Page 5
I don’t hesitate. “How many books have you sold?”
“To my shock, quite a lot. I hustled my ass off for the first book, but it was the second that made the first one a bestseller. And then they know your name, and you’re a brand. And you get to do the thing you love over and over.”
“And an Amy Adams movie in the works helps too.”
“I plan to name my firstborn after her.”
3
Tess
How I ended up in a car with Alex Bishop is beyond me. Not only am I a fan, but perhaps a bit of a stalker as well. I’ve thought about him a time or two in the shower, soaping myself up. We drive to Georgetown, and it always reminds me of Philly.
“Thanks, man.” He hops out of the car and scurries around to open my door. I’ve no idea where any of this is going, but I’m just going to enjoy my evening. “When did you know it was me?”
“When I heard your voice on the phone. It was confirmed when you smiled your crooked little smile at me.”
“This one?” He points to his mouth.
“That’s the one.” I follow him into Clyde’s, with my heart fluttering and his hand on my back. It’s insanely busy, but the waitress lifts her chin to him and motions towards a table at the back end of the long bar. We bypass the line of waiting customers.
“More consultants?” He shrugs, and I sit down while he hangs up our coats.
As we sit, he asks, “You’re here a night?”
“Been here for two, but I leave tomorrow. And you?”
“I jet to Vermont in the morning. We’re doing a live pod tomorrow night from some church, talking about gerrymandering. I should be writing my outline, but it seems I found something else to do.”
I answer quickly. I respect the pull of work and don’t want to disrupt. “I can get a burger on my own if you need to work.” He reaches over and places his hand on mine, and my adrenaline surges. This is turning out to be a lovely evening.
“It’s been a while since I had a burger with someone. Well, who wasn’t working for me or with me. Or Mikey.”
“Mike Day?” He’s on the podcast with Alex.
“Yes. Pain in my ass, but love his warped little brain to death.” The waitress kisses Alex on the cheek, and he removes the warmth of his hand from mine. It’s like someone doused my hand in cold water.
I like his hand. I haven’t liked a hand in a while. And I haven’t had a hand I connected within, well, forever. There just hasn’t been a hand interesting enough to tear me away from work. My ever-present purple Flair pen is across the room, and I just realize it. Maybe, I’ll just leave it there.
“Ok, kitten, what’ll ya have to start?” She’s probably worked here since they opened, and I love everything about her.
“I’d love a beer. And Tess here will have…” And he trails off, but I’m fascinated he’s kind of introducing me to the waitress. He seems like a guy who everyone wants to sit at their table.
“Beer is great. And water, please.”
“Any preference, Tess?” She winks at me.
“Whatever he’s having is fine.”
“You do know his name is Alex, right?”
“I do.” I smile at this woman.
She points her pen at me. “Good. You’re miles ahead of some of the other bimbos.” And she shuffles away.
“Bimbos? Thought I was the first girl you ever brought here?”
“You are. The bimbos were already here.”
