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“Hey,” he said, eyes still magnetized to Hope’s, unsure if to shake her hand, hug her, or just stand there like an idiot.
“Hey,” she said, but it was a half-whisper. “Thanks.”
He nodded and closed his eyes once in a you bet, then turned his gaze to the less painful spectacle. “Chris,” he said, reaching out his hand. “Nice meeting you again.”
“Yeah, you, too.” Chris cleared his throat. “Is … everything okay after all the …? You were on the news.” He then cleared his throat again.
He almost forgot that, outside D.C., this would be most people’s reaction to him.
“Yes, I was. But everything’s fine. I appreciate your concern, but I wouldn’t call everything I see news.” He smiled, hoping he didn’t sound too sarcastic.
Chris cleared his throat again. “Anyway, it’s nice of you to come. Avery’s not here, though.” He sounded sincere.
Jordan almost laughed at the enormously wrong conclusion that Chris had reached.
“I’m here to support the best team out of my old school.” He smiled at Hannah, who beamed at him.
He could feel Hope’s eyes on him. He turned, expecting to find green daggers. Instead, he was met with soft green moss. She was in the blue dress from his brother’s engagement party and, from the looks of it, there was no armored shaper below it. He could die just at that thought.
“You’re all set?” he asked no one in specific. Work. He should treat it like work.
“Yes, we’re all set,” Chris replied. “Hannah and her partner … Where is he?” He turned his head, looking for the other kid. “Oh, there. With his parents. They’re all set, and we’ve been assigned the committee we’ve been preparing for.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, we’re about to begin. Please, take your seats,” an announcement called.
Jordan turned to Hannah. “Good luck. Show them what you’ve got. I’ll see you at the break.”
She nodded with a small smile, gave her mother a quick hug, and then walked with Chris and the other kid toward the stage.
He now faced Hope alone. Until now, they had exchanged just two words.
She pointed at the rows of chairs. “We have seats there. I didn’t know if you would come.”
“I didn’t know, either. That’s why I didn’t say anything. I hope it’s okay?”
“It’s more than okay.” She held his gaze, and he saw her throat move as she swallowed.
The crowd of excited teachers, participants, and family members was swirling around them, but he didn’t even notice it. All he saw was her. He could swear that all she saw was him, too, because she was startled when Chris reappeared and said, “Come on; we should get to our seats.”
They both went with him, and Chris seated himself between them. Not purposefully; it just happened. To some extent, Jordan was thankful. He wanted to concentrate on the excited kid who sat at her representation desk, her legs waving back and forth under the table.
She was excellent. Her partner was, too. There were other good teams there, but they were the youngest, as the others were mostly in the sixth grade. Jordan made sure that, whenever she would look at them, she would see that his attention was all hers. He had even switched his phone off, because even a senator wouldn’t come before this client of his.
He smiled at her while clapping hard after their turn to present their stance. And when the moderator announced a break, he broke conduct, put two fingers in his mouth, and whistled.
Hannah giggled in her seat on the stage, and Chris looked at him funny.
“How very undiplomatic,” Hope said with a grin as they went to talk to Hannah.
“Can’t completely uproot the small town in me.” He grinned back.
“You’re doing great. Keep it up,” Chris said to the two kids.
“I’m so proud of you, baby,” Hope said. “I sent pictures to your dad. He’s excited.”
Jordan side-eyed her and noticed the muscle that flexed in her jaw after she had said that.
“You’re focused and calm, and that’s how you do it. They’re clapping like crazy for you,” he said in a low voice to Hannah.
