Page 54 of The Thorne at My Side
"Oh!" She laughs, "no, I meant for you to knock off your pen tapping, it was like standing next to a jackhammer."
"Oh," I bite my lip, "sorry."
"No worries, how's the senator doing?"
"Fine, she's going back to the hotel, I don't want her taking any questions."
"Good plan, any updates from the watch data or polls?"
"Not yet," I sigh and check the time on my phone. It's not even 8:00 pm local time. Since we're on the west coast the debate started early and I've got a lot of time to kill until meeting Austin in his room.
"Wanna grab some dinner? I'm starving." Sam says as she slings her bag over her shoulder.
"Sure, just in the hotel bar?"
"That works for me."
On our walk over to the bar Sam is buzzing with energy. She's chatting and hypothesizing about results and checking her phone for official data all at once. We get a seat at the bar and order drinksand a few appetizers to share.
"So," Sam starts as she swings her barstool around to survey the rest of the room. "Think we can find some ass tonight?"
I cough on my drink and bring the cocktail napkin up to my chin to catch the dribble. "I'm not looking for ass in the hotel bar."
She turns to me with big, cartoon princess eyes, "Why not? Haven’t we covered the importance of stress relief at times like these?"
“We have. I just don’t need to find it tonight.”
“So you already have a source?”
"Can't say," I respond over a sip of my drink.
"Can't like he doesn't exist yet, or won't because you're trying to be smug about already scoring a hook up for tonight? If that’s the case, I’m impressed with your forward planning with Austin back in D.C.."
I shrug and swivel towards the bartender who is clearly listening to our conversation. I give him a full once over because I can appreciate the finer points of the male form but his wink does nothing for me.
Not when I know what Austin can do.
"Alright Maggie, who are you booty calling tonight?" Sam asks, drawing my attention back to her.
"I'm not going to tell you."
"Bet I can figure it out.” Sam says smugly as she drops a handful of bar mix into her mouth. "You can't keep a straight face when lying so I'll know even if you deny it."
I just laugh at her, at myself, and fish out a sesame stick.
"The bartender?"
"No."
"That producer from the last interview? He was hot."
"No."
"Ooh, a tinder swipe that you booked as soon as we landedand your location updated?"
"No."
"Hmm, you're right, it wouldn't be a stranger. You're too careful about who you hook up with." I don't deny it so she keeps going. "It probably would be someone you know, but not someone you work with because that's a line you wouldn't cross."
