She reached forward, grabbed my beard, and pressed her lips to mine. “Daddy of Justice.”
I stood corrected. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I stopped the tears and laughter.
“I miss you, Washington … and I miss my birthday gifts. What did you,” she stopped speaking, hid a smile behind her hand, elbows on the table, and glanced away. “Never mind. We are so stupid. Why did we rush to Shonda to handle our mess?”
“Because we’ve gotta handle it,bébé.”
“I know, but … your birthday wishes. They blow my mind.” Madison dropped her head, and she gripped her hair in that good way I used to do for her when she couldn’t stand any more of me worshipping her.
Man, somebody had to do it, but it should’ve been me. “I remember when you were seventeen,” I said, “talking aboutwe can’t. You’ll go to jail. You’re twenty-two, Washington.”
“I didn’t sound like that.” Madison rolled her eyes.
“Yes, you did.”
“Okay, maybe. On my eighteenth birthday, though …” she whispered, glancing up with a subtle smile. Her leg fidgeted, and her posture seemed to yearn for me.
“Yep. The gift of your life.”
She gripped her water glass with both hands and sipped as if needing an anchor to sanity.
“Cool your hot little tail down.”
“Mkay, Baby Virginia.”
I hoped my brain wasn’t as imaginative as it had been the night we went to the rage room. All that thinking of positions and love faces? Too much work. “We can kiss, though.” I shrugged.
“Washington, always feigning nonchalance.” She muttered, “Damn, thumbs-up text.”
“What thumbs … oh. You should’ve sent me a picture.”
“Boy, if I had sent you a little something, something, you’d have created your own emoji, bald head and all. I can imagine the pose you’d send. Sparkling dark eyes, chin in hands. All smiles.”
“Woman, you’re talking out the side of your neck.” I glanced around. “They’d better hurry with that cake because it’s two minutes to midnight. We’ve got some foreplay to do.”
“Shhh …” she said as the server approached, apologizing about not finding a birthday candle.
“Stop all that.” I cut off the server. “You know good and damn well, you didn’t search either high nor low for mybébé’scandle, man.”
The server gave me a tight smile and walked away.
Madison snorted, raising her voice. “Sorry, sir. He missed his plane.”
“Oh no. I’m about to fly high offyouin a minute.”
She leaned forward, licking her lips. “Wish me a happy birthday. With yourmouth.”
The way she said that? My soul stood up, packed a suitcase, and walked toward her.
“That’s how it’s always done, huh?” she teased. “With yourwords, I mean.”
I looked her dead in those pretty brown eyes. “Madison, this will be your best year. Love. Happiness.”
Her eyes shimmered, but without tears, and she smiled as if warmth spread through her.
And then her greedy behind grabbed the only fork dude had given us. “You can’t have the first bite.”
“Long as I have you,chère, I’m good.”
