I’m already struggling against my tears as I walk down the hallway and find the room door propped open with the security bar.
I lightly rap.
“Come in,” he calls out.“Lock it behind you.”
The room is dark.Daniel’s at the window, sitting in a comfortable chair and staring out over the rainy Atlanta skyline, a drink in his hand.
He doesn’t look at me, at first.I stand there in the entry after locking the door and I wait.
“You’re on time, boy.That’s good.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
His deep sigh fills the room and he finally looks over at me.“You’re out of office now, your father’s dead, and your divorce has been final for three months.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Is Olivia giving you any trouble?”
“No, Sir.Sometimes, her family tries to hit me up for favors.I almost always turn them down, unless it’s something easy and ethical I can do for them.”
He studies me.While his eyes are cloaked in dark shadows I still feel their weighty gaze on me.“I’m going to ask you a question and I want honesty from you.Total, raw honesty.”
I nod.
“Without thinking about it, if you could do one thing right now, what would you do?”
Letting my body take the wheel before I can second-guess myself, I walk over, kneel in front of him, and press my face between his knees.I didn’t realize I was sobbing, at first, until I feel his fingers gently massaging my scalp and the comforting sensation of his legs wrapping around my body.
“Shh, boy,” he gently says.“I’m here now.You need to let go and stop trying so hard.”
“But Liam’s going to run again, and there’s no way we can keep hiding, especially if he runs for POTUS in a few ye—”
“Shh.”Cradling my head in his hands, he tips my face back and slants his lips over mine.It quiets my brain and stills my tears and drives all other thoughts out of my skull for a few blissful moments.
I totally get why Liam feels about him the way he does.Why Liam gravitated toward Daniel’s calm, steady nature.
It’s hypnotic.
“Monday morning, Liam’s meeting with staff to tell them one of two things.Either that he’s running for re-election, or that he’s retiring from politics at the end of this term.”
Stunned, I blink.“What?”
Now I can see his eyes and, despite knowing how light they really are, in this dim room they look midnight blue.“He left the choice up to me.I told him I would give him my answer Monday morning when I call him before his staff meeting.”
I don’t understand what this means.“I thought he wanted a fourth term?”
He shakes his head.“He thinks he’s waiting to see if I will decide to retire, or work another term with Effings.”
“Wh-what do you want to do?”
His grip on my face tightens.“I want us all to finally heal and move forward.Together.The property next door to us is going on the market next week.There’s nothing on it.Ten acres of land itching for a house.It’d be a great investment.”
That’s an odd segue.“What?”
“For your address.No one says youhaveto build a house on it.We fence it off and set up a mailbox at the end of the driveway.We can snag it and save a few points on the closing if we buy it before it’s officially listed.”
He presses his forehead against mine.“I love you, Ward.You belong to andwithus now.Give me a reason to tell him I’m retiring, and so is he.Move to Massachusetts with us.Our house is huge.People know we’re friends.You’re staying with us until you get your house built, and it makes sense because you’re working together.Or, you will be, if you say yes.”
