Golden Boys (Golden Boys, #1)(33)

Josh sighs. “Sorry, April.”

Though it hasn’t been long, we’ve all been hung up on and snapped at by constituents, but no one’s been quite that mean to me. There’s not much a person can tell about you from your phone voice, but I wonder if April’s voice were deeper if the guy wouldn’t have snapped so hard. I wonder: If I’d answered the phone, and he’d picked up on the higher pitch of my voice—or how I hold on to my s’s just a bit longer than other guys do—what would he have said?

Maybe nothing. But an uncomfortable feeling churns inside me, which sends me back home, picking out an outfit while Mom watches, worried about what I’ll say or how I’ll say it. A part of me wants to morph, to change, but I steel my nerves. I can’t do that.

“I’ll take the next call,” I say. “In case he calls back.”

“Oh, I hope he calls back,” April replies. “I just thought of a few comebacks to his conspiracy theory comments.”

We’re brought in to grab sandwiches and are asked to go back into our corner for a few minutes while someone takes care of something. Names and faces are all interchangeable at this point, and I would give anything to just sit down and have a real introduction. But that’s apparently not how they do things here.

“Busy day,” Meghan remarks to no one in particular as she returns, sandwich in hand, and goes to her computer. A calendar app takes up her screen, and I see her taking notes. She pulls up an email, then spins around with a broad smile on her face.

“Okay, great. The chief of staff talked with the senator about what to do with you all, and I think we finally have a plan. Senator Wright is going to be in Ohio for a few weeks, so you unfortunately won’t get to meet him for a little while longer.”

“But I thought he had a vote tomorrow,” I say.

“Good memory! He’s flying in for the vote and for a quick CNN appearance tonight, and he will be back in Ohio by the next day. I just finished booking his flights.” She pauses. “You’re the intern who’s got connections to Congresswoman Caudill, right?”

I nod. “She’s my mom’s friend.”

“Ah, that makes sense.” She turns back to her email. “He’ll be in her neck of the woods as part of this trip, so he wanted me to make sure you were taken care of.”

I tense up, hoping that doesn’t sound as entitled as I know it does.

“Anyway, April and Josh, it seems like you’re naturals at taking these calls from constituents, so we’re going to have you help out more with that.”

We all suck equally at dealing with phone calls, so I know her reasoning isn’t exactly true. I feel their glares burning into me, but I don’t dare turn. Meghan looks to me now.

“And you’ll be helping me keep the wheels on the track. Being a scheduler is actually the job of, like, fifty people. I don’t complain about it—well, I don’t complain about it in earshot of certain people, I should say—but I do need some help, especially those times I literally need to be in two places at once, you know?”

“Got it,” I say weakly. “Whatever you need.”

I respect Meghan. But I don’t want to work with her. For her.

A sourness settles in my stomach, knowing I’ve just been given preference over April and Josh for no reason other than that a member of Congress is a family friend. This job is probably not any better than theirs, but it definitely looks that way. And here, appearance matters.

“On that note,” Meghan says while handing me a few papers slid into a manila folder, “you two can go see Jenna, who’s going to do a full rundown of how to handle the phones, check the answering machines in the morning, and all that. And Sal, do you remember how to get back to the entrance?”

“I think so, yeah.”

“Great. Two things: First, I need you to go pick up Leona Smith—she’s a veteran from Lima—and welcome her to the Capitol. Just bring her here; Jenna will give her a ticket so she can have a seat for tomorrow’s vote, and Marcus will have a one-on-one meeting with her on behalf of Senator Wright.”

“Got it,” I say, though I feel the pressure building up inside me.

“On your way, just drop by Senator Greenwood’s office and drop this off with Helena—her name’s on the tab there. His office is just down the hall and on the right; you’ll walk right past it.”

I nod, though I’m not fully sure where I’m even at right now. “I’ll find it.”

“Great, thanks! I’ll have a few other tasks you can help with when you get back. It’s going to be so nice having you here this summer.”

I turn to go, and my cheeks flush when I think about doing this all summer. I want to help, and maybe this is how I can. A tear falls down my cheek as the emotions battle within me—I’ve already annoyed April and Josh, Meghan’s piling on the tasks with vague instructions, but worst of all, something in me says this “special project” might have been a lie all along.





? FaceTime ?

HEATH + REESE

Hey! I can see you now. The others haven’t answered the FaceTime request yet. I guess they’re running late. In a shocking turn of events.

That’s okay with me. You and I can catch up a bit. Reese! Ugh, I missed that face. How’s the design school?