Chapter Six
Now
I think Christopher is swearing at me under his breath. He spent his career with threat assessments, security logistics, and tracking down potential dangers.
Now he’s in charge of interior design, china patterns, seating charts, floral arrangements, and a crew of culinary experts.
It is amusing that the sadist is now the one being tortured, in a way.
EvenKevin finds it amusing, although neither of us will admit it to Christopher right now.
We’re masochists, not stupid.
Yesterday, Elliot, Chris, and I visited Arlington National Cemetery for the wreath-laying ceremony. It was cold and rainy as a frontal system moved into the area, but no way in hell would I miss it. Tomorrow’s Inauguration Day is supposed to be sunny, but cold.
On InaugurationDay, I awaken excited, ready to get to work…and terrified right the fuck out.
In a few short hours, I’m going to be president.
We’ve been staying at Blair House for the past several days in preparation for the transition. By “we” I mean myself, Christopher, and Kevin, plus Elliot and his parents and sister, Leo, and Lauren, and Charles, Tory, and the kids, and Tory’s parents.
Kevin’s fatheris not invited to any of the private meals or gatherings we hold in the days leading up to this moment. Rumors have it he’s incensed over that slight, and that makes the three of us smile even more.
We have a cozy group breakfast before returning to our rooms to get ready for the day. When the Secret Service says it’s almost time to leave for the traditional coffee date at the White House, I’mnervous, but excited. Elliot and I exchange playful high-fives downstairs in the foyer, an act captured by the photographer, before we walk out to load in the limos to head over to the White House. There’s some formalities to go through, the traditional picture of the four of us together—Christopher and me, Fullmer and his wife.
It’s a sunny but brutally cold day, thirty-eight degrees and plummeting,with a biting wind that puts the windchill factor around eighteen and makes me glad Kev insisted I wear nude-colored tights today. Also, he bought me a good pair of gloves, and I’m actually wearing one of his scarves, but which is the perfect color for my dress and coat.
In this way, at least, he is always with me.
Outside at the White House, I note where Kevin and Lauren stand waiting and watchingwith Leo behind the photographers as we take the outside pictures before we take the inside ones, and I wish we could include Kev in all of them.
Heis the reason I’m here.
I mean, sure, Christopher is the one who brought us together, but it’s Kev’s brain and game plan that got me elected. His skill at interpreting poll results, scheduling my campaign appearances and interviews, crafting themessage—all of it.
And now the Secret Service knows us as Portia, Priest, and Prophet.
Kev turned out to be my Prophet, all right.
He stands watching with his arms crossed over his chest, and he looks handsome in his suit. I picked out his blue tie, which has some of the same colors in it that are in my blue dress.
Also, Christopher tied me up with both his tie and Kevin’s last night, whilemy two men went over every inch of my both with their hands and mouths and had me writhing and begging for them.
From the playful smirk Kev wears as he smooths his hand over his tie while he knows my gaze is on him, I’m sure that’s running through his mind, too.
When Christopher also smooths his tie, I know they’re in on it together.
The rat bastards.
Damn, do I love them.
We smile and playnice for the cameras with Fullmer and Jackson, Fullmer’s VP, and their wives, while in the wings there is a crew of hundreds prepped and ready to undertake the moving process as soon as the clock strikes noon.
I can’t wait.
We’ve already designated one of the bedrooms on the second floor of the residence as Kev’s room. Not officially, but yeah, officially. We have a workout room upstairs onthe third floor, and Kev is Chris’ best friend, as well as my chief of staff. So the easiest excuse is that he can work out here, with Chris, getting an early jump on their day.
The truth is, if we’re in the White House on any given night, more often than not Kevin will be sleeping in bedwithus.
