* * * *
I’m a nervous wreck, but President Samuels is, as always, gracious and kind to me and does her best to put me at ease.
It helps that she knows who Leo is to me and Elliot, and that I know who Kev is to her and her husband.
Makes us conspirators, in a way.
The easiest way for me to settle in is to remind myself that this is a preview of what my job will be in a little over a year, and that it gives me a valuable opportunity to learn.
To practice.
Before we leave for the trip, I stop by Elliot’s office to get a quick kiss from him. “Unless something changes, I’ll return here tonight and we’ll head out together,” I tell him.
“I want you to check on Master tonight. Please? Stay with him all night, if he needs it.”
“I will, buddy. After I get you home.” I run a hand through his hair as he stares up at me from his chair. Fucking handsome guy. Both of them are. Spending the rest of my life with them isn’t a hardship, that’s for damned sure.
Thoughts that are a far cry from where my mind was last year.
Everything’s a far cry from where I was this time last year.
Thankfully.
My plan is to, hopefully, get Elliot home and settled and then head to Leo’s and possibly spend the night there with him, if he needs me.
I make it through the morning with my nerves mostly intact. It’s difficult for me to believe that the president of the United States is practicing her speech with me onAir Force One.
Yet, this is my life.
No, I still haven’t contacted my parents, even though it’s very damned tempting.
After the event, on the flight back, the president asks me to close the door to the office and she motions for me to take a seat in front of her desk.
“Good job today, Jordan.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“This mean everything’s settled between the three of you?”
“Yes, ma’am. It is.”
“So, when’s Leo marrying that man?” She wears a playful smirk. “Seems like this would be a great time to do that.”
Ironically, she’s one of the few people I can fully trust to talk to, and I explain the basics of our current sitch to her.
“Ah. Would you like my advice?”
“Certainly.”
“Talk Elliot into doing it anyway.” She grins. “You all deserve some happiness. I mean, since Kev says I’m not allowed to nuke your parents, or send the IRS after them.” She waves her hands in the air. “Blah, blah, bad optics. Blah, blah, nuking New York, bad.Phptph! Buzzkill.”
It takes me a moment to process what she just said and I burst into laughter. “They’re not worth it, ma’am. Honestly.”
She shrugs. “Can’t blame a girl for trying. But I do have another idea.”
“Ma’am?”
“Can I please fuck with them? Just a phone call.Pleeease?”
