I grin. “Aw, you, too, sis.”
No, I don’t hug Ellis. I just shake his hand.
All while wondering what he and Stella would have looked like tazed.
CHAPTERFORTY-SIX
I’mexhausted come time to return to the White House to prepare for tonight. Jordan holds me for a moment in the shower as I close my eyes and remind myself that while this day has almost ended, the best part is yet to come.
I want the media explosion over with. I want the personal backlashdone.
Leowillreturn with us to the White House tonight even though he doesn’t know it yet. Jordan’s already arranged with my valet and the Secret Service for Leo’s things to be packed and transported to the residence once we all head to the ball. I’ve already signed the orders for details for Leo, his parents, and his sister, and they’re in place and waiting for the signal from my main detail.
My parents will ride to the first ball with me, Jordan, and Leo, but I’ve already arranged for their own detail to transport them to Blair House when they’re ready to leave.
Which I imagine will likely happen not long after my big announcement. They’d asked to leave early anyway, wanting to at least put in a short appearance, mostly because I begged them.
Much to Stella’s consternation, I told her that she and Ellis have to find their own way to the balls and home again. Hey, they’re the ones who refused protection and insisted on using private security. If they had a Secret Service detail then they wouldn’t have to figure it the fuck out.
Anyway, that’s personal growth on my part, not worrying about what Stellis is doing. Right?
Jordan says it is and I once again try to default to believing him.
He’s never let me down.
I stand in front of my mirror, trying not to fidget while Jordan ties my bowtie. He’s already dressed and looks good enough to peel and eat. While I hate having to get dressed up like this I absolutelyloveseeing Jordan and Leo in tuxes. I’ll have to spend a chunk of the evening trying to disguise my damned boner at this rate.
“You have the rings?” I ask for probably the gazillionth time that evening. I glance down and spot he’s wearing his on his right hand.
He smiles. “I do.”
“That’s whathesaid,” I quip without thinking, earning me a smile. I’m honestly shocked Leo hasn’t confronted him about his ring before now. I guess Jordan’s good at hiding it.
Ihatethat he has to hide it.
I hate that he can’t wear it on his left finger and proudly say he’s ours.
I wrap my fingers around his hand and squeeze, waiting for him to meet my gaze.
“I love you, Jordan. In four years, you get all of me.”
He arches an eyebrow. “You mean Leo gets all ofus.”
I sigh. “You know what I mean.” I squeeze his hand again. “No more sharing me with the world. I can finally do right by you and give you the attention you deserve.”
I can’t read his gaze right now. He’s too good at that sometimes, of masking what he’s really thinking. “Even if we never tell the world who I am to you,” he eventually says, “I’m okay with that. Because having the two of you full-time isallI care about. Once Leo marries you, I can finally start to relax. I know you can’t because of your job,duh, but I’m telling you the truth when I say that. I don’t need anyone else’s external validation about our relationship. Fuck ’em all.”
“I wish I had your confidence.”
He bounces up on his toes and brushes a kiss across my lips. “You don’t need it—you’ve got me and Leo.” He smiles. “We’ll help you kick ass and take names. The next four years will be amazing and you’re going to be incredible.”
“I don’t know if I’ll still have parents as of tomorrow morning.” I stare at myself in the mirror again. “Funny thing is, I know what the headline will be. Not that I was sworn in but that I came out and proposed. How sad is it that one man’s love life will be far more newsworthy than the fact that our democracy continues uninterrupted?”
“Like I said, fuck ’em all.” He hooks his thumb at the door. “And the sooner we leave, the sooner this is over with.”
I take a deep breath, nod, and pray I’m kicking myself in the ass later for worrying too much over too many years over nothing.
A guy can dream, right?
