The new Julien? Well, the new Julien woke up with Athena’s head on his chest, her leg thrown over his, her hand resting directly over his heart, and spent twenty minutes just watching her sleep, cataloging the way her eyelashes cast shadows on her cheeks, the slight smile on her lips even in sleep, the absolute peace on her face.
Then I made love to her one more time. It was slow, lazy, and perfect, and afterward, my beautiful wife convinced me to shower with her, which had led to another round against the tile wall, which had led to the both of us laughing breathlessly while the water went cold.
Also, I had actually eaten breakfast. At the table. With another person. Then I kissed my wife goodbye at the door and meant it when I said I would see her tonight.
So yes. I was seventeen minutes late.
And I genuinely didn’t care.
The universe really does have a sense of humor.
I pushed open the conference room door and was met with silence.
Complete, absolute silence as six faces turned toward me with identical expressions of shock, as if I’d just walked in wearing a clown costume and juggling scalpels.
Fitz’s coffee cup was frozen halfway to his mouth.
Hayden’s pen had stopped mid-word.
Nathan’s mouth was literally hanging open.
Gabriel had both hands flat on the table as if he were bracing for an earthquake.
Quinton’s eyes were wide behind his glasses.
And Winnie looked as if she were watching the season finale of her favorite show.
“Good morning, everybody,” I happily greeted, closing the door behind me.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
I walked to my usual seat at the head of the table, pulled out the chair, and sat down.
Still nothing.
“Shall we begin?” I asked.
Fitz made a sound like a dying walrus.
“Julien,” Hayden said, his voice very slow, very careful, like he was talking to a jumper on a ledge. “Are you... feeling alright?”
“Perfectly fine. Why?”
“You’re late.”
“I’m aware.”
“You’reseventeen minuteslate,” Nathan said, his voice climbing into dolphin territory. “To a meetingyouinsisted we needed. The meeting where you once made me write ‘I will not be tardy’ fifty times because I wasthree minuteslate.”
“I did that?”
“YES!”
“Seems harsh,” I muttered.
“SEEMS HARSH?” Nathan’s voice cracked. “You made me use a fountain pen! You said it would ‘build character’!”
