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“Oh, please!” Iris cried. “Why? What’s the worst that can happen?”
Bering gaped at her. “Iris, are you serious? If Mammoth Tracks builds a mine in the valley, wildlife habitat will be devastated. They will pollute the Opal River, ruin our air quality and—”
“Stop, stop, stop! I’m not talking about that. I get it. Mammoth Tracks bad. Must be stopped. But why does Tag have to ruin his life in the process? You guys are his family, can’t you people see what this is doing to him?”
Tag stared at his little sister, love squeezing his heart so hard his knees went soft. He needed to sit. He sank onto the dining chair nearest him.
“Ally sees it. Don’t you, Ally?”
He tried to meet her gaze, but she looked away. The gesture was like a kick to his already bruised and battered spirit.
She answered with a soft “It doesn’t matter what I think, Iris.”
“I don’t agree. But we’ll circle back to that. Because first, Tag, I’m going to ask you a question and if you can answer with a resounding, no-hesitating, all-caps yes—and promise you mean it a hundred and ten percent—I’ll shut up.”
“Iris, don’t—”
“Yes, Iris, do,” Ally encouraged. “Please.”
Iris looked him square in the face. “Do you want to be a senator?”
It took effort to swallow the negative answer. How did his sister know this about him? How did she seem to know everything before he did? He managed a more diplomatic Ally-esque response. “I… It doesn’t matter what I want, Iris. What matters is what needs to be done.”
Shay bolted to her feet. “No, it doesn’t! I mean, it does matter, Tag. If what Iris is suggesting is true, it means everything.”
He shook his head. “Shay, I don’t think you should be jumping around in your condition.”
She grinned and rolled her eyes. “Answer the question.”
Bering glowered from the end of the table. “Yes, cousin, answer the question.”
“I don’t…”
Iris scowled. “If you say you don’t know, I will hurt you.”
“Fine. No, I don’t. I don’t want to be a senator.” Saying the words felt like a million-pound boulder had been lifted from his chest. It was like he could breathe for the first time in weeks. With the exception of Iris, his family stared in shock and horror. And, just as quickly, the boulder shifted back into place, applying all its pressure.
“But, I’m sure I’ll get used to it.”
Iris huffed. “No, you won’t. And it’s ridiculous to try. Everything about this campaign is making you miserable. And it’s turning you into someone you’re not.”
“Tag…?” Bering sighed. “Why didn’t you say something if this is how you felt?”
“I couldn’t let you down, Bering. Any of you. Don’t worry. I know I’m committed. Maybe I can serve one term and then we can find someone else—”
“I’ll do it!” Hannah leaped up out of her seat. “Drop out, Tag, and let me run. I’m jealous that you’re doing it, anyway. I want to do it. Phew! That felt good.”
“Hannah?” Shay cried.
“I would never have taken it away from him, Shay.” She turned toward Tag. “But, Tag, if you bow out, I will run. And I will win. And if I don’t, it won’t be because I didn’t try or because I didn’t want it.”
Tag couldn’t help it; he chuckled. Emily was staring at Hannah. Bering looked as shocked as Shay, who was shaking her head.
Emily said, “I think you’d be fantastic, Hannah. And I’d love to be your campaign manager. I don’t have political experience, but I know I can do it.”
Hannah looked elated. “Emily, no one could do it better. We’ve already proven we make a great team. You’re hired.”
Iris was the only one who didn’t appear surprised. She grinned, flashed Tag a meaningful look and faced Ally. “Speaking of jealousy—Ally, are you jealous of Kendall?”
“Um…”
“It’s okay, you can say it. I already told him.”
Ally’s gaze slid tentatively toward Tag, and he felt the tiniest glimmer of hope spark inside him.
