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Of course! Where’s the happy hour spot near the office? IOU at least two rounds.
NEED to go out with this diva sometime
Maybe: Charlie Blake.
Almost read…nvm
(Is this flattering or presumptuous? I hope it’s a little bit flattering.)
The only coherent thought I can muster is that I haven’t gotten Kate a wedding present yet. A video of Charlie congratulating her on her marriage would make her life.
He answers right away. Like he was waiting for me.
even though we’re not in the same room, I feel his voice like it’s dripping down my spine.
“So, I could do drinks. But there has to be food. I just worked out, and I’m starving.”
waisted, flared trousers that give me giraffe legs. At 5′8″, I’m usually careful about how much I emphasize my height—the wrong heel has me eye level with guys who swear they’re six feet tall and don’t want to be reminded they’re not.
Time to go make my dreams come true, I guess.
He’s taller than I thought he would be—actual-person tall, not just famous-person tall. I could have worn any shoes I wanted.
Why did I agree to meet him in public? Though would meeting him in private really have been better?
“The We Like to Make Mischief ones, or something like that?” “I Am a Fan of Mischief.”
He should’ve been making the merch. And if I was the author I would’ve flipped it
“I didn’t realize it at the time. But I guess I’ve been impressed with you for decades. Big fan.”
AAAAHHHH
A lot of people were surprised when Charlie started a clothing company. But it made enough sense to me.
Whatever girl
He takes a drink of his water, and I watch his throat work.
lol
It’s a very casual kind of noticing, I assure myself.
Promises Malibu.
He fiddles with the hem of his napkin, and I’m suddenly more aware of the one I’ve draped across my lap.
Class
The waiter returns with my white wine, Charlie’s old-fashioned.
He lifts his glass, and I clink mine against it. His eyes stay locked with mine as we each take our first sips. It’s good luck,
Bad luck if not
He lifts his glass, and I clink mine against it. His eyes stay locked with mine as we each take our first sips. It’s good luck,
Might be a five star for knowing that
It is very, very alluring to hear him say the words I want you,
His face is so eager and sincere, and he’s so compelling and confident. And so insanely fucking handsome. So handsome that for a moment, I forget to respond.
And then, next election cycle—same poverty. Same ideas. It’s exhausting. Exhausting to go meet people, and shake their hands, and smile, and promise to fix things. And to watch things stay the same.” I can feel myself picking up steam, and I know I should probably stop. But Charlie just nods, like, Say more. So I do.
GOD
“That’s like, exactly it. Obviously making an album isn’t like, the same as what you’re doing at all. I’m sorry I’m even comparing them.
Had to make it abt himself
I will admit that when I picked out this dress, I had thought that, if someone at the wedding caught my eye, it might help me catch theirs back.
“A glass of white wine. Something dry.” A rule someone had to teach me after I got tipsy on one too many vodka sodas as a dumbass college intern: at work drinks, always drink white wine.
👀
“Tell me if I’m being presumptuous,” Charlie says. “But do you want to do this in your room? You can change if you want. I’ll bring up the drinks. We can order takeout or something if you’re hungry. I know you’re already going out of your way for this—you can at least be comfortable.”
😛
how did you end up in politics?” he asks. “You, you don’t seem nearly cynical enough.”
I sort of wish I had a date.” I correct myself. “The right date. There are plenty of wrong ones available.”
“You didn’t bring anyone?” I look around the room. “Do you see anyone?”
LOOK AROUND
Now we’re both tipsy, and laughing, and it’s hard to remember why we’re here. Why I shouldn’t reach out and touch his arm, just lightly, just once. To signal to him that he could touch me back, if he wanted to.
“Yeah. My husband was a piece of shit. But having an automatic plus-one . . . it’s hard not to miss it.”
“I could come with you.”
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, in my many, many long years,” Charlie says. “It’s that the world rarely ends when you think it will.”
“You really like weddings, huh?” “Sure,” he says. “That’s what I like.”
“I’m not doing anything for a photo.”
“I have liked him since you’ve known me! Of course I fucking like him.”
“Men don’t come to weddings with women they’re indifferent about.”
“It’s easy to be happy for you,” I tell her.
I had wanted to wear the veil because I thought it would look romantic, and in photos, it did. But walking toward Cooper, the world was blurry and faraway, and I thought, Shouldn’t I be able to see my future more clearly?
“The thing about you, Kate, is that you’re very easy to love,”
“God, I love spring,” Charlie says. “Especially in LA—the jasmine.” “It’s one of my favorites. My mom didn’t let me wear perfume when I was in middle school, so I used to pick it off of bushes and rub it on my wrists before I went out.”
“That one they got right. Sarah Kendrick. We were nine. Recess.”
Would’ve killed my mood
I know it’s stupid, but I’m jealous of her.
Clarke it
what I would like more is to stay suspended in the delicate soap bubble of a world that’s just Charlie and me, and no one else.
I keep expecting Charlie to wander off at some point during the party.
Why would he do that? He’s doesn’t know anyone here…
like I can’t believe we’re doing this in public.
I’m standing here in the desert, the next lyric goes. This song has always had a direct line to my heart, maybe because Kate and I grew up in drought-stricken Southern California. I knew exactly what it felt like to want things—love and weather—that felt impossibly out of reach. And I’ll be loving you until it rains.
“I know it was . . .” Insanely sexy? Impossibly romantic? A literal dream come true? A wry, self-deprecating smile twists at his mouth. “. . . presumptuous.”
