Charlotte’s hunger ebbed, her attention entirely captured now. Sutton fucking Spencer.
No longer an adorably awkward graduate student, but an adorably less awkward… professor? She stood at the podium, poised and somehow endearing.
“Growing up, my family’s standing gave me a very privileged life experience, with a deep appreciation for academics and literature in particular. Clearly.” She grinned, sweetly and self-deprecatingly.
Charlotte felt like she was flashing back, right back in time, to that same smile. It made her smile, even as it made her heart twinge.
It did that, sometimes. Whenever she thought of Sutton.
“I’ve never been in the same position as Zeke, with a personal connection as to why we so desperately need more resources like these in the community. My life has been very fortunate, and, perhaps even more fortunately, I was given the tools to see that what I had was a gift not granted to many others.”
Charlotte stared from the back of the crowd, transfixed. Even as she concentrated on every single word, her mind couldn’t help starting to whir, a series of thoughts forming in rapid succession.
What was Sutton doinghere? Why was she in D.C.? What happened to Manhattan? Or even Boston?
Did she still blush? Was she still shockingly bold? Was she still best friends with Regan?
Was she still married?
All too soon, Sutton gave one final smile to the crowd before stepping away, riding the wave of their applause. Charlotte distractedly joined in, even as she craned her neck to see where Sutton exited to.
Unfortunately, even in her own heels, she wasn’t tall enough to see—and what would she evendoif she had seen where she went? Charlotte shook her head at herself, taking in a deep breath and drawing back her shoulders.
She hadn’t seen Sutton in over a decade. She didn’t know anything about the woman Sutton had turned into. There was nothing between them at all.
Charlotte repeated that to herself, trying to actually make herself believe it—normally, it wasn’t that difficult for her to do—as she turned back toward the refreshment table.
Sutton Spencer had nothing to do with Charlotte. Charlotte had had… feelings… for her, years and years ago, and Sutton hadn’t wanted to continue their friendship once she was aware of them. It had been admittedly painful for quite some time for Charlotte.
But when push came to shove and it was either come out or continue with her plan to remain low-key until she’d gained far more popularity in politics, not to mention wait for times to change to become even more accepting, Charlotte had waited. Sutton had gone to Rome and continued on with her life, and Charlotte had continued with hers.
It was that simple.
“Simple,” she repeated to herself as she shook her shoulders and walked toward the refreshments table.
And if she cut her eyes across the room to keep an eye on the people milling about as she put a few helpings on a plate, then… that was just human nature, wasn’t it?
It was normal to be curious.
And Charlotte was a more curious person than most.
“Senator Thompson! You came!”
Charlotte hadn’t actually met him, but she knew that the owner of that enthusiastic greeting was the man who had just spoken, Zeke. She quickly swallowed the bite of the sandwich she was eating and put the plate back down as she turned, her professional smile fixed in place.
He was already reaching out to shake her hand as she turned to face him, and she accepted. It was a very, very enthusiastic handshake, she noted, unsurprised.
“I did, of course,” she replied. “As soon as I heard about the event, I knew I’d be attending,” she said, finding amusement in her non-lie. He didn’t know, of course, that she’d only heard of the event less than an hour ago. Softening into a more sincere tone as he released her hand, she informed him, “After hearing you speak, I can see why my grandmother believed in all of this.”
He nodded. “Of course we have other donors, but without the graciousness of the Thompson Foundation, I’m not entirely sure we’d be here. I was so grateful for your continued support this year.”
The sympathetic look he gave her made her aware that he was referring to her grandmother’s death and how she’d only just signed off on the donation to Zeke’s proposal the week before she’d died.
She managed a smile. “Anything that my grandmother signed off on will have continued support. You don’t have to worry about that.”
“I’m so, so grateful to hear that.” Zeke’s eyes lit up as he peered over Charlotte’s shoulder, then gestured quickly, waving at someone as he spoke, “The Zones also wouldn’t be anywhere near what they are right now if it wasn’t for this brilliant woman either!”
“Zeke, please stop introducing me to people like that,” Sutton’s exasperated whisper registered before Charlotte shifted to face her. “It’s embarrassing.”