Page 20 of Bad Husband

“Theywere, but Steve never showed up last night, and I accidently took them back to the office and forgot them.”

Damn it. “Fine. See you in two hours then.”

Tossing the phone in the seat next to me, Callan’s laughter floats through the truck. He’s always had the cutest laugh to the point when you hear it, you immediately smile. Doesn’t matter if you’re running late.

I smile at him in the rearview mirror, watching his eyes light up as he watches his movie. I don’t know why, but I think back to the day Madison told me she was pregnant with him.

We were still in college, actually just starting summer break before our senior year when she came knocking on my door, red faced and crying. I knew immediately something was up but her being pregnant definitely wasn’t what I was thinking. We’d been seeing each other since that Halloween party, but had yet to move in together or even take our relationship past dating and fucking.

It changed that day when she said, “I’m pregnant.” Actually blurted it out while giving me a blow job and handed me the pee stick.

From then on, my plans changed. I knew I’d have my own business and I wanted to be with Madison, but once she told me she was pregnant, I asked her to marry me. No way did I want her raising this kid alone or thinking she was alone. Like I said, my mother was constantly alone and I wouldn’t have Madison going through that too.

Obviously she said yes and in November, after being together a year, we got married. In February, Callan was born, and three years later, we had Noah.

BY THE TIME we get to Callan’s school, I’m rushing to get him out of the truck and realize I didn’t pack him a lunch. Shit. Was I supposed to?

I stop as we’re walking into the school, moms surrounding me and I’m almost embarrassed to ask. “Wait, what do you eat during the day?”

He looks up at me with those wide blue eyes. “I usually eat what Mommy gives me, but I can eat school lunch too. Just tell the office lady.”

I look around. What office lady?

Callan nudges my hand. “In there, Dad.” He then points to the door that clearly states Office. At least they keep it simple around here.

“Okay.” I glance down at him. “Thanks.”

He starts to walk away from me, up the hall to where I assume his class might be when he turns and smiles. “Thanks for taking me to school.”

“Anytime, buddy.” Kneeling, I motion for him to come back over and he does. It’s not as awkward as I expect it to be, but I wrap my arms around him. “Have a good day.”

“I will. You too.”

I doubt my day will be good, but I’m not about to tell him that. I know he can sense my apprehension and the sadness on my face. He’s too perceptive.

Callan jets the other way, his head down and never looking up at any of the other students around him. Turning, I open the door to the office only to have three women staring up at me. “Can I help you?” a younger one asks, only to flash me a beaming smile and her cleavage. Not only does she actually fucking pull down on her blouse, she leans in as if to give me a better view.

It’s the craziest fucking shit. Want to pick up chicks? Guys, listen up. They’re not at the bars. They’re at the elementary schools.

Drop your kid off at school. If you don’t have one, offer to take the little shit down the road who keeps egging your car. Make him work for you.

And when you get to the school, act depressed. They’ll run to you.

“Can I help you, sir?” Here we go with the sir again and from a girl barely old enough to babysit my son.

I pull my wallet out of my back pocket. “My son needs lunch.”

Another woman to the left of the jailbait walks over and puts her hand on the counter. “Are you a substitute teacher?”

I give her a look of confusion. “No. Do I look like one?”

The lady who strangely resembles Mrs. Doubtfire shrugs. “Not really, but I’d gladly be your student.”

What. The. Actual. Fuck?

Is she flirting with me?

Another woman, even older than Mrs. Doubtfire, approaches the counter. “Do you have a child who goes here? I’ve never seen you before, and I know all the parents.”

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