The Longer The Fall by Aviva Gat (best new books to read txt) 📗

from Hunter, Madeline allowed herself to be whisked away to meet Mitt and his wife and they surely did have a lot in common, both being in the management consulting world, and being Republicans who supported abortion rights, human and gay rights, limiting greenhouse gas emissions and certain tax reforms. She spent a good part of the evening speaking with Mitt and several members of his fan club who followed him around the gallery that evening.

From there, she was introduced to other prominent Republicans—both politicians and the (mostly) men behind the scenes that ran the party. She’d exchanged business cards with the national party leader who suggested they have drinks at the next convention and she spoke with Mitch McConnell, the Senate’s Majority Whip, who offered her his mentorship should she ever run for office. A few other leaders promised their endorsements in her future run for chairman to lead the New York Young Republican National Federation, leaving Madeline sure her first election was already won.

When the evening ended, she was full of adrenaline, but her stomach was empty as there hadn’t been time for her to browse the giant buffet that had lined two sides of the gallery and had been constantly refilled with new refreshments throughout the night. Even as the gallery emptied out, Madeline was still mingling, shaking hands and passing out the last of her business cards to new friends that she promised to have lunch with. She was one of the last people still in the gallery, along with the event organizers who she had thanked and complimented for the successful evening, and Hunter, who was standing by himself in the front corner of the room, holding a glass of wine and watching everybody leave. He had a pleasant smile plastered on his face, but to the other attendees he could have easily been invisible.

Madeline spotted him and immediately said her last goodbyes and hurried as fast as she could in her nude heels to reach him. When she did, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. He still had the glass of wine in his hand, which he held awkwardly as he rubbed Madeline’s back with his free hand. His kiss was distracted, it wasn’t like the kisses Madeline usually received in return when she kissed him. His lips were flaccid, yet stiff. His arms felt like he was hugging a whale instead of being tight around her. “I’m starving!” Madeline said when she pulled her lips from his. Let’s stop somewhere on the way home. What do you feel like?”

“I’m not hungry,” he responded. “I got enough of the buffet.”

“Fine, so I’ll just pick up something quick,” Madeline responded, grabbing Hunter’s wine glass and taking a sip before setting it down on a nearby table. She had been nursing one glass of the wine for the entire night, making sure she did not get drunk but still looked social and fun. She pulled Hunter’s hand and led him out of the gallery toward a pizza place nearby. There were a few other party attendees at the pizza place, sitting together and already eating. They invited Madeline to join them, offering extra slices and sliding on the benches to make room. Madeline looked at Hunter, before declining their offers and buying herself a slice of pizza to go.

With her pizza in hand, Madeline hailed a cab and led Hunter in while telling the driver her address. During the ride, Madeline devoured her pizza, wishing she had ordered a second slice, while reliving the evening for Hunter. She said things like “You wouldn’t believe who I spoke to!” or “Guess what so-and-so said!” or “Did you see how many important people were there?” Hunter nodding politely, listening to her stories and chuckling when appropriate. This time Madeline paid for the cab, with no protests from Hunter, who followed her up to her apartment.

Madeline was exhausted. She pulled off her shoes and slipped out of her dress, without noticing Hunter gently taking off the suit that she had daydreamed about earlier. She brushed her teeth, wiped the makeup off her face and crept into her bed, waiting for Hunter to join her. He took a while, first getting himself a drink in the kitchen and showering off before he finally made it. All Madeline wanted to do was snuggle up against him and fall asleep. Her brain was exhausted as was her body from standing in her heels all evening. “Did you have fun?” she asked, her eyes already closed as she nuzzled up to his arm.

“Maddy,” he said. She suddenly realized it was the first thing he had said since they left the gallery. “I can’t be a part of your world.”

“What do you mean? You’re great. You did great,” she responded, her eyes still closed and her head already drifting off to dreamland.

“Maddy, did you notice I was the only black person in the room?”

“I’m sure that’s not true,” she said, her head starting to drift back to being awake.

“It is true. Do you think that was a coincidence?”

“Nobody cares about skin color.” Madeline opened her eyes and lifted her head slightly. “Nobody there was paying attention to that.”

Hunter let out a huff. “I can’t believe those people are your friends. That you want to be like them. They are all racist, self-centered, white supremacists!”

“What? Where did that come from? They are not, at all! You’re used to meeting my friends. You know that’s not true. You just have a chip on your shoulder and no matter what you’ll be offended.” It wasn’t the first time Madeline and Hunter fought. They had the same fights as all other couples, from getting angry when someone was late—which happened with long commutes on the Subway—or when one of them said something that was misunderstood. They had even had a few fights that had touched on the issue of