Eli shook his head. “She wasn’t allowed to talk to me—and vice versa. I talked to her for the first time in years two days ago.”

“I’m amazed.”

“We’ve picked up right where we left off, or at least it felt that way on the phone the last few days. I’m worried about what it’ll be like when she’s here.”

“I’m sure it’ll be great.”

“Thanks for listening to me go on about it. These last few hours have been torturous.”

“I could tell you were dealing with something.” Nate offered him sunflower seeds. He was always eating something healthy.

“No, thanks. Yeah, the last couple of days have been intense. I couldn’t believe it when she called me Monday. I wasn’t sure if I’d hear from her when she turned eighteen. Turns out she was counting the days like I was.”

“I feel like I’m watching a rom-com or something.”

“Stop,” Eli said, laughing.

“No, really, only this one has my full interest.”

“I hope we don’t disappoint you.”

“You won’t. While we’re talking about rom-coms, do you mind if I ask you something wildly inappropriate?”

Eli glanced at the always super-professional agent. “Um, sure?”

Smiling, Nate said, “It’s inappropriate in the sense that I shouldn’t be talking to you about it.”

“I sort of think of you as a friend since we’re together every day.”

“Likewise, which is why I feel comfortable asking you what you think of the first lady’s niece Brooke.”

“Oh, um, I don’t really know her all that well, but she seems nice. Why?”

“Well, it’s like this. A while ago, she was babysitting at the Ninth Street house. We got to talking, and we’ve kind of been talking ever since.”

“Very interesting. And then I moved you to New Jersey, so you probably don’t see her very often.”

“I saw her while we were in DC over the holidays, and P.S., you did me a huge favor careerwise asking for me to head up your detail, so thanks for that.”

“Are you going to see her again?”

“I sort of feel like I need to have a conversation with the first lady before I do, but the thought of that makes me cringe.”

“She’s so cool, though. You know that.”

“I do, but this is a strange situation I find myself in.”

“I can see that. Would you like me to talk to her about it?”

“Oh God, no. I’d never ask you to do that.”

“You didn’t ask. I offered.”

“Ugh, it’s so unprofessional for me to be having this conversation with you, or to be interested in dating the first lady’s niece. I should’ve left it alone after I met her.”