Gideon was almost 40 years old, but here he was, texting with a man like they were both seventeen. Zak was just amazing, and they’d talked about everything--both their careers, family, favorites, good times and bad, and the fact that he could do it in Yiddish with an American politician? Wow. He felt like he’d known him his whole life, they’d clicked so well he’d nearly missed his own flight to steal a little more time with him, and to end his visit with a kiss.
Despite all the tourist attractions, in all his years singing professionally, Gideon had never actually been to Las Vegas. But he’d been texting non stop with the handsome congressman from New York, the one he’d watched tear up while he sang, the one who’s smile made Gideon feel like a teenager again. He hadn’t stopped thinking about their kiss since he’d gotten out of the car, and he’d managed to convince his manager, Rimon, to let him take his few days off in Vegas, to see the sights and get to watch Zak debate. At the gala, the way he’d used his words, even in simple conversation? Gideon couldn’t wait to see him in his element.
All his staffers were around him, prepping him with a volley of questions, LGBT rights, the opioid crisis, homelessness, military spending, how to fix the department of education. Even the hypothetical questions, Zak was throwing the words intended to trip him up back with such practiced ease, his heart was beating out of his chest. Oh, this was a crush for the ages, this was. T minus ten minutes til he needed to be ready to go out on stage, and Gideon managed to snag a moment alone. He was holding both of Zak’s hands now, smiling at him. “You’re amazing. I’ve said it maybe twenty times already but you are. You’re going to make America realize it doesn’t have any ot’her choice, you’re t’he best t’hing for t’hem all.” He was confident, even this early, that Zak Cohen was going to be president, and he had always wanted to see the inside of the White House.
