Page 46 of Bi-Partisan

Now, any skepticism is replaced by curiosity as he sits, angled slightly toward me, then hands it to me wordlessly. Carefully, I unfold the page and scan it. The words “congress”, “House of Representatives”, and “Animal Welfare Act” stand out to me, but otherwise I have no idea what I’m looking at.

“I’m introducing this next week. I didn’t think you’d care to read the whole thing, so it’s just the title page. But it’s a bill to amend the animal welfare act to allow for federal funding to be used for animal rescues,” he explains.

“Jamie, this is…”

“I know it won’t help get the intake center off the ground right now—although Congresswoman Sanderson is still working on that from the DC government side. But when neither her team nor I could find a federal grant that was available for an organization like District Pets, I fell into a research hole and realized there are so many other rescues across the country trying to do the same thing that are struggling, and well…”

Out of the corner of my eye, I catch him gesturing at the paper. I can’t tear my eyes away from it. I don’t know what to say. There are so many questions going through my brain about why he did this or what it means that I can’t settle on one.

Next to me, his leg bounces a little restlessly. “I can’t tell if your silence is a good or a bad thing.”

Finally I meet his gaze. “I can’t believe you did this. This is so much more than I expected you to do when I asked for your help. I can’t…”

His cheeks pink slightly. “Well, there’s no guarantee it’ll even pass. And if it does, District Pets will still have to apply like any other rescue, which technically I can’t help with since—”

“It’s not your district. I know. Still, you didn’t need to do this just because we’re—because I’m…” I huff in frustration, my brain still moving too fast to put proper sentences together.

“I know I didn’t need to, but I said I’d help. And it wasn’t just me. I have a few co-signers.”

He gestures at the page again, and I catch a list of names next to his that I didn’t notice before. Still, even with co-signers, this has his fingerprints all over it.

“Plus, after looking at enough sad homeless animals on the internet, I kind of did need to do something. It was either this or adopt a pet that I absolutely do not have time to take care of,” he says with a laugh.

I can’t help laughing, too. “How do you think I ended up with two cats in a one bedroom apartment?” Then I look down at the page one more time before setting it on the coffee table and turning my full attention to him. “I don’t want you to think that I only agreed to help you to get something from you. I know you promised me a favor, but even if you hadn’t, I still would have said yes. Honestly, if Casey hadn’t been there when Kelly told me about the grant falling through and mentioned my congressman boyfriend, I don’t know if I would have even asked you.”

His hand covers mine where they’re tangled on my lap, and he smiles. “Which is what made me want to help even more. I appreciate you, and not just for going along with this objectively crazy PR scheme. But for being a good person. For talking me through an anxiety spiral, and making me laugh, and texting me pictures of Joseph and Molly when I’ve had a long day. And since you’re apparently not a gift person, this is my way of showing you that.”

I’m not sure what comes over me. Maybe it’s the fact that he has been touching me in some capacity for the entire night, or that this is probably one of the nicest, most selfless things someone has ever done for me. Either way, before I even realize I’m doing it, my arms are around his back, and I’m pulling him in for a hug.

“Thank you,” I mumble.

He hums and squeezes me tight. “You’re welcome, darlin’.”

Then, his hand comes up to cradle the back of my neck, and I melt into him.

I forgot how good it felt to be wrapped up in his arms, how warm and open he is with his affection. Nothing has ever been like this for me. Sure, I’ve read about it in books, seen it in the rom-coms Casey makes me watch, but I’ve never had it myself. I didn’t think I needed it. I didn’t think it was worth the potential hurt when the other person eventually moved on. But now that I’ve gotten a glimpse, it’s intoxicating. I’m not sure how long we stay in the embrace, but there’s a part of me that wants to sink into this for the rest of the night—to let him hold me. But then I remember our boundaries—the ones I insisted on putting into place—and I know I need to put an end to this.

Slowly, I peel myself away from him. “Sorry,” I mutter, glancing away as my cheeks heat.

“What for?” he asks, and when I look up, there’s a pleased grin on his face.

I shrug and stare down at my lap.

For the second time, his hand covers mine and squeezes. “I’ll get out of your hair and let you decompress.”

I lift my head and nod, then walk him to the door. “Are you okay to get to the metro by yourself?” I ask, as he bends to slip on his shoes.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine,” he says, straightening up. “Thanks, though.”

I nod, then open the door for him, but before he steps out into the hall, he rests a hand on my elbow and leans in. My breath catches as his lips brush my cheek.

“Happy birthday,” he whispers, his breath ghosting across my skin. For a second, I think he’s going to do more than kiss me on the cheek, and honestly, I’d probably let him if he did. But he pulls away, shoves his hands in his pockets, and steps into the hall.

“Text me when you get home safe,” I blurt, earning a grin.

“Will do. Good night.”

“Night,” I say, before closing the door, flicking the locks, and sinking against the door like a girl in a bad teen rom-com.

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