Page 7 of Small Sacrifices

As Everett walks him down the corridor, Reid fights the urge to shrink away from the touch.It's collegial,he tells himself.A buddy-buddy sort of thing.He's seen similar camaraderie at college, it just wasn’t directed at him. No matter how much he wants to, Reid can't shove Everett away and reject the touch. Even if the guy doesn't belong here, he probably holds a lot of sway with people who could fire Reid.

Come to think of it—what is Everett doing here? As far as Reid remembers, Everett is doing his master’s degree at California State University. Shouldn't he be in class? If, for some reason, he's visiting his father this early in the morning, he could take a different entrance. One that avoids the usual morning rush.But Everett knows McNaulty, so maybe that's why he chose this entrance. Because he knew she'd let him through.

Reid is so lost in thought that he doesn't notice when Everett starts speaking to him. Only when he steps in front of Reid to make some sort of wiping motion in front of his eyes does Reid snap back into consciousness.

"Sorry, what?" he asks. It's not the meticulous politeness that his mother raised him to exhibit at all times, but he hopes it’s enough. Everett himself hasn't proven to be particularly polite either.

As if to further his point, Everett snorts. "You really need to sleep more, huh?"

"Excuse me?" That's a weird subject for a conversation with a stranger, even for someone as extroverted as this guy.

At least now, said guy has the grace to look sheepish. And maybe… is that a blush? Everett's skin is darker than Reid's, an amber tan that he must have gotten from his mother. But there's some pink dusted on his cheekbones that definitely looks like a blush.Asian people blush,Reid tells himself.Don't be weird.It's just that it doesn't make sense. Why on earth would Everett be blushing?

"Ah, sorry," he says and extends his hand for Reid to shake. "Everett Mackenzie."

Which is hilarious, really. The governor's son introducing himself by his full name to an intern, not far from his father's offices. If anyone is supposed to know who he is, it's Reid. But he bites down on his smile and the cringe at someone else's hand closing around his and says, "Reid Maxwell. It's a pleasure."

There's that snort again. "Well, you don't need to go quite that far. I just thought I'd save you from Beth's wrath. That was you yesterday, right? The guy who fell in the parking lot? I thought I recognized the curls. Do they usually keep you that late?"

Oh. Immediately, Reid tenses up. Is this a test? Do they do that? Sic the boss’s son on people to see what they say about their working conditions? That could work. Maybe people just like to talk to him. He's certainly attractive enough, and Reid could see how someone might think he's charming. He's also quite tall. Reid himself isn't particularly short, but now that they're standing closer to each other, he has to look up to meet Everett's eyes.

"No," he croaks, winces, and then clears his throat to try again. "No. This was a special circumstance. We have a meeting about the… situation at the elementary school today. I was asked to prepare a proposal, so I had to stay late."

"Situation, huh? Is that what they're calling it now?"

Reid can feel a smile twitch across his lips. No, they don't.Scandal,they call it, ordebacle.He's heard it referred to as ashitstorm,even. But he's not supposed to talk like that, is he? Especially not in front of the governor's son, who knows better than anyone else how wrong these accusations are.

"Mr. Mackenzie—" he starts, but is quickly interrupted by a hard scoff.

"Everett, please. Mr. Mackenzie is my father. I'd rather not invite the comparison."

"Right. Everett. It's not my place to label what's happening. I'm just trying to open communication and help resolve the issues caused."

Everett's brown eyes widen. "Oh God, you sound like a politician. Please tell me you're not a politician?"

What's that supposed to mean? "I work for the Department of Public Relations."

"Thank fuck." Everett lets his head loll back, but quickly reassembles himself into something at least adjacent to good posture. "I just thought I recognized you and wanted to makesure you were okay. You look a bit out of it. And I agree that the ID system is shit, so…"

"Oh." Reid is at a loss. How did Everett even recognize him? The parking lot isn't exactly close to the building. And why was Everett there so late?

"Thank you," Reid finally says, and he's proud when it doesn't sound like a question.

It gets him a grin. "You don't talk much, do you?"

"I prefer the written word. It's more precise."

Everett raises an eyebrow. "Then why are you in politics?"

This again. Reid really needs to get to the office. Mr. Wright is going to arrive soon. "What do you mean?"

Somewhere down the hallway, a light flickers. It makes Reid cast a look around—they're still alone. Usually, he's glad to be able to make his way to work in solitude, but it's inconvenient. He wishes that someone would walk by, to remind Everett of where they are.

"Just… Precision can be dangerous in politics. I would think that if you're hired to be precise, you'd need to pick words to very precisely not make a definite statement."

Reid can feel his eyebrows drawing together. What? Everett remembers his father is a politician, right? A politician who has to be more careful in his statements than most. Does he really think Reid would fall for that? But the look on Everett's face is open, as though he expects Reid to believe him and just answer. Well. Alright. He can do that.

"Your father is a man of integrity. Yes, he needs to be careful with what he says, but that's what we're here for. I believe in his policies and his values. If working towards that means we have to pick our words wisely, then so be it."

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