“And doesn’t play fair. Neither does he win fairly.”
“You’ve heard the rumors, too, huh?”
“I don’t think they’re rumors.”
Chuckling, I sipped from my glass.
“I want this. There’s only one thing in life I’ve wanted more than this. I’m going to win the election. I have to. And, I can’t let this little mishap ruin that chance for me.”
This disappointment in his tone was gutting. His passion poured from his lips and his posture and his movements and his eyes.
“I won’t let it.”
“I’m counting on it. Quite literally. I’ve run a scandal-free race until now. Shit sucks but it is what it is, ya know. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Everything happens as it should. And, what is for you will find you. That is for me. It will find me.”
“I think so, too.”
Time was lost between laughter and glasses of wine. My cheeks hurt from laughter. Though few words had ever come from Ishmael’s mouth, I learned he was full of so many unsaid things. And, unintentionally, he was comical.
Bright.
Knowledgeable.
Innovative.
Politically correct.
Two strangers were a little less stranger with each passing second. A few things were evident from our conversation on the living room floor where we opted to dine on the coffee table over the dining table.
His mother meant the most to him.
Indigo was his heart.
He was Berekely bred, to his core.
Change was his motivation for the race he was running.
My heart made its presence known with each beat. Everything slowed to a creep, even time, as I marveled at the man before me. He was resilient. He was reserved. He was ravishing.
His beauty and his brains.
As he stood over me, arm stretched, awaiting my dish, I lost myself again. He was so easy to escape within. I forgot it all. Everything. Nothing mattered at the moment. Nothing had mattered since that night. Not when he was around. Not at the sound of his voice or the comfort of his world.
“I’m going to clean the mess I’ve made and I’ll set you free, Royce.”
The sun would settle soon. Time had gotten away from us. I’d forgotten about the laptop that had been delivered three hours ago when we’d sat down to eat. I’d also forgotten about my cellphone. My tasks. My schedule.Everything.
“Thank you, kindly, sir.”
With my wine in my hand, I slid up onto the couch. My cell hadn’t moved an inch. It was right where I’d left it. Notifications had been pouring in. I pressed the proper buttons to unlock the screen and began to scroll through them all.
Looking like you’re that bitch!Roulette hyped.
Your face is all over the news in Berkeley, babe. Rome’s concern could be heard through her text.
I’d risk it all for a man that fine, too.Range stated the known.
He is a shooter.Rugger notified me, though I’d already done my research.
