Page 95 of The Thorne at My Side
“Uh, sure. I just want to get my job situation figured out.”
“That makes sense,” she says. “What do you think you’ll do next?”
“I’m going to head back this week and start having some conversations. I’m not sure exactly what I want to do but I have a few ideas.”
“Well, you’ve always seized opportunities when they present themselves so I can’t wait to see what you’ll do next.”
???
Turns out Mom didn’t have to wait long. That night as I started to pack up, my phone alerted me to a new email.
Dear Ms. Collins,
I’m Emily Brady, a student at Georgetown. We met back in the fall when your office hosted an event for students. You spoke about the craft of speech writing and also shared your thoughts on the AI Media announcement.
What you shared that day stuck with me. The semester just started and one of our mandatory seminars is a media literacy class. When we arrived in class today we were told the adjunct professor had taken a job overseas and would no longer be available. They were going to cancel the class if a replacement couldn’t be found quickly.
I imagine you’re too busy working for President-Elect Quinn but do you know of anyone who could teach this course? I’ll put the department head’s number below.
I appreciate your help. If this course gets canceled I’ll have to make it up in the summer. My course load is packed every semester between now and graduation so I can triple major in poly-sci, public relations, and leadership. I’m hoping to attend law school and followyour path to become a speech writer.
The ultimate goal will be for my words to become a part of history, like yours.
Hope to talk soon,
Emily
CHAPTER 29
What is this, an intervention?
AUSTIN
I open the door to my apartment to find Elle and Felix standing at the island waiting for me. They are both giving me looks that make this feel like this is an intervention.
Or that my fly is down.
I check quickly and it isn’t so this might be serious.
“Thorney, sit down,” Felix says and he pulls out one of the counter stools for me. I walk over and sit between them after hanging up my coat.
“What’s going on?”
“We’re concerned about you,” Elle says.
Intervention. Nailed it.
“Why? I’m fine,” I say and I reach down to pick up Brinkley. He glares at me as I try to situate him in my lap so I let him pounce to the floor instead of risking a left hook.
“You’re not fine,” Felix says and then he pulls a piece of paper out of his pocket.
“You prepared a fucking statement for this?” I chastise.
“I have things to say!” He yells as Elle hollers “Let him speak!”
“Fine, go ahead, let’s hear it,” I say as I cross my arms and settle in. This is going to be ridiculous.
“Austin, my dear Thorney,” I roll my eyes, “I’m here tonight to tell you that I am concerned about you. We have been friends for a long time and I have never seen you so lost.”
