“I have never been this on edge,” I say to Hayden, who is sitting beside me and constantly rubbing my back with one hand. At this point, she has shifted out of campaign manager mode and has stayed by my side as my amazing, supportive wife.
The woman who is hopefully about to adopt the title of First Lady of the United States.
“Hmm, I remember countless times of you being ridiculously on edge with me around.” Hayden bumps my shoulder, and I smirk at her.
I clear my throat, feeling a little sentimental since it’s the wee hours of the morning. I face my wife, gazing into her warm, brown eyes. She lifts an eyebrow, and I take her hands into mine.
“Mrs. Marshall, you are one of the most infuriating women I know, but I wouldn’t change your spitfire attitude or the fact that you speak truth regardless of who it offends. You are sunshine and happiness and every color of yellow on the spectrum. Even when you place me on the edge of sanity, I know that I can trust your judgment and I love every part of who you are,my wife.” I kiss her cheek and whisper against her ear, “My divine princess.”
She moans softly and her body molds against mine.
Someone clears a throat, and Hayden pushes back from me, releasing my hands, her eyes widening with realization.
“Do you two need to take a break and grab some alone time?” Stella asks, humor seeping through her words. “Seriously, I can go back to the hotel…”
“No,” Hayden says, interrupting her. “I need best friend time, too.”
“Um, guys,” Paul says. We all snap our attention to him, and he stands in front of the screen, blocking our view. “Florida is in, and…” Paul steps away from the screen, showing that Buzz News Network has officially called Florida for me.
My heart races as applause fills the room. The doors to the viewing room swing open, and I vaguely hear Micah, my social media coordinator, shouting to the crowd about our recent win.
With each passing moment, my brain repeats one phrase:three more states.My heart beats in time with the words. I feel Hayden’s hands grasping mine like they are her lifeline, but I can’t seem to hear what anyone around me is saying. My eyes are glued to the screen as another alert comes through.
Wyoming is in, and it’s called for Darcy Marshall. For me.
Halfway there.
The world blurs around me as all I can focus on is the screen.
Minnesota is called for me.
Hayden says something, but I can’t hear her. She pulls me from my seat and ushers me out of the viewing room, though the entire time I walk backward with my eyes on the screen.
An alert flashes across the screen just as the door closes.
Hayden turns me to face the crowd. Cameras flash and reporters shove their mics in my faces as Hayden whispers in my ear, “I love you, Mr. President.”
“We did it,” I whisper, and then reality catches up with me and a Cheshire Cat smile takes over my face. I turn to the one person I want to celebrate this moment with: my wife. “We did it!”
The room erupts with cheers and claps, and a chant begins, probably started by Ren.
President Darcy Fitzwilliam Marshall.
I look at my first lady, she smiles like everything is right in the world, and I pull her into a deep kiss, pressing my hands firmly against her back as she entwines her arms around my neck.
She pushes me away before the kiss gets too wild, covering her mouth and giggling. “Darcy, there are cameras everywhere. This is live across the nation, possibly the world!”
I smirk. “Good. Let the world know that the president of the United States is madly and irrevocably in love with his brilliant wife.”
“Thanks for trusting me with your campaign…and with your heart,” she says with stars in her eyes. I’ll never tire of that admiring gaze, and I pray she knows that I admire her more.
“Thanks for staying by my side and loving the roughest, coldest parts of me.”
“USA! USA! USA,” echoes through the room.
I take Hayden by the hand and lead her up the short stairs to stand behind the podium. We wave to the crowd, and then I clear my throat.
“Before I begin, let me introduce you to the real winner tonight.” I grab Hayden’s hand, kiss it, raise it in the air, and catch her eyes. “My campaign manager, my wife, and your First Lady, Hayden Sarah Marshall. I thank God every day that He gifted me with you.”
