AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Sonia doubted it. But with a sudden, annoying pang, she realized they hadn’t made their arrangement exclusive.
Quickly, she texted.Tomorrow night. Hope you can handle me.
A smiley face appeared on the screen. For some reason, that cheery little smile made her more nervous than anything he might have said.
When he followed up with his address, she added impulsively,Are we seeing anyone else right now?
This time, there was no reply.
Slowly, Sonia got ready for bed. She fluffed her pillows and blew out the candle, leaving a curl of woodsy smoke behind. Pulling up the covers, she thrust one leg out to stay cool.
When Brendan’s response came, all it said wasNo.
It was enough to help her drift off to sleep.
13
Wednesday
Four days before the wedding
2:24 p.m.
Asea of reporters waved their microphones, scribbling notes as Senator Wilson spoke.
The press conference was taking place on the Senate “Swamp Site” outside the Capitol, where the ground was always a little squelchy, rain or shine. Leafy trees bordered the paved area where the conference was set up.
Brendan stood behind Senator Wilson, keeping his face attentive as the Senator used the talking points Brendan put together. But the sun beat down, sticking his collar to his neck, and his growling stomach reminded him he’d worked through lunch. Normally, the high of these press events wrapped him up completely.
As the interviews finished and the reporters dispersed, Senator Wilson clapped Brendan on the back. “You never fail me. Coming up with the perfect statements at the last minute…I don’t know how I managed before you joined my staff.”
Brendan smiled. “Always here to help.”
Wilson eyed Brendan shrewdly as they walked toward the Senate office building. “Very impressive that you’ve gotten where you are at your age. You’re, what, twenty-seven?”
“Twenty-five.”
“Of course. You started campaigning for me while you were in college. Gosh, what was that — five years ago? Time flies.” Wilson leaned close, confidentially. “I’ve told you this before, Brendan, but I’ll say it again. You can go far. Ever thought about running for Congress? Or do you want to stay behind the scenes?”
Brendan laughed. “I’d like to run eventually, Senator. But not while you’re in office. I wouldn’t try to compete with you.”
Wilson shrugged. “There’s room for us both in the Senate Chamber. We work well together. I say run for the House first; we could use you there. People are ready to see young faces. Rack up a few more years of experience, make sure everyone in your home district knows who you are, and you’ll be ready. You’ve got the notes for my 5:30 call?”
Fuck.What call? He’d forgotten. He’d have to check his computer when he got back to the office.
“Ready and primed,” Brendan said cheerfully.
“That’s the way. And Brendan, on Friday afternoon, I need you to take my policy meetings from 2 p.m. on. I have to go back to Connecticut to take care of some things that came up. I have every confidence that you’ll represent me well.”
Brendan stiffened. “I’m sorry, Senator. I won’t be able to make that happen. My brother’s wedding is in Connecticut this weekend, probably not so far from where you’ll be. I put in the vacation request months ago.”
“Right, of course. But the wedding’s on Sunday, isn’t it?”
Unlike some Members, who needed their staff to assume total responsibility for keeping track of their calendars, let alone anyone else’s, Senator Wilson remembered these details.
“Yes, it is. But we’re having events throughout the weekend. The family’s coming in on Friday, and we’ve got the rehearsal dinner that night. I’ll be in the office early Friday morning, leaving around ten-thirty to drive up.”
“How about rescheduling for Saturday night?” the senator asked, as if the dinner were under Brendan’s control.
