Page 33 of Situationship
“Is Vivi the—?”
“Oldest.” Gary rubbed his chest as if trying to relieve heartburn. “I have four more to go. My blood pressure is through the roof. I have to keep myself from punching little pricks in the throat who look at her. And my hair. I’ve got premature balding. I’ll have a comb-over by forty.”
Colin could relate. While he could still run a marathon in under four hours, some days he felt eighty.
“Wow, just saying it out loud . . . well, I guess I’ve lost my mind.” He shook his head. “It’s bad enough that Ulysses is losing his manhood. What kind of dog dad would I be to display evidence of the most traumatic day of his life?”
“I assure you that the procedure is quick, and the pain will be minimal. Ulysses might be a little sore and slow the first couple days but we’ll send him home with some painkillers and a cone, so he doesn’t nip at the stitches. But he’ll be just fine. I’ll send in my vet tech, Barb, to schedule the appointment.”
“Thanks, Doc,” Gary said, sticking out his hand. “For hearing me out. It really helped.”
Colin didn’t know about that, but he left Ulysses and Gary in the capable hands of his vet tech, Barb, who specialized in husbandry—the human and animal kind—and headed to the breakroom, where he turned on the Keurig. He was checking his schedule for the day when the percolating stopped, leaving him a steaming cup of joe. He breathed in the heavenly scent of caffeine and took a sip as his phone vibrated.
He set down the mug and, sure as shit, it was Maddison.
CANIBORROW THE CAR
AFTER SCHOOL?
SHOULDN’T YOU BE
IN CLASS?
IAM. SO CANI?
WHY? AND DON’T THEY
HAVE A STRICT NO PHONE
IN CLASS POLICY?
IHAVE PLANS.
AND NO ONE CALLS THEM
PHONES, DAD. THEY’RE
DEVICES.
IDIDN’T GET THAT MEMO.
WHAT KIND OF PLANS?
HANGING OUT.
WITH WHO?
SHAY.
AND?
FRIENDS.
MALE FRIENDS?
. . .
The dots disappeared. His gut told him the two girls were getting her story straight. Never ones to make the same mistake twice, they would concoct a smarter plan for next time. Today being next time.
