Because he loves me, and, more importantly, because he needs me.
And because, as messy as this thing is between us, I need him, too.
* * * *
This is far from the first time Elliot’s “borrowed” the president’s body man. His staff knows he’s got a few “quirks” and that I am the “Elliot Whisperer.”
It’s also an unspoken given among all of them that,shouldElliot run for POTUS—meaning, of course,when—I will be his body man.
In my absence, any number of aides, or his chief of staff, or his admin assistant, fills in. But they all know that, when I am present, they defer to me as more a supervisor with equal power to Elliot’s chief of staff.
I’m not a fucking gopher for them. I’m not some intern, or an assistant to a deputy assistant undersecretary, or some bullshit like that.
I’m Elliot Woodley’s body man, even if, officially, I’m Shae’s.
They know my bona fides. They also know Elliot and I are best friends. They likely think we bonded over common experiences—sort of true, just not the complete truth.
Not their business anyway.
But fifteen minutes after I’ve locked Elliot’s office door behind me, I unlock it, open it, and the vice president of the United States looks like he’s ready to take on a grizzly with his bare hands.
He doesn’t need me for a few minutes, so I excuse myself and head over to the other side of the West Wing to see if Shae’s out of her PDB yet.
She is, and I find her and Kev in her private study.
“Good morning, Madam President,” I say in greeting.
She sits back, smiling as she indicates for me to step inside and close the door behind me.
Once we’re in private, she speaks. “Not mad at me for the schedule change, I hope? You’re almost as much of a control freak as this one is.” She hooks a thumb at Kev and blows him a kiss, which he returns.
I force a smile. “No, ma’am. Thank you. I appreciate the consideration.”
She shrugs. “I’m sure our vice president also appreciates the…company.”
I nod. “I’m sure he does, ma’am.”
“I had a few meetings get shifted on me this week,” Kev volunteers. “So Chris and I offered to fill in as her body men.” Where he’s sitting on the sofa, he grins and then laces his hands behind his head and leans back.
He looks damned proud of himself.
He should be. His pet is a fan-fucking-tastic president, and he’s well surpassed anyone’s expectations for him as her chief of staff.
“I appreciate that, sir. The change of scenery is not unwelcome.”
His smile widens as he nods.
We all understand this code, this dance we’re doing.
“You ever want to borrow the Tallahassee house to have a weekend visit there, just ask,” Shae says. “We haven’t put it on the market yet, and it’s furnished.”
I swallow hard at the mental record screech that blasts through my brain. “I appreciate that, too, ma’am. I’ll keep it in mind.” I know she means well, but…
Yeah.
Not a conversation I want to have with her, either. Especially not right now. And definitely not around Elliot. I haven’t told him all the details, and every time he’s tried to ask, I shut him down.
Iliterallycannot talk about it right now. It hurts too damn much.
