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Brendan blinked. Then his fingers laced through hers. For a moment, panic surged through Sonia, the way it had when Brendan had held her hand earlier in the evening. She took a deep breath, letting their fingers stay connected. Slowly, the anxiety subsided.
Brendan was studying her through half-closed eyes. “You’d probably tell me to show up for my family. Or maybe you’d say that rehearsal dinners are dumb and I shouldn’t bother. Diana told me what you think of weddings — ‘pageantry and bullshit.’” Sonia couldn’t help smiling. “Actually, I have no idea what you’d say.”
She let a moment pass before she answered. “Bren, I’m not the person to come to for advice. If you asked me whether I’d put my career first or my family, my answer would be my career. Every time. With the exception of my grandmother.”
Brendan gaped at her. Finally, he let out a low whistle. “Damn, that’s cold.” Sonia flinched, and his arm tightened around her shoulders, his hand closing more firmly on hers. “Sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“It’s okay,” she said quietly. “Our situations are different.”
“Did something happen?” Brendan’s voice turned gentle. “It looked like only your grandma came to the Yale graduation. You said your parents would throw these parties—”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” The words came out sharp and brittle. Sonia took a shuddery breath. “Anyway, we were talking about you. I know you’re close to your family. Ian and Diana said so.”
“I guess.” Brendan exhaled. “I love them, don’t get me wrong. I’d do a lot for them. But they don’t — actually know me.”
Instinctively, Sonia moved closer to him, letting her hip brush his side. Brendan’s fingers tightened on hers.
“Everyone will expect me to play the good boy this weekend. And with Ian — things have changed. Do Ian and Di really need me at their rehearsal dinner? I’m fucking deluding myself if I think it’ll fall apart without me.”
“Hey,” Sonia said softly. “That’s all you mean to your family? That you keep things together?”
Brendan looked bewildered. Suddenly, he let her go. Moving to stand in front of her on the sidewalk, he grabbed both her hands.
“Would you believe me if I told you that I’m dreading this wedding?”
Something about Brendan squeezing her hands, looking at her so desperately, made Sonia’s throat tighten. “Yes. But I don’t believe that you want to miss it.”
His grip loosened. “Just the rehearsal dinner,” he muttered. “It would be better if I didn’t come. I should give Ian his space…I didn’t for so long.”
Sonia felt a strange sharpness in her chest, right where Brendan had drawn the X over her heart.
“I will say this,” she said slowly. “If you stay in politics, there’ll be a million policy meetings in your future. A million speeches and fundraisers and whatever the hell you do. Your brother and Diana will only get married once.”
Brendan let out a long breath. “That’s true.”
“Do youwantto stay in politics?”
He chuckled briefly. “Most of the time, I’m dreaming of running for Congress. Maybe governor, someday.”
“President?” Sonia teased.
“Why not?”
“I’d vote for you.”
“Thanks, sunshine. That means a lot.” Dropping her hands, he put his arm around her again and they began to walk. “But lately, I’ve been fantasizing about getting fired. It’s a lot of pressure.”
“Why don’t you just quit?” Sonia demanded.
“Never.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “You really are a piece of work.”
Brendan started laughing too. “Takes one to know one.”
The Metro station sign rose from the sidewalk, waiting like a sentinel in front of a set of escalators leading underground. Stopping beside the square pillar, Brendan kissed her. The caress of his lips buzzed through her body.
“Keep the jacket for now.” He cupped her cheek.
