The fourteenth prompt is:
protagonist&
antagonist
&a first kiss
"Daddy, tell me a bedtime story," Nicole says, curled up in a Ninja Turtles blanket.
"Sure, sweetheart. What do you want to hear?" I ask, knowing which story she'll pick, which story she always picks.
"Tell me about how you met mom," she whispers almost reverently.
"I met your mother in high school. She and I were in the same class, but I never actually talked to her until the end of senior year. She was so beautiful, she still is. I was so nervous, I could barely introduce myself. Luckily, she thought that was adorable, or some such nonsense," I pause in the reminiscing to smile to myself. "I knew we would graduate soon, so I asked her out. I never imagined that she'd say yes. We dated all summer long. It was the best summer of my entire life."
"I thought you said the summer after I was born was the best summer of your life?" Nicole pretends to pout.
"The summer I dated your mother used to be the best. It was easily eclipsed by the summer after you were born," I tickled her, eliciting a giggle almost identical to her mother's.
"Okay! Okay! Keep telling the story!" she screams while laughing.
"Well, when the summer ended, your mother left for college. She went out of the state. I didn't hear from her for three months. When she finally called, it was to tell me she was pregnant with you. When the school year ended, she came home. She had you during the beginning of that summer. I was there when she delivered you. The doctors let me hold you. I swear, you were the most beautiful creature I'd ever laid eyes on, well, you and your mother. We held you, and then we each kissed your forehead."
At this point, I hug Nicole close and kiss her forehead, and she smiles at me, her signal that I can continue.
"Soon after you were born, your mother left again. She went back to college. While she was away, she fell in love. She called me, to tell me that she was sorry, but she didn't love me anymore. I didn't mind, because I had you to give me all the company I needed. I still see your mom sometimes. She's still beautiful. You're going to grow up to be the most beautiful woman in the world, Nicole, just you wait. You're going to live happily ever after, because I'll make it so," I looked down to see her eyes beginning to drift. I tuck her in and turn off the light.
I wish I could make all of her hopes and dreams come true. I wish I could protect her from the world. I wish I could save her from ever knowing about my past, my reputation. I can only hope my little Nicole will grow to realize that everyone makes mistakes, and that despite my numerous and heinous issues with women, that I loved her. I like to think that if I truly loved her, if none of the others, that's all that matters.