“I’m in the hospital one damn day, and you’re sleeping late, Sir?”
I close my eyes and break down in tears even as I laugh. “You’re an awfully brave boy when there’s a damn phone between me and your ass.”
“Yes, Sir,I am.”
“Love you, Kev.”
He sighs. “I love you, too, Chris, but I’m not dying. That’s what I’m calling for. Doc said my blood work still looks good. No sign of infection. They’re going to let me try water by mouth today to see how I tolerate it. Maybe clear liquids and broth tomorrow.”
I don’t care that I’m crying. Shae hugs me from behind as I do. “You’re in so much fucking trouble. Don’t youdareever put yourself in front of a bullet again, do you hear me?”
“Yeah, well, nice to know I’m missed.” I can hear him smiling.
“I am going to fucking beat that gorgeous ass of yours when you’re feeling better.”
“Oooh, promise?”
He’s really okay. If he’s joking around, hehasto be okay. Emotion squeezes my throat nearly shut. “Please don’t ever scare me like that again, baby. I can’t takeit. I can’t lose you.”
“I’m not dying, Sir. I promise.”
I sniffle back tears. “Let me speak to Leo, please.”
“Okay, here he is. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Leo comes on the line. “There, see? I didn’t lose him overnight.”
“Damn good thing.” I rub at my eyes. “I’ll be in once I get a shower and wake up. Thank you for this.”
“Hey, it’s okay. If Shae is going to stay close to home today, whatI’ll do is go home after you get here, then come in again tonight for the night shift.”
“Thank you so much. I love you, dude.”
Leo laughs. “Yeah, well, I love you, too, Chris, but I’m spoken for in that way.”
“I know.” I manage a laugh. “And he’s a lucky guy.”
* * * *
I don’t have to worry about Congressman Markos making another attempt to visit Kev in the hospital, because his detail sendsan agent to the man’s office that morning and informs him he isn’t allowed in the hospital.
Which enrages the man, but it doesn’t make it into the media, so I can only assume he doesn’t want anyone to know that little factoid and ask questions about it.
It might make him look bad, after all.
Kev heals, and less than two weeks after he was shot, and three days after they let him start eatingregular food, he’s discharged via ambulance straight to the White House, where I accompany him the entire way.
Fuck what the world thinks. They’ve kept it out of the papers that Kev was the target because they’re still trying to find outwhy. For now, the world thinks the heroic chief of staff and best friend nearly died trying to protect the First Spouse.
I think if Kev was going to run forPOTUS he’d win just from this alone.
Because of all the obvious reasons, I’ll have to be careful once Kev’s brought home from the hospital. While he was still in the hospital, I personally went to the townhouse with John, Jack, and other agents to get everything Kevin would need for a long-term stay, and to clean out the fridge.
There’s no reason for him to be alone at the townhouse. Not whenwe’re his family.
Once he’s situated in our bed in the master bedroom, I drop it on him that he’s now a full-time resident of the White House. When Kev tries to protest, to remind me of the optics, I play dirty—I bring the kids and Shae into our bedroom and let them carefully pile onto the bed with him, give him puppy-dog eyes, and ask him to live with us, full-time, from now on.
