"Oh Kyle, you are a great father," I replied softly. Then, I kissed him on the lips. When we finally got around to breaking apart from each other, Kyle lightly laughed again. "What's funny?"

"Who said mean guys couldn't get a kiss on the lips?" was his reply. I whacked his shoulder and gasped.

"Those were fake tears?!"

"How does this surprise you?" asked Kyle. "You knew I acted before."