“No. He hasn’t said that to me.”
“His chief of staff ordered polling data last week.”
That takes me a moment to process. “The midterms are coming up, that’s all.”
“Iowa, New Hampshire, and North Carolina.”
My heart drops. “But we’re over three years from Iowa!”
He stares at me. “You don’t order polling data in those states if you’re not running.”
I feel…gut-punched. He’s right, of course.
Maybe I had talked myself into believing Elliot wasn’t going to run. I don’t know. “Maybe Elliot’s just letting him check things out—”
“Leo, I sat in on a call with Kev and the DNC last week. Kev invited me to his office to listen in. Elliot and his chief of staff wereonthe call. Elliot never said he wasn’t running. When everyone was talking about future plans, Elliot never said hold up, or that it was contingent upon him running, or predicated on him making a decision, or like he’s just testing the waters. He talked like he’s running.”
“But—”
“They were also floating VPOTUS options. Kev, and Chase Murray from the DNC. They’re already shortlisting people to talk to. That’s part of the polling data they ordered. Kev suggested Elliot shouldn’t officially declare until no sooner than eighteen to twelve months before Iowa, so it keeps everyone on their toes and gives them a better chance to sort through VP candidates. So none of the other contenders get too comfy or assume they’re a shoo-in for the slot.”
There areliterallya hundred things I should be doing right now.
As Jordan’s words and their implication echo in my brain, all I can do is stare at Jordan’s hand on my arm, at the chainmail bracelet on his wrist.
My bracelet.
My tangible claim to him.
My only visible claim to him, and it’s not obvious to anyone else what it.s
“Leo,” he gently says, “Elliot’s running. The question is, am I enough for you?”
“What?” I finally meet his gaze.
He’s blinking back tears. “I love you. I was able to agree to this because I know you love me. But I also know you had your heart set on making this a triad. If he’s running, and he’s not accepting me as a partner…there really isn’t a place for me, is there?”
I grab him and kiss him, hard, crushing his lips under mine. “Don’t youdarethink that, boy.” Anger fills me. “You’remine, and I’mnotletting you go. I won’t stop you if you leave, but that’s your decision, not mine. I meant it when I said I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I never lied to you about what I feel for Elliot.”
“I know you didn’t. I’m not saying you did. I also know you had a different outcome in mind.”
He’s not wrong. “He’ll come around. I’ll talk to him.”
“Is that fair to him?”
“What?”
“Leo, we both know Elliotneedsyou. He’s going to need you when he runs for POTUS. He’ll destroy himself during a campaign of that magnitude, and you and I are probably the only two people on the planet whoknowthat. He’ll blow debates, maybe even on purpose. The stress will eat him alive. I watched his congressional campaign debate footage for his first campaign. It was money, cross-party backing, and endorsements that got him elected to Congress, not his charisma, not his brains, and not his good looks. He got re-elected because he was the incumbent, and he was popular, not because he had to fight for it.
“He did okay in the VP debate the first time around because you were backstage with him. Unless he does an about-face aboutmebefore the campaign really winds up, I’m not going to be any help to him. If anything, he’ll do worse with me than with you. If I’m in your life, and stressing him out—”
“Stop.” I grab his head and pull him in for another kiss. I can’t do this today. Shae’s definitely going to need me, and Chris’ office will need Jordan. “You’re mine, and I love you, and that’sit.Understand?”
He finally nods. “Yes, Sir. I love you, too.”
I pull him in for a long, strong hug. “I’m sure I’ll be staying at the hospital tonight so Chris can go home and sleep.” It was the stated plan last night before I came home. “Chris won’t trust anyone else to stay with Kev, and Shae can’t. And Chris won’t leave him alone.”
“It’s all right. I understand. Please tell Kev I hope he feels better soon.”
