Page 36 of Dignity

Tonight is my very first date, slate wiped clean, a new life ahead of me.

All these silly, childish things run though my head, and I don’t even care.

Throughout dinner Chris asks me questions about what I studied, why I want to be a journalist, what I hope to accomplish, what I like about politics. No judgment in his tone, no condescension,nothing but genuine curiosity. There’s not much he is permitted to talk about regarding his work, but every time I ask him questions about himself, the conversation ends up on me again.

I realize he’s doing it deliberately and find I don’t care.

I could talk to him forever, but I’m also eager to take the next step.

When the waitress returns to clear our plates, she asks if we want dessert.

I look to find Chris waiting on me, eyebrow arched, and I leap. “Can we take tiramisu to go and eat it in my room?” I ask him.

His smile widens, and his gaze doesn’t leave mine. “Two tiramisu to go, please,” he says to the waitress. Then he pulls out his wallet and retrieves a credit card. “Tonight is my treat.”

We leave the restaurant hand-in-hand, Chris carrying the bag with our desserts.

Honestly? Dad,who?

In this moment, there could be a film crew trailing us, and I wouldn’t fucking care.

Maybe we can figure out a way to have a relationship in DC. HeisSecret Service, after all. Surely he’ll know how to stay off my father’s radar.

Except…

My father has friends all throughout the various strata of DC politics and society, thanks to the law firm he works for. Connections.I would never want to do anything that could backfire on Chris and hurt his career. I couldn’t live with that guilt.

Make no mistake about it, I know my father is fully capable of that kind of petty bullshit. I’ve overheard him talk about it with others.

“Let’s stop by my room first,” he says. “I don’t want to have to get up and leave early.”

“Why would you need to?”

“I don’t like leavingmy gun and badge that long. Room safes aren’t impenetrable. If I hadn’t been going to the club, I would have kept it on.”

“Ah.”

We make that stop. I watch, another thrill running through me as he removes the two items from his room safe, clips the badge and gun to his belt, and then pulls his shirt down to cover them. It only takes him a moment to gather his things and pack, slinging his bagover his shoulder.

“My buddies are assholes,” he says as we take the elevator down again. “If they know I have someone in the room with me, and if they didn’t hook up, they’ll be knocking on the door all night and interrupting us.

“That’s…mean.”

He grins. “Nah, it’s what we do. I’ve done it to them. Just fucking with each other.”

“Oh.” I really don’t have friends like that. I have acquaintances,and friends, but no…buddies.

Not even my former roommates in college. We were cordial and polite to each other, but we definitely weren’t besties.

His smile fades and he catches my hand again, brings it to his lips for another kiss as he stares into my eyes. “I don’t want any interruptions tonight. Even if all we’re doing is talking, I want my attention fully on you.”

Around us, the universehas disappeared again. I don’t understand how such a simple gesture as him kissing my hand can do that to me.

“Thanks.” I hope I said that out loud.

Before he releases my hand he leans in to brush another of those sweet kisses over my lips. When he draws back, I find myself leaning, chasing, not wanting it to end.

That pulls another smile from him. One more kiss to my hand, and this time hedoesn’t release it as the doors slide open on the ground floor and he leads me out.