I angrily shove that thought out of my head.
Jordan’s an adult, even if he’ll always be “mine” in my heart and soul. I can’t seem to release him, even though I know I should. I’m always going to worry about him. I can’t help that—I love him.
Stella calls back.
My, she’s a glutton for punishment today. I’m in a shitty enough mood that my sadist is happy to oblige.
“Elliot Woodley’sphoOOONNnnnne,” I answer in an annoyingly upbeat, sing-song voice designed to painfully scrape across her eardrums like nails on a chalkboard.
“Listen, smart-ass. Enjoy this shit while it lasts, because it’s your last day on the job.”
I snort. “Considering I’m on loan today to Vice President Woodley from President Samuels, because I’m usuallyherbody man,andI’m good friends with President Samuels’husband,andwith her chief of staff, I think it’s safe to say you are wrong about that. Oh, and I happen to be best friends with Vice President Woodley.
“But if it makes you feel better to act like a stuck-up bitch, go right ahead and call about me and tell them I hurt your feelings. You’re never going to push me around, or make me kiss your ass, buttercup. Last name’s Cruz. C-R-U-Z. First name’s Leo. I’m retired Secret Service, by the way. Served with Mr. Bruunt. As in President Samuels’husband.”
At least she’s paying attention now. After a long moment, when she finally speaks, her tone sounds subdued and respectful. “I’m sorry, Mr. Cruz. Please tell Elliot I called and ask him to call me at his earliest convenience.”
“Good girl. That’smuchbetter. I’ll tell him you called.” I hang up.
That’ll piss her off, I’m sure, which helps improve my mood somewhat.
I’ve dealt with her kind before. When you can prove you’re dealing from a position of power far superior to their own, they usually fold like newspaper.
By the time Elliot’s finished in the Senate, I see the strain of maintaining his Vice President Woodley costume is wearing heavily on my boy, more so than usual.
Guilt hits me, because he’s in misery thanks to me.
Ifucked up.
Over the years, I’ve fucked up in a multitude of ways both great and small but this, right now, is absolutely mine to own.
For obvious reasons, I don’t tell him about Stella’s call yet. I’ll wait to do that until we’re onAir Force Two. I’ll have him return her call tonight and monitor it so that I can pull him off it if she tries to rope him into something.
She really is a bully. He was a good older brother while they were growing up. I think once he realized the truth about himself, he overcompensated in some ways, and their relationship became more her walking all over him while he tries to placate her.
Fortunately, his ethics and his sense of duty to his oath to uphold the Constitution far outweigh her ability to be bitchy.
We return to the White House, where our lunch is delivered to his office within minutes of our arrival. Elliot asks his admin assistant to hold all calls and visitors, meaning I can lock us in his office while we eat without any interruptions.
I sit behind his desk and put him on the floor in front of me after I’ve removed his glasses, blazer, and tie. Taking a towel I grabbed from his bag of supplies for Duck, I spread it over my lap, so I don’t end up making a mess on my slacks. I tuck a paper napkin into his collar to help protect his shirt.
Hand-feeding him most of his meal won’t be practical, because I don’t want to make a mess, so I use implements. That’s not his preference or mine. He enjoys sucking on my fingers when I hand-feed him. Unfortunately, in this case, that’ll also make both of us horny as hell if I let him do it, and we don’t have time for that right now.
I can feed him like that once we’re safely locked in his hotel room tonight.
With him leaning against my other leg, and tipping his head back against my thigh, he drops hard into pet mode while we eat without talking.
At least he finally relaxes.That’sthe important thing. He watches me through heavy-lidded eyes and opens his mouth when he’s finished chewing and is ready for his next bite.
I don’t know how I’m going to split my time between him and Shae during the campaign if or when Elliot declares. I’d feel guilty about abandoning Shae, Kev, and Chris and leaving them possibly open to exposure but I’m almost certain Elliot won’t make it through the rigorous campaign without me. A national presidential campaign—while also vice president—is a whole different beast than being an unknown running for a US House seat in fricking Nebraska.
When he ran with Shae both times,shewas the focus and he was more a decorative accessory. Sure, he headlined plenty of events on her behalf, but it washeradministration, not his. She was the head of the ticket, and people were voting on her.
He’ll be the one laying out his vision for the country. It’ll be his administration, his responsibility.
I have full faith in him and his abilities, mostly because I know he’s not a narcissistic sociopath with delusions of grandeur. It’s his vulnerability that makes him perfect to be POTUS, because he’ll carefully weigh every decision and won’t act because of his ego or pride. Calm under fire. Someone who doesn’t beat his chest.
In other words, the perfect POTUS. Presidential.
