half older, so not really, but . . . he’s also kind of really skeevy?” Sophie wrinkles her nose.
“I can’t believe you guys are already dating,” says Maya.
“Well, I’m not.” Sophie grimaces. “That’s all Tessa.”
“Weren’t you actively trying to make this happen?” I turn to Maya. “She made me drive her to the mall, acted like it was this big emergency, all so she could be a wingwoman, and now—”
“It’s called being a decent friend,” says Sophie. “But I didn’t actually think Tessa would be able to seal the deal. He’s fifteen!”
“So your friends are all into older guys, huh,” says Maya.
“Her friends are out of control.” I shake my head slowly. “Now you know why I’m terrified of giving this toast.”
When I get back from driving Maya home, Mom’s parked on the living room couch, waiting for me. “Hey! Can we talk?”
I narrow my eyes. “Okay . . .”
“Don’t look so scared.” She pats the couch, beckoning for me to sit. “Just wanted to see how you were doing.”
Translation: she saw me on the couch with Maya, and is now planning to make the next half hour of my life as excruciatingly awkward as possible. Pretty sure this is going to end with Mom saying the word condom. Can’t wait to hit this exciting new low point.
I settle in cross-legged at the opposite end of the couch. “I’m good.”
Mom doesn’t say anything. She just looks at me with this gentle, searching expression. Which—wow—may actually be even worse than talking about condoms.
I rush to fill the silence. “Everything’s good. The campaign is going really well. They’ve had at least three dozen volunteers every day this week. Maya and I did a shift in Dunwoody. It was good—”
“Great!” Mom says.
“Great,” I repeat.
God. Why? Why are we doing this?
“I’m so glad you’re having fun with this,” Mom says, “and I really am so proud of you, Jamie. Canvassing a handful of times—that alone is incredible, but to have sustained that effort for so long now . . .”
“If we get Rossum elected, it’s worth it.”
“Right.” Mom pauses. “Okay, here’s the thing.”
“Uh-oh.”
“Nothing bad! You’re not doing anything wrong, sweetie.” She looks at me. “I just wanted to make sure you’re going into this with eyes wide open. I’m scared you’re getting your hopes up about Rossum.”
“I’m not supposed to be hopeful?”
“No, of course you are! And there’s a lot to be hopeful about, for sure. But . . . I guess I just want to make sure you understand that progress may not always happen as quickly as we want it to. Our district has been red for a very long time. Overwhelmingly so—”
“Are you following the polls, though? Yesterday, the AJC was showing Rossum behind by less than four percentage points, which is barely outside the margin of error. And you should see the momentum at headquarters. It was packed—”
“And that’s great!” Mom smiles. “That’s all so promising, and you never know. I just want to make sure you’re emotionally prepared either way. No election is a guarantee.”
“I know that.”
“I don’t mean to be discouraging. I think what you and Maya are doing is amazing. I love how invested you are. I just don’t want you to get so invested that it breaks your heart.”
So invested that it breaks my heart.
I try to push the thought from my brain before it even lands. Is it possible to be too invested in a candidate? Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do? Commit one hundred percent?
But maybe I really am on track for heartbreak.
Maybe the person I’m too invested in isn’t Rossum.
“Jamie?” Mom asks.
“No, I know. I get it. I just think we have to believe it’s possible. Otherwise, what’s the point?”
“Just remember,” Mom says. “The fact that we even have a fighting chance is a win.”
I smile faintly. “Okay, Mom.”
She scoots closer, reaching out to pat my arm. “Anyway, I’m just happy you and Maya gave yourselves a night off for once.”
Aha. There it is.
“You two looked pretty cozy,” she adds.
“Mom, we’re not—”
“I know you’re not dating,” she says quickly. “I just think it’s good that you guys are also doing non-election-related things together. You should do more of that.”
“Okay . . .”
“I’m serious! You should do something just for fun, like the aquarium, or the nature center, or even just dinner and a movie.”
I blush. “It sure sounds like you think we’re dating.”
Mom laughs. “Well, I do think you guys would be cute together. Have you thought about asking her out?”
“Mom.”
“Just a