He smirks. “We’ve definitely stepped up from shitty labs and cold warehouses.” His expression grows serious. “Will you be bored to tears?”
I sigh heavily. “Yep.” The gray winter sky looms outside. “But it’ll be worth it. For my kids.” Nodding at the students bustling across the same paths I used to take all those years ago, I clear my throat. “And for the rest of them.”
Miller suddenly gets a weird look. His eyes shift toward my office.
“What?”
“Nothing. I’ll be out here if you need me, sir.”
I narrow my eyes but turn toward the door and fling it open. A soft laugh escapes my lips.
My wife stands in nothing but her white lab coat, sitting on my desk like a bad decision. Especially when she raises her leg, perching it on the chair arm…and isn’t wearing any panties.
“Where’re your clothes, princess?” I ask, carefully closing the door behind me.
She shrugs. “Didn’t need them this morning. Figured you could use a reward for taking on this role when you didn’t want to.”
Strolling two steps toward her, I gather her up and crush my lips to hers. “You’re fire. I love you.”
What was supposed to be a quickie turns into an afternoon. Before heading out the door, I gather up my stuff. “I’m taking Scout to our place at three.”
Sins fixes her hair and gives me a satisfied grin.
“I have a few extra patients later, so I’ll see you for dinner.” She taps a kiss on my cheek while she’s perched onher tiptoes. “Xavier Cardell’s made moves. Between me at the medical school, you here in Arts and Sciences, and now he in as Dean of Northview Business College, I think we’re making the right steps.”
“Business College?”
“Um, yeah. The last dean disappeared two days ago.”
I tighten my lips and nod knowingly. “Ah. So how many positions are left?”
She thinks for a moment. “Education. Communication. Design. Public Health. Health Sciences. Fine Arts. Engineering…”
“Okay, so there’re still a lot of positions to fill. Not to mention, the elders still have the final say on the bylaws. And they only listen to thegods.”
Her fists clench, but with a tone that belies her worry, she says, “Yes. But we’re making the right changes. To fight.”
She reaches for my hand and squeezes it. “And our daughter and her husband are currently controlling the POT. The president has backed off, like she’s afraid of doing or saying the wrong thing with Elle Joseph ready to expose all they’ve gone through. Even the cameras in their university appointed apartment.”
“Why doesn’t Elle?—”
“Take over for Dean of Communications? That’s another step. She’s looking into it.”
My watch beeps, alerting me it’s time to go. I place a kiss on my wife’s lips and dash toward the faculty parking lot.
Within the hour, I make it to the planetarium for my favorite part of the month.
Stargazing with Scout.
In the empty, dark room, the lights drift by lazily. Somefloat behind clouds. Peace settles in my chest. Just like when Scout was a baby and she’d nap on me.
I miss those days.
“I like your husband.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Scout smile. It settles something in me. “I do, too, Dad. He’s really great.”
“Solid man.”
