“There’sa question he can always answer,” his wife cracked.
“It was so nice to meet you,” Cherry said.
Russ was tugging at her waist. She followed him to the bar. He ordered a Coke Zero for Cherry and a scotch and soda for himself, and immediately took a long drink.
Cherry held on to her Coke Zero. It was poured into a highball glass.
Russ wasn’t looking at her. Or anyone. The corners of his eyes were tense.
Cherry leaned into his gaze. She made her eyes big like,That was crazy.
Russ smiled. He goggled his eyes, too. He leaned over to whisper. “I had no idea they were going to do that.”
Cherry laughed. “It’s okay.”
He put his arm back around her. “Let me introduce you to a few more people. How do you feel about wealthy Republicans?”
“Some of my best employers are wealthy Republicans.”
“See, we have that in common.”
Cherry met the rest of the mayor’s staff and several city supervisors. Cherry already knew a few of them from her work in public affairs.
Meg Jones herself was there—which made sense now that Cherry thought about it—and she didn’t blink when Cherry introduced Russ as her date. Meg was extremely good at not blinking; Cherry had learned it from her.
Thursdaykept coming up. (That fucking movie trailer...)
“Oh, right,”a county commissioner said. “My daughter loves your books.”
“I haven’t written any books,” Cherry said.
“The books you’re in,” he said. “She can’t wait for the movie.”
“Oh my gosh,”one of the mayor’s aides said. “Are you the Cherry fromThursday?”
“I, um...”
The woman was flustered. “Sorry, it’s just—I know your name from the dedication.”
“Ah...”
“And I wasn’t expecting you to look so much like the character!”
“Well...”
“I’m so sorry, it’s just—it’s my favorite book. This is so embarrassing.”
“What the fuck,”a drunken lawyer said. “That’s Baby! You are so fuckingBaby!”
“What thefuck, Joe,” Russ said, shoving the guy’s shoulder.
“Sorry, Russ,” the guy said. “Sorry, miss.” He started laughing again and elbowed Russ. “But you’re dating Baby! From the meme!”
“From the comic,” said another lawyer, standing next to him. This one seemed more high than drunk.
“That’s like dating a celebrity!” the first one said. “Not a celebrity, aconcept. That’s like datingLisa Simpson.”
The other one frowned. “It’s more like dating Garfield...”
