Page 58 of Disgrace

John slid a hand around the back of Siena’s neck, and pulled her in for another quick, hard kiss. Her grin formed against his mouth, and he whispered, “Happy birthday, my sweet donna. Do you want me to sing it for you, too? I will.”

Her fingertips patted his cheek. “I believe you, but you don’t have to.”

“Blow out your candle, then. Before wax gets all over your cupcake.”

Siena laughed, and John let go of her. She reached for the cupcake, and pulled it from the counter. Holding it in front of her, she eyed him over the flickering flame. He could see the question burning brightly in her blue eyes.

“What, love?”

“So, I guess we’re just going to act like yours doesn’t matter, then.”

John cocked a brow. “My what?”

“Birthday. A couple of days ago, right? Thirty-one.”

“It’s another day, and I spent half of it sitting on a sofa talking to a therapist.”

“I bet your mom made you cake, though.”

John flashed a smile. “She did, too.”

Siena frowned.

He couldn’t have that.

Stepping closer, he slid a hand along the curve of her waist, and pulled her a little bit closer to him. She kept the flickering candle at a safe distance as to not burn either of them while she looked up at him.

“What is it?”

“Sorry I missed your birthday,” she said.

John kissed the tip of her nose. “It’s fine—next year.”

“Will we have a next year?”

“I’ll make sure of it.”

Siena’s little smile came back. “Will you help me blow out the candle?”

She offered the cupcake between them with a little shake that made the flame flicker dangerously. Like an offer he couldn’t refuse, not that he would refuse her anything.

“Anything you want, babe,” John said. “Do we make a wish, too?”

“Is that too juvenile for you?”

“Not if you want it.”

“A wish, then.” Siena held the cupcake higher. “On three.”

“One, two …”

“Three,” she said.

The two of them blew out the candle together, and John made his wish. He didn’t say it out loud, and he didn’t even think it, really. Looking at Siena, he figured his wish was kind of obvious, anyway.

All he ever wanted now was her.

“This was great,” Siena said as she pulled the paper from the bottom of the cupcake. Setting it and the candle aside, she pulled a chunk out of the cupcake, and offered it to John. He took the bite with a wink. “Thank you, really.”