Day 59

When I enter Kyle's room the next day, Abraham is there. I'm relieved when Kyle appears not in pain. That's probably why cancer is such a hard illness to overcome. It's ebbs and it flows with moments of extreme pain and moments of normalcy.

This was a good day for Kyle. He seemed energized and I felt my cheeks heat up as I felt Abraham's intense stare in my direction.

Finally, I just asked him, "What?!"

Abraham then looked at Kyle and asked him, "Do you want to tell her, or should I?"

"Please tell her, I'd like to hear it from you," replied Kyle in an overly-polite tone. I press my lips together, knowing that Kyle took pleasure in inciting outbursts from me. Abraham, just liked to play along.

"He told me how he would trip over his own feet repeatedly if it meant he could look up at your amaranthine face." I felt puzzled but Kyle actually looked it.

When Kyle and I don't speak, Abraham sighs before adding, "It means undying beauty." Abraham shrugged as he said, "My friend has never wanted to deliberately trip over his own feet before so I find it interesting."

"Yeah; he was verbally abusing me before you came in," replied Kyle with a frown. "Even though I was just being honest."

I grab Kyle's hand, hold it in mine and give him my best sympathetic look for a moment. Then, my eyes locks with Abraham's. "You should've abused him more. He's still got enough energy left to cozen us both."

"And you're both geeks!" Kyle spits out. I snort as I notice it's the best he could come up with.

Not wanting to puncture his ego anymore than it undoubtedly already had been by Abraham, I handed him over his 59th Birthday card with my free hand. "I come bearing gifts," I answered.

"It's not a gift unless it has a bow," is what Kyle deadpanned before reading aloud his card. "Harley surprises you for your birthday by bringing you to a basketball game in an effort to get you out of the house."

Kyle closed his birthday card and mulled it over for a moment, Abraham and I watching his display of overthinking in silence. "Wrong," said Kyle with a smirk in my direction.

He gently squeezed my hand which caused my heart to squeeze back in shock. For a moment I thought, 'Is this the same guy who was throwing things at people'. I pulled my hand out of his before my heart keeled over in happiness. "What do you mean, wrong?"

"Harley was trying to cheer me up from losing my life partner of twenty something years right?"

"Right," I said. "So, what's wrong about going out to a basketball game with your kid?"

Kyle scoffed at me as he said, "Because, that's not how to cheer a handsome grieving man of my caliber."

"Oh, and how is that?" I asked him. I regretted asking the question the minute I was done asking it. Like I didn't know better!

"One word Renata...Curves," said Kyle. "You cheer a handsome grieving man with curves. Of all shapes and sizes. Boobs in particular do it in a pinch though." I flicked my finger on his forehead while Abraham nodded in agreement.

I shook my head and told Kyle, "This is why men are still called pigs, you know."

"I know; the only difference is unlike other men I won't apologize for my needs as a grieving man. Besides, aren't you to blame?" I felt my jaw drop while Abraham chuckled.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly as it sounds, Renata. Aren't you the one writing the landscape in these birthday cards? Making me into a widower? What do you think widower's think about? Because I can tell you it's not about paint drying." Kyle exhaled before continuing. "It's about being used to laying down near a warm body with luscious curves at night. Realizing you'll never be able to touch that person again, tell them you love them, or even just kiss them before heading to work. So yeah, as a grieving man I wouldn't mind holding onto a warm body with curves again. It might not feel the same, but it will make me forget the pain I might be feeling in that moment."

"Pretty words for a grieving man who has a mistress," I replied dryly.

Abraham snorted before saying, "You can grieve and still hook up with somebody. Happens to me all of the time when I feel down," replied Abraham.

I leaned away from Abraham and Kyle both. "EW!"

This had them both laughing, which wasn't my intention. I really was grossed out, but I also loved it when Kyle laughed.