“I’ve spent a good chunk of the past six months trying to tear her down,” she says. “More than that, if you count ever since she declared.”
“I know.”
“I’m your ex-wife.”
I chuckle. “I know.”
Another moment passes. “What about nepotism laws?”
“You’re my ex-wife, not my sister.”
“You might aswell have been married to a sister, for the last year we were together,” she playfully snarks.
“Uh,ouch.Wow.I might have to write you up for insulting your boss like that. Keep that up and you’ll find yourself my deputy chief, then you’llneverhave a moment’s peace.”
She snickers, then sighs before going silent.
I wait her out because I know my girl. Yes, I love Shae, but in this one way,Lauren will always come first because of the years and life between us.
“I still hate her,” she grumbles a couple of minutes later.
I nuzzle her forehead and don’t bother hiding my smile. “I know.”
She finally looks up at me, those hazel eyes of hers piercing through me, searching. “You’re not the same man you were two years ago.”
“No, I’m not.”
“I mean it, Kev.” She plays with my tie, fussingwith it. “Not that it’s bad. It’s not. It’s…sexier.”
“Uh, thank you?”
She lightly flicks my chin as I snicker.
“I’m serious,” she says as she meets my gaze again. “It’s a good look on you. Take-charge sort of vibe.”
“Laur and Kev time?”
She nods.
I know in this space that we are alone, have privacy, and most likely aren’t under observation by hidden cameras or mics.
“Behind closed doors,”I admit, “as far as our relationship goes, Chris is in charge of me. But when it comes to work, one ofmyconditions was that she had to listen to me and do what I said if she wanted to win. And that once she did win, chief of staff would be a powerful position. So I guess, in that way, I am definitely in charge. I have to be because ShaeLynn Samuels isnota shrinking wallflower.”
None of thatis technically a lie, even though it infers I negotiated the terms of my duties and responsibilities in a way that I did not.
It also infers there’s not a relationship where there is one.
Yes, I know tapping Lauren for either position is a risky venture, because it means Shea and I will have to be doubly careful around her. I’m good with that risk, because if it’s not Lauren in one of thosetwo roles, I will have to winnow through resumes of people I really don’t think are the best-qualified for the job.
I want the best for my girl.
Laurenisthe best.
That she is also and always will be my girl, too, in different ways, doesn’t escape me. I also want what’s best for her—working for this White House will be best for her.
She tucks her face against my neck again and another pausecommences. I know the champagne will hit her soon, because it always did. I won’t hesitate to press that to my advantage to secure heryes, if I need to.
“How’s she going to react to me being a Republican?”
