His mere presence in the room makes the space zing to life. People drift toward us, as if drawn by an invisible tide. As long as he’s here, it’s a master class in organizing. Inspiring people.

I hover in his wake. Behind his back, I mouth to Kimberly, Oh, my God.

She smiles only slightly.

It’s almost time to go. The van keys are still sitting on my desk, I remember. I go pick them up, double-checking that we got everything.

I return to find Kimberly standing in the community room with Senator Sloan. Something about it trips me up. My feet pause halfway there, my eyes fixed on their exchange. The pose between them. Yvonne is nearby, butterflying around the senator, and yet his gaze is on Kimberly.

She’s shy around him. She lowers her head, in a way I haven’t seen. Except once. When we were talking about our history. About how she’s never had sex before me, and only been interested in one man. It’s weird that my mind goes to that place, but it does.

He’s familiar with her, too. He puts his hand on her shoulder like they’ve known each other forever. Or else he’s just that kind of guy, smooth enough to get away with it. Does she want him to be touching her? When his hand goes out, her eyes go down.

My gut tugs and flutters. Some kind of warning. Or … I’m jealous. Is she into him? He’s godlike, I know, but he’s so old.

Kimberly shrugs away from Sloan’s touch, turns her body at an angle and focuses on her clipboard.

I stroll toward them, like I belong in the conversation. Which, technically, I do.

“I’m here to support you,” the senator’s saying. “I don’t have to speak. I can just be a face in the crowd.”

“You’ve come all this way,” I interject. “We’ll make sure the cameras find you.” It’s great for our cause, that he’s here.

Kimberly shoots me some side-eye. Damn. I totally just did a jerky guy thing that girls hate. And with reason. I shouldn’t be butting in like that. She had this.

Senator Sloan laughs. “The cameras will find me. Don’t worry about that.”

“It’s about time to go,” I tell them. “Everybody ready?”

“I have my car out front,” Senator Sloan says.

We walk him back toward the door. “I’ll be driving the van. Would you like to have your driver follow me?”

“Kimberly can ride with me. She’ll make sure I get to the right place.” He smiles fondly at her and my spidey-sense tingles.

JENNICA

My eyes grog their way open. I am cozy and cotton mouthed, deep-settled and unsettled all at once. The comforter is gray and blue and thick. It goes on forever. This is not my bed.

Where am I?