Page 180

Story: Anti-Hero

Collins glances at me, and I’m already looking at her. We both laugh.
Dr. Peach looks confused.
“Sorry,” I tell her. “Uh, inside joke.”
“I don’t see many couples laughing in the delivery room,” she says. “It’s nice to see.”
I squeeze Collins’s hand. She tries to break mine as another contraction hits. Dr. Peach jumps into motion, calling to a nurse with a request for certain supplies.
Two hours later, Dylan Crew Tate Kensington enters the world.
48
“And this is where Mom and Dad met.”
Dylan blinks at the brick exterior of Montgomery Hall, appearing suitably unimpressed by Kit’s tour of campus.
“The disrespect.” Kit shakes his head. “How could he not care about his family history?”
“He’s three weeks old. His interests are pretty limited.”
“Oh, look. A squirrel! Dylan, do you see the squirrel? Dyl—seriously?” Kit glances from the baby carrier to me. “Hefell asleep.”
“Good. Hopefully, he’ll sleep through most of the ceremony. Speaking of which, we should get back to the tent.”
“One more stop.” Kit grabs my hand and pulls me over toward one of the benches that lines the path.
Jane’s graduation is a perfect spring day, clear and warm and sunny. I tilt my head back and glance up at the canopy of green leaves overhead.
I take a seat on the bench, but Kit doesn’t sit next to me. He starts to sink down on one knee, very slowly, and Ifeelmy face freeze with shock.
Kit bursts out laughing, then spins and takes a seat. “Your face.” He chortles.
I bang his knee with my own. “That wasnotfunny. At all.”
He’s still laughing quietly, one hand cradling Dylan so he isn’t disturbed by the shaking motion. “Sorry,” he says, not sounding apologetic at all. “It’s not a ring.”
I take the black jewelry box he pulled out of his blazer pocket. Kit has used my first Mother’s Day as an excuse for an endless parade of presents. “You didn’t have to?—”
“Shut up and open it, Monty.”
I give him a look.
“Please.”
I do.
The bright sunshine reflects off the diamond earrings, creating rainbow prisms.
“I asked Lili, and she agreed they looked like you. Elegant and beautiful.”
“I love them,” I say sincerely, running a finger along the flawless surface.
“My mom said studs were morepracticalwith the baby.”
I smile at the way he emphasizespractical. I can’t remember anything that’s made me smile more than Kit’s thoughtful teasing.
“Thank you.” I turn my head to kiss him.

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