Branson and his husband, Luca, moved back to our hometown, Bellingham, after Luca graduated. They both work with their dad, and adopted their first baby girl last December. Her name is Adeline, and she has the squishiest cheeks I’ve ever seen.

“We’re good. Luca is still at the office. He had a late afternoon client meeting, but I’m home early. Adeline’s sitter had a family emergency.”

“How is she doing? Addy, I mean. Not the sitter. Although I hope she’s good too.”

“So good, man!” His whole face lights up when he talks about her. “She’s starting to babble and talk a little. One good thing about being a gay household is we don’t have to worry about her saying mama before dada, or vice versa, because we’re both dada.”

I laugh. “That is a great way to look at it. Thinking of giving her a little brother or sister?”

“Fuck no,” he replies immediately. “Well… I don’t know. Our hands are full with one. Ask us in a few years. Listen, Kova wants to say hi to Houston, so make that happen.” He has a goofy ass grin pulled across his face as he holds up his snow-white cat.

“Okay, okay. One sec. He’s on the bed.” Houston is cat napping on top of my comforter. He peels one of his eyes open as I approach him before throwing himself back and stretching.

He and Kova are pals.

And it’s only a little bit weird that we have them talk.

“Hey, little buddy. Wanna say hi to Kova?” I scoop him up off the bed and make my way back to my dresser, where my phone is still propped. The screen is filled with Branson smiling like a goober while he holds his little white ball of fur. Kova looks less than amused at being subjected to a FaceTime call.

“Houston!” Branson booms when he sees him. “How the heck are ya, you little wrinkly ball sac?!”

Houston looks at the screen, eyes widening as he takes in who’s talking to him. Kova meows when he sees him, and they both start purring. I have never seen two cats get along the way these two do. Back when I lived in Washington, I would sometimes go visit everyone back home, or they’d come visit me at WSU. Branson and I would always bring our cats, and they would play together for hours. They’d fall asleep wrapped up together.

It’s a true feline bromance if I’ve ever seen one.

Branson brings his gaze back up to the phone. “So, got any plans tonight, man?”

“Yeah, actually. I’m going out to some bar with a couple of colleagues. It’s my first time going out since I moved here. Should be interesting.”