Page 104 of Crimson Flames

After he puts away the last of his clothes from his bag, he takes his toiletries to the bathroom. I allow him the privacy to take it all in, but when he comes back into the room, he looks at me with frustration.

“What?” I ask, wondering what I could have done wrong.

“I feel like you’re trying to buy me. I don’t deserve any of this.”

Getting to my feet, I walk over to him as I shake my head.

“Kai, I do not need to buy you because you’re already mine. You aremyson,Misha. And I am not sure if you have noticed, but I enjoy taking care of the people I love.”

His bottom lip trembles as he looks up at me. “You love me?”

“More than I ever knew I could love someone who is not biologically mine. And though we may not share the same blood, you are one of the greatest gifts I have ever received. You chose me; this is me proving to you that I chose you too.”

His eyes dart around the room before landing back on mine. I did not know that this would feel like so much to him, but I wanthim to know this is not a payment for his love. It’s the way I show my love.

“You are so much more than you allow yourself to believe. I want to help you foster the things that make you happy, and I have tried to help create a space that makes you feel safe to explore that, just as any father should.”

Kai wraps his arms around me, squeezing me tight.

“Thank you,” he breathes as I return his embrace. We stand there for a moment in silence before I hear the faintest words that almost stop my heart.

“I love you too, Pops.”

When we finally break the hug, Kai looks around the room again. “I feel like you know so much about me and I know so little about you.”

Sitting back down in his desk chair, I gesture for him to sit on his bed so that we can face each other. “What do you want to know? Ask me anything.”

He taps on his chin before rapid firing questions.

“Favorite ice cream flavor?”

“Pistachio.”

“Favorite color?”

I chuckle. “Red.”

“Favorite movie?”

“It is a tie between Shawshank Redemption and The Sixth Sense.”

“Never heard of them.”

“We will watch them then.”

“Okay, favorite food?”

“If we are eating out, I enjoy Indian food. Cooking at home would be lamb stew with soda bread.”

“Favorite car?”

“I own all of the cars I like; you are welcome to go see them all in the garage, but there is a range. Some are priceless sports carsand others are simple jeep wranglers Nessa loves to go mudding in.”

“Damn, you’re fancy.”

I shrug. “I like what I like and do not apologize for it. Now, tell me your favorites as well.”

“Hmm, okay. I love pistachio ice cream but hate mint chocolate chip or anything with peanut butter. I don’t know why, but I can’t stand the smell of the stuff and it’s way too sweet. My favorite color is green. Favorite movie is probably Mulan, but I haven’t seen many movies. My favorite food is a tie between the cookies Batman made the other night and your soda bread.”

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