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“I have to get Lily up,” she said.
I sucked hard before pulling away. “You get her up and I’ll get the shower running.”
She laughed and got out of bed. “You’re insatiable.”
“Don’t act like you’re not.” I laughed, walking naked into the bathroom to turn on the shower.
I glanced at my watch, realizing that we were running late. It was my fault. I couldn’t resist her. She threatened to sleep in a different room if I couldn’t control my urges. I would just follow her. Or she’d come back. We weren’t going to be apart. That had been proven time and again.
The morning rush had thrown our usual routine into disarray, but we couldn’t afford to waste any more time. Lily’s science project was due today. Dee was trying to roll up the poster board without bending it too badly. She slid a rubber band over the thing and left it on the table.
“Lily!” Dee called upstairs. “Let’s go!”
“Did she get her backpack?” I asked.
“No,” she answered. “She’s supposed to be up there grabbing it now.” Her voice tinged with a sense of urgency. She had become an expert at juggling multiple tasks, seamlessly weaving herself into the fabric of our lives. With her courseload at school and essentially running our household, I was convinced she was Wonder Woman.
I was busy scribbling my signature on the permission slips for Lily’s upcoming field trip. Time was of the essence, and every minute counted. I could feel the weight of responsibility on my shoulders, ensuring that Lily’s needs were met and that Dee had the support she needed as she embarked on this new chapter. Work was crazy as well. I checked my watch again. I had a meeting with a potential investor in about forty-six minutes.
“Got it,” Lily said as she bounced into the kitchen with her backpack.
Dee took it, scanning the contents to make sure everything was inside. She held out her hand for the permission slips and quickly stowed them inside. She zipped it closed and handed it back to Lily.
“Alright,” I said. “Load up.”
We hurried out to the car. Lily, brimming with excitement and impatience, hopped into the backseat, ready for the day ahead. As I started the engine, I glanced at Dee, my heart swelling with pride and admiration. She was kicking ass and taking names in her classes. What started out as a little bit of fear and concern had transformed into a lot of enthusiasm. Dee was a lot smarter than she gave herself credit for.
“Alright, Lily, buckle up,” I said, my voice filled with a mix of determination and reassurance.
Lily’s eyes sparkled with anticipation as she fastened her seatbelt. I could tell she was excited for her science project but also proud of Dee, her constant companion and role model. “I bet I’m going to get an A,” Lily said. “I worked really hard on my project.”
“Yes, you did,” Dee agreed. “I think it’s amazing. Even if you don’t get an A, it’s okay, because you did it by yourself.”
Driving to Lily’s school, my mind raced with a myriad of thoughts. I had a big day planned. Then we had dinner plans with Izzy and Cam. It was a juggling act to keep all of us on time and on schedule. As we arrived at the school, Lily bounded out of the car, her science project carefully clutched in her hands.
“Bye.” She waved at us.
“We’ll see you tonight,” Dee called out.
I watched her disappear through the gates, feeling a sense of both pride and even a little sadness. I was proud of her, but I also hated she was growing up so fast. Turning my attention to Dee, I smiled warmly, taking in her nervous yet determined expression.
“Your turn,” I teased.
Together, we made our way to UMass, the campus teeming with students embarking on their own journeys of growth and learning. We approached her building, and as she stepped out of the car, I leaned over and grabbed her hand. “I love you,” I said.
Dee’s eyes met mine, a mixture of gratitude and determination shining in their depths. She leaned in for a brief but meaningful kiss, our connection reaffirmed in that moment.
“I love you,” she said. “I’ll see you at lunch.”
I drove to my side of the campus and parked in my reserved spot. I made my way up to the lab feeling like a man on top of the world. I made it to my office with three minutes to spare.
“Conference room,” my assistant said.
“I’m on my way,” I said and adjusted my tie.
I grabbed my laptop and went to the conference room with the intention of wowing the investors. As I entered, I was met with stern looks from the investors. I smiled and took my seat, feeling a surge of confidence as I booted up my laptop. The presentation went off without a hitch, and I could tell that I had impressed them. As the meeting drew to a close, one of the investors, a strikingly beautiful woman with dark hair and piercing blue eyes, approached me.
“That was quite impressive,” she said, her voice low and husky.
