“I’m on my way out, too,” Reed said. “I’ll walk out with you. Call me if you need anything, Jack.”
“Will do.”
Reed and Gavin leaving together didn’t do much to dissuade Jackson from thinking they were attracted to each other, ridiculousas that seemed. He recognized he was probably reading too much into the situation, because he was definitely not of sound mind, not after the last twenty-four hours. Still, he was happy for a distraction that wasn’t Park.
* * *
One of the interns had told Park about a puzzle game app, and Park was obsessed, channeling his energy into beating the game, instead of thinking about Jackson.
It had been almost twenty-four hours since he’d spoken to Jackson, and he’d spent most of that time turning over what Martha had told him. She’d left the window cracked open. So it was up to Park to open it the rest of the way. Did he want to?
The first apartment they’d gotten together, right after graduation, had been tiny because Jackson had insisted they live in a place where they coulddivide the rent 50/50. They lived there until the summer between Jackson’s first and second years in law school, when he got an internship at a huge corporate law firm—which essentially guaranteed him a job when he graduated—and started earning a substantial salary. Jackson had always seemed unfazed by their four-hundred-square-foot one-bedroom apartment, but it had made Park quietly claustrophobic,so when Jackson could afford a bigger place, Park had jumped at the opportunity.
They’d moved into a much bigger place, and Jackson had even let Park replace some of their old furniture. The night they moved in, after they’d unpacked only the essentials, they’d ordered a pizza and sat together on the new sofa.
“This may have been a mistake,” Jackson had said, looking around.
“How canyou say that? This apartment is fantastic. I don’t think I noticed the view from the bedroom when we looked at it before.”
“No, I like the apartment. I just mean...what if I can’t afford this place a year from now?”
“You’ve got a job lined up, don’t you?”
“I do, but... I hate this job.”
“What?”
Jackson picked up a slice of pizza. “I like law. I like studying it and I like thepuzzle of it. My boss and I met with clients all day today, and he asked my opinion quite a bit, and I liked that. But this firm, it’s so huge and utilitarian. My boss’s boss is one of the biggest assholes I’ve ever met. There’s so much corporate policy, too. I have to fill out three forms to ask for a day off. I can only eat lunch between certain hours. I can’t even take a piss without two peoplesigning off on it.” He sighed. “I hate corporate law, basically.”
Park thought over his response. He put an arm around Jackson and kissed his shoulder. “I’m sorry, baby.”
Jackson leaned into Park. “Professor Caldwell told me last semester that she thought I might be a good fit for the district attorney’s office. She could potentially help me get a job. The salary would be considerablylower, but I think I’d be happier there.”
It frustrated Park sometimes that Jackson wouldn’t take his money. At the time, Park had been drawing a salary from his father’s company, plus he sat on a trust fund big enough to have supported him and Jackson indefinitely. He could afford to carry Jackson for a bit if Jackson wanted to take a lower-paying job.
“Do what makes you happy.” That’swhat Park wanted above everything else.
“Yeah?”
“We’ll figure out how to make this work, okay?”
“Yeah.” Jackson turned toward Park. “What about you? I know working for your dad frustrates you. What would you do instead?”
“I’d start my own company. Or politics. I’ve always wanted to run for office.”
Jackson smiled and kissed Park’s forehead. “I know. You’d be good at it.”
“You think so?”
“Sure. What are we always saying when we see these clowns on TV? Half of what you need to win an election is charm. And you could charm the pants off anyone.”
Park smiled. “Yeah?”
Jackson grinned. “You charm the pants off me pretty much nightly.”
“Fair point.”
“But beyond that, you’re a smart guy and you have good ideas. You know when to stand your ground andwhen to compromise. You’d probably be really great in office. So if that’s what would make you happy, go for it.”
