Which is presumed code for I have to help him adjust Duck.
Not technically a lie, in this case.
We have a bathroom all to ourselves and he does have to use it. I lock us inside, even though the agents standing outside mean no one will interrupt.
While Elliot’s sitting on a toilet, with his slacks around his ankles, I hold him with his face pressed against me and make him breathe while massaging his scalp. We do that for five minutes that make a huge difference in his mental health. The set of his shoulders relaxes, and he tightens his grip around me.
“1:45, pet,” I whisper. “Next break is at 1:45. You can do this.”
He nods.
After he finishes what he needs to do, I help him tweak Duck by swapping out the sock on his stump, and then we’re on the move again.
Meanwhile, there’s another message from Jordan on my phone, which arrived just as we were stepping into the bathroom.
I refuse to look at it right now, though.
Because Elliot needs me, and I will not let my pet down.
Chapter Twenty-One
Then
This Friday is a bitterly cold late February afternoon. I savor the priceless expression on Elliot’s face when he starts to duck into the back of the car sent to pick him up and he discovers me sitting there.
He literally pauses. I see him deliberating whether or not he should get in.
I point at the seat to effectively answer the question for him.
Once the driver’s closed Elliot’s door, and my pet’s safely belted in, we’re on our way.
“Not expecting me,CongressmanWoodley?” Thepetis implied.
He shakes his head a tiny bit. The sadist in me loves the terror in his eyes, even though I feel badly my boyfriend looks like he’s about to shit himself right now.
My pet’s so fucking adorable. He truly is. I love that about him. I say that a lot because it’s true.
We haven’t seen each other in three weeks due to Shae’s crazy campaign schedule. When she’s at work in the Senate, I’m usually working with Kev and Chris and helping them plan logistics regarding the campaign. Elliot and I text and talk every day, sometimes including video chats, but getting together in person hasn’t happened.
Every long absence is, for me, more difficult to get through. Unfortunately, my schedule is crazy, my boyfriend is crazy.
I’m crazy.
That’s not fair, though. My boyfriend isn’t crazy—he’s paranoid as hell.
There is a difference.
Although, frequently, the effects on my love life are the same.
Today isn’t about us.
I mean, it kinda is, a little.
Elliot has no clue what’s really going on today. He thinks he’s going to meet with Kevin Markos and have a long working dinner with him, where they’ll talk about veterans’ issues. Elliot’s on the House Veterans’ Committee. He’s also on the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee.
We’ve been so careful to keep Elliot’s name out of the press as a VP contender. That was one ofmyconditions when they told me he’d made their top three. Because I didn’t want his life bowled over on amaybe.
Except now they’re sure they want Elliot as their first choice for VP, and I promised I’d deliver him to them.
