Page 33 of Not the Plan

He also wanted to get to know Drew better, hoping that face-to-face, he wouldn’t mind answering a few questions about Julian. When Julian gave him the assignment, Karim had let himself hope Isadora might be there too. He was sad she was staying in Sacramento, but it was for the best.

—

He left the district office after lunch on Friday.

“Karim!” Julian called out as he was preparing to go.

“Yes?”

“I need you sharp tomorrow night, okay? Drew’s going to do the heavy lifting, but we’re a team, got it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“We should arrive together, but I think separate cars are best—never know how these evenings may end up.” He rubbed his hands together like there was a feast before him. The glint of his wedding band caught Karim’s eye.

Really have to ask Drew about that.

“Of course,” he answered, hoping his face reflected the appropriate degree of lasciviousness.

“Good.” Julian smiled. “Meet you in the lobby at six thirty.”

—

Karim picked up his black suit from the tailor’s and took it with him to Marcus and Gabriel’s menswear shop to get an appropriate shirt. Although he spent most of his time in Sacramento, the weekends he had been in San Diego, he’d made it a point to catch up with Gabriel for an early run or pick-up basketball. Having gotten to know him, Karim trusted his judgment. But Gabriel still managed to surprise him when he recommended a black shirt.

“Everyone else will be wearing white,” he said.

Karim appraised the combination in the triple mirror. He had a point. And while Julian wanted a united front, Karim hesitated about being 100 percent united with him.

“And don’t shave,” said a young woman in the waiting area.

“Really?” He hadn’t shaved that morning; he wasn’t sure about skipping another day.

“Trust me,” she said. “Don’t.”

—

Julian had a different reaction the following evening.

“Who are you supposed to be? Johnny Cash?” He slapped Karim on the back, laughing as Drew approached. Karim took it in stride, laughing along. But the number of appreciative glances he’d gotten in his ten minutes of waiting for Julian had already confirmed Gabriel’s suggestion.

“Okay, boys,” Julian said. “Let’s go.”

He barreled to the area reserved for the press. Turning to the first female journalist in his path, Julian smiled and began talkingabout himself. Drew stayed a step or two behind him, so Karim did the same. After speaking to several newspaper reporters, Julian turned to his aides.

“Listen, I’m gonna handle the TV stations. Why don’t you head over to the cocktail party and do a little reconnaissance? Don’t want to waste any time before dinner.”

Drew nodded, and Karim followed.

“Reconnaissance?” Karim asked once Julian was out of earshot.

“Julian never spends the evening alone. He wants to have a companion or two lined up,” Drew said.

The security guards checked their invitations at the door to the cocktail area.

“Julian is…” Drew shoved his hands in his pockets and began a stroll around the room.

A skirt-chaser? A misogynist?

---