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“Exactly. What were we talking about?”
“How much you love working with Extended Studios.”
“At first, it was cool, but now I’m thinking of applying to grad schools to study policy law. I want to be a sponge to every word coming out of their mouths. I want to take in all points of view and see if there’s common ground to motivate people my age to see beyond their selfies. Do you know where we’re going?”
He has zero social graces and no pauses in any of his sentences. “I don’t. Those are noble goals. Do it. I believe you can shape your world the way you see fit. If I can help, reach out.”
“Thank you.”
We pull up at the back of the Peachtree ballroom, and there’s a line around the building. Linda DeWalt, the first African American woman from Georgia to have a Senate seat, is speaking. He’s pulling me into his world a bit. As he inserted himself at my reading. This is incredible. Jerrod hands me a laminate as I lightly jog to keep up with him.
“Stay here.”
“I’m happy to be the first delivered Tess.” I’m backstage in the wings, stage right.
Jerrod’s face turns sour. He rolls his eyes at his phone. “Do you need anything? Apparently, I’m to babysit you.”
“I’m fine.”
“I’ll stay, so you don’t pull focus. It’s fine if I miss out on shit,” I hear him mutter under his breath as he scrolls his phone.
I clear my throat, and his eyes widen. “Go be that sponge! Listen to all of it, process it, develop a plan, and then go save democracy! My generation did what we could. The rest is really up to you. Better get started. Be better than us! Bridge that divide and create a union worthy of our Constitution. Heal the rift, we’ve all been too stubborn to acknowledge until it’s almost too late. Take the best of both sides and form a new America. It’s on you, Jerrod!”
“I can go?”
“Of course. I can get my own bottle of water.”
“You’re the best Tess I’ve ever met. Thank you!” Jerrod runs away after patting me on the back.
I start to text my—maybe starting to be something—boy-man-friend thing, and I feel him behind me. I turn at the smell of him.
He’s truly electrifying. His hands go to my shoulders. I want to lick them.
He says, “That was amazing what you just said. Your words are sexy. Do you want a seat?”
“I’m cool. One hell of a surprise.” His hands move to hips. “How much time do you have? Can we find a dark corner?”
“I’ve got like five minutes. I can’t believe you’re here,” he says, and my heart flips.
“I can’t believe you came to find me just when I thought I couldn’t go on another moment without seeing you.”
“God, you’re so fucking beautiful. And did I hear this correctly? Jerrod’s going to law school now? He just texted me for a recommendation.”
“He moves fast. I simply pushed him in the right direction.”
“Of course you did. There’s a power to you, Ms. McGuire.” He kisses me quickly. “Gotta go intro Senator DeWalt, then I’ll be back.”
“I’ll be right here watching your sexy podcasting ass.”
He’s dressed in a tie and jacket, and it’s a new version of him. I suspect he’ll feel that way when he sees me dressed down. I live in soft pants and long cardigans, but for our two encounters, I’ve had my author costume on.
After the speech, he returns to my side before his Q&A with local politicians. He shakes some hands then kisses me on the cheek. We’re standing next to each other, both with our arms crossed, staring at the stage.
16
Alex
“I don’t need two guesses to figure out where you went to school.” I lean down to her ear without looking directly at her.
