Page 26 of Napkins and Other Distractions
“Why they have these board meetings right before vacations is beyond me.”
“It’s their way of making me earn the break,” I say, knowing the stress will probably have me snuggling with Sweetums most of the time off.
“And so far, everything’s going smoothly?” She places the salad on the table and joins me on the couch.
“Shreya is handling the technology parts I don’t understand,” I say. Sweetums has flopped into my lap, chin up, and purrs like a motorboat while I scratch his chin.
“So, all of it?”
Now it’s my turn to give Corrine my patented teacher look. She catches my gaze, and we engage in a short stare-off until we both erupt in laughter.
“I know technology,” I say through the last few chuckles.
“Excuse me? I had to explain to you how to like something on Facebook. And why liking your own posts is redundant. You do not ‘know technology,’ friend.”
“This is why I keep young people around.”
“Three years qualifies me as a young person?”
“Younger than me.”
“And how old is Vincent?” The familiar lilt in her voice cues me to her prodding.
Corrine knew I was bisexual midway through our first date. We sat across from each other, knees knocking under the table, poking our ramen bowls with chopsticks, me wondering how to eat the giant bowl of salty yumminess without making a fool of myself. When a gorgeous specimen of a man sauntered by to grab his takeout, we both stared. She asked. I explained. If anything would become of us, and it certainly did, I knew I had to be honest from the start.
“Forty.”
Sweetums buries his face in my lap and lies belly up. At his massive size, I don’t argue when he demands attention.
“So much younger. Does that make you his … ”
“Don’t say it. The whole ‘daddy’ thing makes me cringe.”
“You didn’t mind when Gillian called you that.”
“No, because I’m her father. And she doesn’t call me ‘daddy’ anymore. And clearly, it’s not the same thing,” I say.
“Well, you are a total—”
“Corrine.”
I tilt my head, giving the most severe glare I can summon.
“Handsome older man. A catch. That’s all I was going to say.” Her signature half-smile envelops her face as she brings the salad to the table.
“I don’t know how I feel about the … gap.”
Standing to join her, I gently prod Sweetums, who jumps to the floor and heads to his chair at the table.
“Age is just a state of mind. You’re both adults.”
“Or trying to be.” Sweetums jumps up to his chair.
“When I bought you a kitten, I didn’t expect him to assert himself as king of the castle.”
“You were simply trying to distract me from your proposal news. Sweetums’ impending reign over my monarchy wasn’t even on your radar.”
With his size, Sweetums’ enormous head reaches a few inches above the table—darting his gaze between Corrine and me, waiting to be served.
