First Date (19 page)

“Wow, it sounds like you really love that. Is it something you’d like to do one day?”

“President Jackson’s son a
film editor
?” Jonathon said. “Not likely.”

“Why not? ‘Do what you love,’ right? That’s what my uncle has always told me.”

“Unfortunately, not everybody gets the freedom to do what he loves,” Jonathon replied, his voice sad. “I’m expected to go to law school and enter politics. Period.”

“What if you don’t?”

“There is no ‘what if.’ It’s not an option.”

“Well, that stinks,” Addy said.

“No kidding. Everyone thinks I’m so lucky to live in the White House and travel all over and meet famous people and all that. And yeah, it’s exciting, I guess. But it gets old sometimes. I am constantly told what to do and with whom to do it. And I’m never left alone for a minute.”

“Secret Service?”

“Them, the paparazzi, even lobbyists will come up to me, trying to get me to talk my dad into voting for their bills. It’s crazy. I’d give anything to just live like we did that day on the golf course,” he said. “That was great. I mean, sure, there were Secret Service guys in the woods, but they kept out of sight.”

“I barely even noticed them.”

“Neither did the paparazzi, apparently.” Jonathon sighed. “I’m not left alone for a minute. There’s always the possibility of potential assassins when you’re a member of the First Family.”

“Have there been any attempts since your dad has been in office?”

“I don’t know. My dad tries to keep Mom and my sister and me in the dark about the threats he receives. But we know. Being president isn’t the safest job in the world. And as much as I hate all that comes with being his son, I know my dad loves this country and he takes his job seriously. His passion is what will force me to follow in his footsteps, but it’s also what I love most about him.”

Addy teared up as she heard Jonathon’s soft voice praising his dad. Pity and envy battled in her heart. She wished her dad were still here to talk to, but she was glad she didn’t have to live with all the pressures Jonathon had.

“Addy? Are you still there? The phone didn’t die, did it?”

“No, sorry. I’m here. I was just thinking.”

“About what?”

Addy wasn’t ready to divulge her thoughts, but she didn’t want to hurt Jonathon’s feelings. “I was thinking that your dad should open a new position: White House editor. Forget the biased news stations putting their spin on what happens in there. Make it an inside job. You get a crew to film cabinet meetings, overseas trips, state dinners, and edit it all together for the public.”

“You know, that’s not a bad idea.” Jonathon chuckled. “Maybe I’ll pitch it to my dad once this show is over.” He paused. “What about you, Addy? What is it you want to do? Be a pro golfer?”

“I wish.” She laughed. “I’m not really sure. I know I want to go to an Ivy League school, but from there, I don’t know. I love English. I’ve thought about journalism or even law—but the research side, not the actual standing-in-front-of-huge-crowds-of-people side. I would hate that. Sitting home reading and writing, though . . . that would be great. With some occasional golfing breaks, of course.”

“So maybe we’ll end up in some classes at law school together then, huh?”

She wasn’t sure if his tone was mocking or serious. “I doubt we’d run in the same circles.”

“I’d like to,” he said, his voice soft, vulnerable. “I don’t have a lot of people I can just talk to, Addy. Everyone around me has expectations of what I should be or say or do. Except you . . . Thanks.”

Her heart started beating so fast she thought she would pass out. But she had no idea how to respond to him. She could talk academics, golf, even make small talk. Flirting, though, was not something she knew how to do.

Addy looked up to see the sign welcoming people to the Nashville International Airport.

“I’m sorry, Jonathon,” she said, her voice shaking from nervous excitement. “I’ll have to go—we’re at the airport. Talk to you later?”

“Sure,” Jonathon said, and Addy could hear the confusion in his voice. She felt bad, but she pressed End anyway.

She hoped he would still be interested despite her inept response.

Chapter 30

T
he hour-and-thirty-minute flight back home went by in a blur. Addy enjoyed the silence and spent most of the time with her eyes closed, replaying that last conversation with Jonathon in her mind. She hoped she’d get another chance to talk to him while she was in Tampa.

Grabbing her carry-on, Addy stood to leave. Since she and Mike were seated in the first-class cabin, Addy hoped to be the first off the plane.

Preteen girls rushed forward, crushing that hope. Three of them babbled on simultaneously. Addy had no clue what they were saying, but she caught her name, Jonathon’s, and something about being the greatest. The whole thing ended with pleas for an autograph. On their shirts. Addy felt strange, but she obliged as the girls turned their backs to Addy and she scrawled her name across their shoulders.

By the time she finished, Addy was surrounded.

“Can I have your autograph?”

“You’re a jerk. I can’t believe you’ve made it this far.”

“You look a lot prettier on TV than you do in person.”

Afraid to say anything, she just smiled, turned around, and walked forward.

Trapped in the tram going from the gates to the main terminal, Addy tried to answer as many questions as she could without breaching either contract or dignity.

“Yes, Jonathon is very handsome.”

“No, we haven’t kissed. We’re just friends.”

“Well, the other girls are certainly . . . enthusiastic.”

“Yes, I actually
am
that clumsy.”

Addy was exhausted before the doors even opened. But as she walked from the tram to the main floor of the airport, she saw a wall of people. Some faces were familiar, but most were not. Everyone was screaming. Dozens of signs were up. Addy’s face was plastered over most of them with slogans like Tampa Loves Addy and Jonathon Loves Addy 4-Ever. Camera crews from all the local television stations were present; reporters had their microphones out as they pushed their way through the crowd.

Mike shot a “gotta run—wouldn’t want us identified as relatives on camera” look and Addy was left alone to face the throng.

“Addy, how does it feel to be the most popular teenager on TV?”

“Addy, did you really beat up the other girls on the show?”

She shook her head at the reporters and sighed when she spotted Lexi shoving her way past the crowd.

“Look out! Best friend coming through.” Lexi crushed Addy in a hug.

The Lawrences were right behind Lexi. Mrs. Lawrence grabbed Addy’s arm and whispered, “Just let James take care of everything. We’ll run out to the car and wait for him there.”

Mr. Lawrence turned toward the cameras and began answering as many questions as he could, saying over and over how proud he was of Addy and how glad he was to have her back home again. “Tampa has come out to celebrate our favorite hometown girl,” Mr. Lawrence said. “Now we’re going to take her home for a
real
celebration.”

The crowd cheered and Addy felt a thrill—it was good to be home.

Chapter 31

D
ad’s got the boat all gassed up and ready.” Lexi had given Addy just enough time to lay her suitcase down in the living room. “You looked awful on the mountain trying to ski. We need to show America real skiing, and you need to redeem yourself.”

Addy laughed. “What are you, my manager?”

“It looks like you need one.” Lexi looked down at Addy, her hands on her hips. “You can’t go all the way if you have another boring week like that. At least mouth off again or something.”

“Lexi Summers, you know how terrible I felt about that.”

“I know. I’m just saying . . .”

“Since when do you want me to win? I thought you wanted me to come home.”

“What’s another three weeks away?” Lexi said. “I mean, you win this show, go to prom with Jonathon, and you can get me all kinds of connections. I need a basketball scholarship, you know.”

“You want me to win so you can get scholarships?” Addy laughed at her best friend.

“That may be the reason God has you on that show. To help me.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Addy pushed past Lexi and sat on the couch. “Boy, it’s nice to be home.” Addy glanced around and frowned. “Look at this place.”

“What?”

“The couch is faded; Uncle Mike’s recliner is about a hundred years old. The coffee table is all scratched up.”

“So?”

“I don’t know. Cameras are going to be in here tomorrow. It’s a little embarrassing.”

“Addy Davidson.” Lexi sat beside her friend. “Since when do you care what your house looks like?”

“Since I was on a TV show trying to win a date with a guy whose mom is an interior designer.”

“Who cares?”

“I thought you did.”

Lexi looked around. “How about we put up one of those pictures of dogs playing poker? Right there, over the couch.”

“Yes, Lexi.” Addy rolled her eyes. “That would really make this place look classy.”

“I know, right?” Lexi leaned back. “So skiing tomorrow?”

“Definitely.”

“What else?”

“Eric wants to get some shots at school.”

“Ooh, how about we go to the gym, and they could get some shots of us shooting hoops together?”

“Lex, you know I won’t play basketball with you.”

“Come on, just because you can’t win doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.”

“We’ll probably go to the golf course too.”

“And the beach,” Lexi said. “What if you snorkeled and had some of those underwater cameras with you? That would be cool.”

Addy agreed. Lexi might make a pretty good manager after all.

Chapter 32

A
-D-D-Y,” the cheerleaders chanted. The rest of the school, all 517, were sitting in the bleachers in the gym, chanting along with them. “A-D-D-Y.”

Eric and his crew were set up in front of the makeshift stage, and Addy followed Mr. Lawrence out. The crowd erupted in cheers and screams.

“Thank you all for coming.” Mr. Lawrence silenced the crowd with his hands. “I know what a sacrifice it was for you to have to miss class this morning.”

The crowd laughed.

“We have been watching
The Book of Love
for the last few weeks, and we’re so happy to have Addy Davidson representing Tampa Christian School.”

Everyone on the bleachers stood to applaud, and the cameras panned the audience, who clapped louder and waved “Hi, Moms” as the cameras passed by.

Mr. Lawrence waited for the crowd to sit, then announced the morning’s lineup: songs from the choir and the band, speeches by some of Addy’s classmates and teachers, and then a special presentation for Addy from the school.

“So sit right here, Addy”—Mr. Lawrence pointed to a chair on the stage—“and enjoy the show.”

Addy looked out over the crowd.
I never would have imagined this. Not in a million years. My whole school out for me? A month ago, most of them barely even knew my name
.

The morning flew by as her classmates sang and played for Addy. At the end, one of her favorite teachers came up to the podium.

“I have had the pleasure of being Addy’s math teacher for the past two years,” Mrs. Stevens began. “She is an amazing young woman. She works hard to keep up her grades, but she also works hard to be a good example to the other students.”

Addy blushed as Mrs. Stevens talked about how she tutored younger children in her free time, and how she and Lexi led a Bible study once a week.

Addy swallowed hard.
Great, all of America is going to know I lead Bible studies. I’ll get all kinds of hate mail from people who can’t stand Christians. Oh, God, just when I was starting to feel a little comfortable with all this. Help me
.

“I know you were nervous about going on
The Book of Love
.” Mrs. Stevens looked at Addy. “But I think we’d all agree that you are doing a fantastic job, and we are so, so proud of you.”

The crowd once again stood and cheered. Mrs. Stevens hugged Addy and, wiping tears from her eyes, whispered again how proud she was.

“We’re not done yet,” Mr. Lawrence yelled into the microphone, motioning for the students to sit. “Addy, we have one more surprise for you.”

He motioned for Addy to join him, and as she stood, Mrs. Hawthorne, the very overweight band director, was wheeled out on a dolly. A huge golden harp was in front of her, and she was dressed as a modest but comical cupid. Playing the song “The Book of Love” in a classical style, Mrs. Hawthorne was wheeled to the center of the gym while smaller “cupids,” children Addy recognized from the first and second grades, walked in behind her throwing petals from bright red baskets.

“Addy Davidson,” Mr. Lawrence said over the howling laughter of the students and faculty, “we have brought our very own cupid out here this morning just for you. You have all of our hearts, and we believe you’ll have Jonathon Jackson’s as well.”