Is the universe serious right now? I fire back a quick text.
Me: Hell yeah. Send your guy my number.
Me: Guess who I just got off the phone with?
His three dots jump around on the screen, but I’m too excited to wait for his answer.
Me: Tommy fucking Joseph
Easton: No fucking way
Me: Yup. I’m about to reach out to the Boomerangs on his behalf right now.
Easton: Nice!! You deserve it, man
Easton: You’re going to give your dear little brother a piece of your commission, right?
Easton: RIGHT?!
Me: Ha. You’re already rich because of me. But help me get this next client, and maybe I’ll buy you dinner.
Easton: Fine. But don’t you dare go cheap on me. Wagyu steak, or no deal.
Me: Such a spoiled brat.
Easton: Love you too, brother.
Still riding on cloud nine, I wander back into the bathroom to find Cameron and Jules. Cameron’s dripping pink paint all over the ceramic tiles, and Jules is sitting on the floor working on the baseboards. I’ve never been so happy to see such a mess.
Dropping to the floor, I scoot up behind Jules, wrapping my arms around her waist. She makes a contented little sound at my touch.
“You’re going to get paint all over your nice shirt,” she warns with a glance over her shoulder.
“This old thing?” I pinch at the fabric draped over my chest.
“Seriously, who wears a button-down on painting day?” She shakes her head.
I laugh. “Only your favorite person.”
She peers up at me and her face goes serious. “Everything okay? You were gone for a while. Cameron finished that whole wall by himself.”
I’d hardly call the wall in question ‘finished’. There are huge streaks of white gaping through the fresh pink paint. But when my son smiles proudly at me from his perch on the step ladder, I give him a thumbs-up.
“Everything’s perfect,” I whisper into Jules’s ear. “I may have just landedtwohuge contracts. I’m back in business, baby.”
Jules beams at me, turning in my arms and hugging me tight. She’s excited, yes. But she doesn’t seem surprised. “Of course you are. You’re the best at what you do. Congratulations, Husband.”
Her words of support hit deep. I’m not used to having someone who has this blind faith in me like Jules does.It’s invigorating.
“We’re going to be okay,” I add, relief pouring through me. I’m already thinking about all the things I want to buy Cameron and Jules, since we won’t be forced to eat microwavable noodles for the rest of our lives.
She shakes her head. “We were always going to be okay. The universe just needed you to break up with those asshole business dudes in order to get you on the right track.”
I smile, yanking Cameron off the step ladder and the three of us get tangled up into a big group hug.
“Uh, Dad? There’s paint in your hair,” Cameron says, his voice thick with concern. “A lot of it.”
Jules observes me. “Y’know, the button-up vibe looks good on you. But I think the punk rock version of Lincoln Raines has potential. We just need to get you a leather jacket and a good pair of leather boots.”
