Page 12 of Husband of the Year
“Oh, they’ll love that. LEGO. Water.” I peek out the bus window and see we’re about five minutes away from our stop. “And let them get wet. That’s part of the fun.”
“I have a plethora of paper towels,” Vincent says. “I got special permission to purchase the good ones. Not those brown ones that require an entire roll to clean up a tablespoon of liquid.”
“Special permission?”
“Yeah, I know the principal.”
“How is Kent? Still amazing… ock-cay?”
Vincent coughs. Or chokes.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“Fine, yeah, fine. Um, he’s fine. And yes. Still amazing.”
Vincent finally found his person. Kent has to be the most patient and kind human on the planet. When they first began dating, of course, I was more than encouraging, but inside, I wasn’t sure things would work out. Vincent has a lot of quirks. I knew it would take a special person to appreciate him, and Kent has proven he cherishes all Vincent offers.
“And things at Lear?”
“Fine. Honestly, Kent is so busy I rarely see him unless he’s stealing me into his office for a quick kiss, which is fine. We see each other at home all the time.”
“And Sweetums?” I ask, knowing Vincent and Kent’s cat have a complicated relationship.
“He’s… alive.”
I grin. “Well, that’s setting the bar high.”
“He’s fine,” Vincent says. “He’s either napping, demanding belly rubs, or plotting his next mischief.”
“Yup. Sounds like a cat.” Gonzo’s chubby face flashes in my head, snuggled up, purring, pawing at my hand if I stop petting him, but also chewing on the cords in Olan’s office for no apparent reason.
“We have an understanding.”
“That he rules the roost?”
“Yeah. That.” Vincent cohabitating with a cat isn’t something I thought would ever happen—a true testament to his bond with Kent.
“Listen, we’re almost at Pelletier,” I say, spotting the school a few blocks away. The city was kind enough to plan a bus stop right outside the building.
“I’ll see you Friday for dinner,” Vincent says. “You’re finally goingto meet Ruth. She’s bringing her new girlfriend. Well, technically, they used to date and are back together. So… recycled girlfriend?”
“The infamous Ruth. I can’t wait.” I glance at Illona, imagining her weekend adventures with her mom. “Okay, gotta run. Text me!”
I gently shake Illona, drawing her away from the glow of her tablet, and nod toward the school in the distance. Her eyes shift with a moment of realization, and she swiftly gathers her things, her movements tinged with a mix of urgency and excitement. With a shared glance, we rise from our seats, ready to step off the bus and embrace the day ahead.
CHAPTER SIX
Marvin: We’re here.
Olan: Thank you for letting me know. Please give Illona another kiss for me.
Marvin: Will do!
Olan: I love you. My blue rose.
“My favorite two humans on the planet.” Jill’s hair, now shoulder-length and currently pulled up into a messy topknot, bounces and sways as she pings around her classroom, preparing for the day.
I dip my head, knowing she’s full of it.
