“I knew you’d look great.” I wink as I slide an arm around her. The designer dress was worth every penny. And trust me, there were a lot of pennies.

“Thank you.” She blushes and tilts her head down as she tucks a stray blond curl behind her ear. “And thanks for the dress. That really wasn’t necessary.”

“Of course it was.” I had the dress and a note telling her when to be ready delivered to her room this morning. I thought it would be romantic, plus I wanted to avoid a conversation about how nothing she owned would do for this event.

I open the door of the waiting car and watch her while she slides in. I follow her and pull the door shut.

“So where are we going?” she asks as the car turns around, heading away from the dorm and toward the street.

I laugh. “Not a fan of mystery, eh?”

She shrugs and smooths her dress over her knees. “I like plans.”

I shake my head. I can feel a smile on my lips, despite my best effort to prevent it. “Well then, here.” I pull the invitation out of my breast pocket and hand it to her.

“It’s a gala thrown by the Browns. For some charity, about...kids or animals or something, I don’t know. But he’s one of the first employees of Apple, and she’s—”

“Our congressional representative. I know who they are.” She flips the invitation over, although there’s nothing on the back. “And their charity is for pediatric cancer research. It says it on here.”

“Yeah, yeah. Right.”

She studies the invitation. “Will they be there?” She looks at me through perfectly painted eyes.

“Yeah, I assume so.” I undo one of the buttons on my coat and adjust the way I’m sitting.

“Oh my gosh.” She holds the invitation to her chest. “She’s one of my favorite people.”

“Really?” I try not to laugh. I can’t think of anyone I’d get that excited to share some overpriced chicken in a hotel ballroom with. I don’t think I’ve looked up to someone that much since I was five, and that was Batman.

These sorts of events are kind of work for me now. Smile and shake hands with my parents’ friends, who I’m counting on to get me a job or secure an investment for me one day. It’s not that I don’t get that these people are important, it’s just that I know they’re important in a you show up and act like they’re a big deal so they give you a tax break way, and not in an actual I’m humbled to meet one of the leaders of my country way. I’ve seen enough to know that the real leaders in this country are on my side of the campaign donation.