The weight of the political world was heavy on Chris Cuomo when he realised in a matter of hours that he would be one of the primary faces of the world he thought he loved so much.
Maybe pop would've been proud of me.
For a moment, he hoped they'd lose the election, that he wouldn't be the person that would be the face of these meetings, messages, what America was standing on.
"Hey handsome," an angelic voice tore him from his thoughts, eyes shifting from the TV to her face, "what can I get for you?"
Chris looked up meeting her eyes. A gorgeous shade of grey looking back at him, making him sit up as he watched her lean one hand on the table ready to take his order.
"Uh... just a coffee, please," Chris nodded, satisfied with having some caffeine in his system that would surely not calm his nerves.
But the woman made no move, instead, her eyes remained on him. She frowned knowing he would need more than that to sustain himself.
"You sure? You're gonna be here awhile," she said, tilting her head to the side. An air of innocence surrounded her, one that made Chris attracted to her in a way he couldn't explain.
Maybe it was because this world was so far removed from the one he was being thrust into.
Chris arched his brow, looking up at her wondering how she knew he was hiding here, "How do you-"
"It's my job to know," she winked, smiling down at his surprised features, "you like burgers?" She asked, to which he nodded, "great, I'll be right back,"
Chris watched her go, smiling and laughing with a few other customers as she made her way back to the kitchen.
His eyes moved to the TV when she was out of sight, groaning at the election coverage. If only he could escape from it. No, if only he could go back and take his name out of the running.
"Cheer up, it's not all bad, Mr. Cuomo," she said, coming back with his coffee; his burger wouldn't be too far behind.
She knew a tortured soul when she saw one. It was half her job to talk men like him back from a ledge.
"Yeah... well, I just don't think I knew what I was getting into," Chris sighed, running his fingers through his hair that was already messed and loose from the product he put in it that morning.
She nodded, looking back over her shoulder before she called out.
"Hey Jim! I'm going on break," she called to the man at the counter who nodded at her before she sat down in the booth across from Chris, "why don't you eat your food and tell me all about it?"
Another staff member set the burger in front of him and Chris' mouth watered at the sight of it. It only now set in how hungry he was.
So Chris did. He ate arguably one of the best burgers in the world and told her all about what he was feeling.
"I knew it was pressure, of course, it's the Vice Presidency," Chris chuckled, wiping his hands on the napkin, "but it's just... it's all real now,"
There was something liberating about spilling everything to a complete stranger.
She nodded, she knew what he meant. The idea of something often seemed better than the reality. It's how she felt when she moved to D.C. but she had never felt more alone.
"It's all terribly boring, I'm sorry," Chris chuckled, shaking his head and sitting back in his seat to cast another glance over her face.
"No! Not at all, sorry," she said, realising she must've looked bored for him to assume such nonsense, "I was just thinking about what you said,"
"Tel me about you... I've been talking for awhile now, Ms," Chris trailed off, realising in the twenty minutes they had been talking that he didn't know her name.
She smiled once again and he couldn't help the feeling inside of him when he saw it. She was gorgeous, completely breath taking.
"Grace Hughes," she replies before she starts to tell him of her own failings in making it in D.C. and why she was now waitressing and breaking her back because of it.
Chris listened intently, feeling bad that she had suffered so much through college and afterwards since she had graduated the year before.
***
They had spoken for hours before CNN announced that the election had been called for Frank Dean and Chris. He felt sick all over again.
The diner was empty and locked up, which was a good thing when Chris' phone rang with the President Elects number displayed on his screen.
She watched him as he spoke, feigning his excitement for his new role but she knew he wanted the ground to swallow him whole.
Once he hung up, he turned to her again, her smile making him feel a little better than he had.
"Where are you off to?" She asked, knowing Frank wasn't from D.C. and they had to travel for his victory speech.
"Philly... not too far," he mused, watching her carefully as she nodded and took out her notepad, scribbling something on it before she handed him the paper.
"Maybe I'll see you later, Mr. Vice President Elect," she said, grey eyes holding his blue ones. He found it impossible to look away, even if he knew he had to.
Grace walked away as Chris slid out of the booth. He looked for her once more but she was gone. Then he was on his way to where a car was waiting for him.
***
Grace had been surprised when her phone rang a little before midnight. It was an unsaved number and she knew instantly that he was calling her.
"I didn't think you'd call," she whispered, standing in front of Chris, their chests just inches from each other.
This wasn't something she would usually do. Meet a man, never mind one older than her, and suddenly be so close to sleeping with him.
But there was something about Chris.
"I didn't think I would either," Chris swallowed thickly, he was nervous, and he didn't know why, he had done this countless times, "how old are you?"
There was something about Grace that made him nervous, in a good way. It was more excitement for what would happen with the woman he had only met ten hours ago.
He hadn't stopped thinking about her all day. Even during his speech, she was on his mind and he hoped she was thinking about anything else but the politician she had met.
"Twenty- four, why?" She answered, having done her own research on the man standing before her.
He was forty- six, unmarried, no children. There was nothing but his political career tying him back and she was relieved at that fact.
Chris was relieved. He hadn't even thought about her age until he was alone in the car after he left her.
"I was scared you were younger," he mumbled, moving closer to her again. Their chests touching whenever one of them took a breath.
Grace couldn't help it, she reached her hands out to his chest and shivered at the feeling of the heat from his skin under her hands.
"Mmm... kiss me," she smiled, fully sure of her choices and wanting him in more ways than one that night.
Chris didn't need to be told twice, she was in his arms. Lips on hers as she gripped at his overcoat, pushing it off her shoulders.
Chris' hands worked to get her undressed just as hers did. His mind immediately went to how cold it was in her apartment. He found himself wondering if she had any heat at all in the small apartment.
"Jump," Chris instructed, cupping his hands under her thighs until she was sitting on his waist and he moved to the bedroom.
Lying her down on the bed, Chris crawled on top of her, littering her smooth skin with soft kisses. Goosebumps rose in their wake, her hands coming to his shoulders, gripping them and waiting for him to kiss her again.
Grace let moans of pleasure fly from her lips, her grip on the man tightening as he played her like a fiddle. She was drunk on him and it was only their first meeting.
Chris certainly wasn't her type. She hated the macho, I'll take care of you man. But Chris, he made her want to give into his every wish with a simple look.
Chris' whole world was about the change, but if he was sure about one thing, this woman was going to stay around.
And as Grace locked eyes with him, a small smile on her lips that he returned, she was certain she wanted this as much as he did.
"Are you sure about me?" Chris asked, wanting to give the woman an out if he was too old or completely wrong for her.
Grace was silent, brushing her fingers through his curls and smiling at him. She could see a future with this man. She could see everything with this man.
Nothing was holding her back. Taking it slow in relationships had only proven wrong for her in the past. Chris was different. She was sure of it.
"I'm sure about you," she replied, kissing him again and pulling him down even further to her, "I'm sure about this,"
Chris allowed himself to get comfortable at her words. That was enough for him.
As they kissed, Grace and Chris knew that despite meeting a little over twelve hours ago, they had met their match.