“What would be your single greatest focus if elected to the Senate?”
Lexi returns and hands me a cup of coffee.
“Thanks,” I say, taking a sip as she sits down next to me.
“I don’t have just one focus, but I would say educational reform is very important to me. We can do more for our students and teachers.”
“And what about Mr. Titan’s accusation that you’d do your father’s bidding in the Senate?”
I furrow my brow with concern. “He said that?”
Matt gives me an innocent look. “Well, not in those exact words…”
“What were his exact words?”
Flipping to another page in his notebook, Matt reads the answer. “Stan Preston wants his daughter to go to Washington to get special favors.”
My stomach clenches nervously, but I smile. “Mr. Titan isn’t in a position to know what my father wants. My father is ready to retire, plain and simple.”
“Do you feel you’ll have an edge with female voters?” Matt asks.
This interview is all over the place, but I roll with it. “I don’t want women to vote for me just because I’m a woman, but I think if women know what I stand for, they’ll realize I’m the best choice.”
“You said in an interview that Mr. Titan is using his good looks. Do you think women will vote for him because they find him attractive?”
My cheeks warm as I take another sip of coffee.Whyhad I mentioned his looks?
“I can’t speak to what women will base their votes on,” I say, “but I think Mr. Titan will find out it takes depth to make it to the end of a race like this.”
“You’re suggesting he doesn’t have depth?”
I shrug. “We’ll let the voters decide.”
Matt asks me a few more questions before Lexi says we have to go. The bus is scheduled to leave in ten minutes so we can make our evening rally stop on time. We say good-bye to Matt and then walk back to the bus.
“I hear Sonny Solomon is about to drop out,” she says in a low tone. “He wants to tell his closest supporters first. Announcing tonight.”
I sigh softly and think about what that means for me. An uncontested primary means it’s down to Jude and me once Sonny drops out. Jude would have won, anyway. And this way, he won’t have a victory party and won’t pick up as much momentum.
“All right,” I say to Lexi.
“You look tired,” she says.
“I am.” We step onto the air-conditioned bus, and I slip off my shoes. We have a two-hour drive ahead of us. “I think I’ll take a nap.”
The bus is outfitted with a small bedroom in back. I lie down on top of the covers and fade to sleep quickly.
The buzzof an incoming text on my phone wakes me up. I was out cold. It takes me a few seconds to remember I’m on my campaign bus on the way to a rally. My phone is on the bed next to me, and I pick it up.
Justin Timberlake: Overconfident? I’m the humblest guy I know.
I shake my head and smile as I write back.
Me: Uh-huh. So humble you make sure your forearms are visible at all times.
Justin Timberlake: My forearms? If I wanted to show off, that is NOT the body part I’d showcase.
Me: What is, then?
