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Well done, Brennan. Good job with that distancing.
Reese hesitates. It’s only a moment, easily missed, but I’ve spent the past twenty minutes committing him to my memory. “I’m looking forward to working with you as well, Mr. President.”
It’s the signal that the meeting is over, and I stand, button my jacket, and hold out my hand, my eyes never leaving his. My heart rate gets a reprieve as I walk them both out, but then there’s a brief jockeying for position as Henry moves in front of Reese and reaches for the door at the same time I do.
“Sir.” He keeps his hand on the knob.
“First day.” I step back and slap on a smile. “I’m not used to the formalities yet.”
“You will have a thousand briefings, but not one of them will tell you there’s a learning curve, sir,” Reese says. “Every president is overwhelmed on their first day in the White House. Their whole first week, even.”
He’s smooth. He’s giving me permission to feel these butterflies, but he doesn’t understand they’re not coming from the job. “Thanks.”
We walk out to Matt’s office, and he’s on his feet, smile at the ready for Reese. That pleases me no end. Matt is an excellent barometer of a person’s character.
“What’s up next, Matt?”
“Sir, that is all you have for today. We begin again bright and early tomorrow morning.”
I’m not ready for this day—or this moment—to end. Or for Reese to leave. “Agent Theriot, you mentioned a tour of the emergency bunker was possible. It seems I have the time, if you do?”
Reese and Henry share a quick look.
I know nothing about Reese Theriot. I do know I am not the first person to look upon him and think his world has stopped turning. Somewhere in this town, there must be a lucky someone thanking every star in the sky that Reese’s smile belongs to them. Maybe that person is Henry. They seem to have a language all their own.
“I’ll handle the shift change,” Henry says softly. Reese nods as Henry turns to me. “Have a good evening, Mr. President.”
And then he’s gone, striding down the hall and disappearing on the stairs.
My heart pounds. “Matt, thank you for everything,” I say, dragging my eyes from Reese’s. “Please give Rachel my best.”
“Will do, Mr. President.” Matt shuts down his computer, zips up his fleece jacket, and follows Henry down the hall.
Reese and I are alone.
I’ve made a huge mistake.
