Page 55 of Since Always

Dani: Of course. Just text me when you're home.

She brings Thai food from our favorite local place when she comes over. Dani and I have been grabbing lunches or dinner together over the past year. By this point, we know each other's orders by heart.

"Hey, friend," she says when she comes in, perky as always. I do not know how she holds on to that character trait while working in this city.

She makes herself at home, setting up the food on my kitchen table, while I grab us beers out of the fridge.

"So, Tomlinson is still Speaker of the House. Quite the shocker," I say. Diane Tomlinson had been the Speaker every time our party has had the majority for the past 15 years.

"Yeah, it came as quite a surprise."

"I'm sorry. I know you were backing Garcia."

"I knew it wasn't going to happen. But a girl can dream."

"Well," I say, handing her the beer. "Someday it is going to be you, so keep the dream alive."

She grins. "How do you know I won't have moved on by then? Senator Rodriguez? Ambassador Rodriguez?"

"President Rodriguez?"

She winks at me and lifts her bottle. "From your mouth, Senator."

I grab the Styrofoam container of Pad Thai, taking a deep inhale as the steam rolls out. "This smells so good. I don't think I ate today. Thanks for grabbing this."

"Yeah, no problem; but stop doing that. You need to eat during the day."

"Yes, Mom. How was the rest of your break after we talked?"

"Uh, not the best. David ended things between us." The look on her face betrays nothing at this news.

"Oh shit. I'm sorry, Dani. What happened?"

"I happened. Me, and my job. He got tired of being second fiddle. It's fine, honestly. It had only been a couple months. I'm good."

"Yeah, I definitely know how that goes. But I'm still sorry."

"I think you were right about all of this. The job and a personal life."

"Right about...What did I say?"

"When we went out to lunch the first time, you said that the problem with starting in politics when you're not married is that getting to know someone enough to fall in love and commit to is too hard on our schedule. I asked if you thought you'd be alone forever, and you said you thought it was possible. I said you were insane at the time, and that you didn't have to choose one or the other, but honestly, I'm not so sure anymore. This year has been..Well, I guess I just didn't really have a full idea of what this job takes."

Jesus, I really am a piece of work. What kind of dick says something like that to a young woman just starting her dream career? The jaded, bitter kind, I guess.

"Don't ever listen to me. What the hell do I know?"

"You are wise, Obi-Wan."

"I assure you, on this particular topic, I am an absolute moron and you should never, ever, under any circumstances, take love advice from me."

She catches the pinch in my voice.

"Oh no," she says. "What's wrong?"

Once again, I know I should keep my mouth shut. I can't keep blurting the truth to anyone who asks. But, if I'm being honest, ever since I walked away from Cassidy the other day, I am finding it hard to care. I'm finding it hard to not walk out my door and shout at the top of my lungs how I am in love with someone, just so I can get on a plane to get back to her.

I take a deep breath and decide to trust in our friendship.

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