Page 10 of Dignity

I opt to play it safe and assume she’s teasing me. “I’ve never made a secret that I’m a social liberal, Senator. You and I have agreed on several points throughout the years.”

“I know. That’s the only reason you’re getting this interview tonight.”

“Any scoops?” Hey, a guy can hope.

She playfully smiles. “We’ll have a far more productive interview if you don’t waste yourA-block trying to get me to commit to a run for re-election or for POTUS. I’m still weighing my options. If you don’t piss me off, I’ll seriously consider giving you the exclusive when I decide what I’m going to do.”

I can’t help it—my heart races, hopeful, yearning for the scoop. “Duly noted, ma’am.”

She nods, they finish arranging everything, we do a sound check, and we’re off.

Overall, Ikeep our interview light in tone, even if I do need to delve into a few key votes over bills coming up in the next session. But the senator is a veteran and doesn’t take those kinds of questions personally.

No gotchas, the lack of which might piss off my far-right viewers, but I hopefully brought more conservatives with me while we had a frank discussion about border security and the military.The Senator’s a little more hawkish in some ways than many of her fellow Democrats, but she had to be to win fickle swing-state Florida. It’s been a constant source of friction between her and the Democratic Caucus, but has allowed her to win over GOP senators to help push key bills through.

Bipartisanship.

What a concept!

My interview with her stretches through A- and B-blocks, which was planned.The other guests join us toward the end of the B-block, and from there I transition to interviewing them.

When we finish, she swaps back to the jersey and tucks her blazer into her large purse. “Thank you, Mr. Markos,” she says. “I enjoyed that.”

“Did I pass muster, Senator?”

She wears a sly smile. “Maybe. I’ll keep you posted.”

Aaannnd she’s gone.

I watch her walk away and catch the wayshe glances at me over her shoulder, shooting me one last, playful smile before disappearing into the crowd with the sheriff’s deputy escorting her. I’ve heard that, for crowd-heavy situations like this, she sometimes has security. But as far as I know, she doesn’t have a full-time Secret Service detail.

Later that night, when I’m alone in my hotel room, I reflect on our interview. I know thesenator is single, although I’ve heard unconfirmed whispers that she has a strings-free friends-with-bennies relationship with someone. One of those rumors said it’s a Secret Service agent, but if that’s true, I’ve never seen proof, much less anyone who can name names.

She’s pretty, but…

She’s not Christopher.

No one is, and until I can finally man up and destroy my closet, I will remain uncomfortablyimprisoned within it.