“If you say you don’t want to make a big deal about your birthday one more time,” she threatens me, “there will be hell to pay.” She turns and storms out of the office.
“I think you pissed her off,” Kirby says, “and in return I pissed her off.”
“You should have told her.” I try not to laugh when his mouth hangs open. “Why wouldn’t you tell her and make a big deal out of my special day?” His face looks like I just kicked him in the balls. When I can’t take it anymore, I burst out laughing. “I’m kidding, I’ll talk to her.”
“No one is going to talk to me!” Lexi shouts from her office. “I’m not talking to either of you!”
“Wow.” Kirby hands me my flowers and the box. “I didn’t even do anything wrong.”
“That’s what you think, mister.” She comes back into my office. “Think about how I feel. How insensitive do you think this paints me out to be that I didn’t even wish her a happy birthday?” She looks at both of us as Kirby takes a step to her. “I acted like it was an ordinary day.”
“Will it make you feel better if we do a birthday lunch on Friday?” I ask her and the look turns into a glare. “Okay, fine fine. You can tell the girls and we can do it on Saturday at the game,” I counter and she nods.
“Better, and here I thought Knox sent you those because you had anal sex with him.”
“Eww,” Kirby says and I can’t help but laugh.
“Number one, if I do anal, there have to at least be diamonds involved.”
“I never want to be part of this discussion in my life,” Kirby tells both of us. “I don’t want to think about it, talk about it. It’s like Fight Club, what is the first rule?” He looks at me then at Lexi. “We don’t talk about Fight Club.”
“I tell her about our sex all the time,” Lexi points to me, “and she’s fine with it.”
“I’m not, actually,” I admit to her. “When you start talking about it, I picture the yellow Minion in my head and sing a song, any song.” Lexi just laughs. “So should I expect a big thing on Saturday?” I ask her and she just smiles. “Great, fun times.” I shake my head as I walk back to my desk. “Get out of my office, the both of you,” I tell them. “And you,” I point to Kirby, “thanks for having a big mouth.”
He holds up his hand as both of them walk out of my office. I look at the massive bouquet of flowers and grab the small white envelope. Turning it over, I pull out the card.
Happy Birthday, Kylie
To many more.
Love
K
I pick up the phone and call him and he answers right away. “Happy Birthday, baby,” he says softly.
“You already said that this morning when you showed up at my house,” I remind him, “and when you kissed me goodbye, and the two other times I called you.”
“It’s the whole day,” he reasons, and I can picture the smile on his face.
“I just got your flowers.” I look at the massive flower arrangement. “It’s too much.”
“I am going to make some steak for dinner since you don’t want to go out.” He totally ignores what I just said.
I close my eyes. “Fine, I’ll be there after work.”
“We will be waiting for you. I love you,” he says softly and my stomach flutters. “Happy Birthday.”
I laugh. “Bye.” I hang up on him and hear Lexi and Kirby head out not long after.
I get up and grab my flowers as I head out. I swing by my apartment to put the flowers down and change out of my work clothes, grabbing a pair of black jeans and a black short-sleeved shirt before heading over to Knox’s.
I park beside him and by the time I step out of the SUV, he’s walking down the steps to me, a huge smile on his face. “Happy Birthday, baby.” He puts both hands on my face and kisses me.
“Thank you.” I hold his hand as we walk back up the steps and into the house.
I kick off my sneakers and follow him into the house but stop once I get to the living room. Vincent, Westley, and Nora are lined up with balloons behind them that spell Happy Birthday as they shout, “Happy Birthday, Kylie!” Nora is jumping up and down on the spot while Vincent and Westley smile at me.
