“Thanks for spelling it out,” Logan said dryly.
“Great thinking, Nora.” I tried to lean back as suavely as I could in my child’s chair. “I agree that it makes sense for Logan to help out Happy Homes. And my mom is thrilled. A win-win.”
Nora sat down at the table. “Don’t get too cocky. Logan’s not the only one with a task. You have one, too.”
“I do?”
Logan perked up.
“Yep.” Nora tapped her nails on the table. “It’s time for you to deliver Lee Stone.”
I blinked at the suddenly serious faces around the table. “Uh...dead or alive?”
“I swear.” Nora shook her head. “The fact that all of you graduated high school says all we need to know about the Texas education system.”
“Hey,” Cary complained. “All I said was I liked the flirting drama.”
“Anendorsement, Alexis. We need your sister to give Logan her endorsement. It’s time. Tell her, Gail.”
Gail looked down at her iPad. “All the state reps are lining up behind candidates. If Senator Stone gives her endorsement to Governor Mane—or if she abstains from endorsing anyone—it’ll be a huge blow to us. Projections show drops in voter trust if Logan’s girlfriend’s sister won’t give him her blessing.”
“It’ll be a PR disaster,” Nora said.
“That’s going to be...difficult,” I said carefully. All four of them frowned at me. “Lee has history with Governor Mane and she’s not exactly the biggest fan of our...relationship.”
Logan tensed over the table. “She doesn’t like me?”
“I’m sorry, Logan, I promise it’s nothing personal.”
“Should I invite her over? Do a dinner with your family? Is there a cause she wants me to promote?” He frowned. “Does she like flowers?”
“Whatever you need to do, Alexis.” Nora’s face was the gravest I’d seen it. “If you care about Logan and his chances of winning, I need you to get that endorsement.”
I pulled up in front of Lee’s adorable peach-and-cream house, which was an authentic Craftsman like Logan’s. I’d always loved this house. It was beautiful and girly, a house you could show off, throw parties in—the opposite of my spinster hole. I’d fled here after Chris and I broke up and Lee had nursed me back to good spirits, then I’d lived here with her until Ben moved in. The house was a delight and a refuge.
I was terrified to knock on the front door.
But since I held Logan’s future in my hands, I pounded dutifully. No one answered. Lee’s and Ben’s cars were in the driveway, so I knew they were home. I knocked again and put my ear to the door. I heard shuffling, quick footsteps, and suddenly the door wrenched open and Lee stood in front of me, her hair falling out of an updo and lipstick smudged, wearing an honest-to-God Belle costume fromBeauty and the Beast. Over Lee’s shoulder, a shirtless Ben darted out of the living room toward the bedroom, wearing a teal wig and an outfit that was vaguely familiar. “Hi, Lex!” he called, then, “Sorry!”
“Lee Stone!” I gaped at her. “Are you wearing asexcostume?”
She leaned against the door frame. “Maybe.”
“You can’t just answer your door like this. And Ben all half-naked and blue and...why is Ben blue, Lee?”
She smiled fondly. “Bet you can’t guess what Ben is.”
“On second thought, I don’t want to know.”
“He’s—”
“No.” I covered my ears.
“Captain Planet.” The words snaked in anyway.
“Ugh, Lee! You’re a state senator.”
“I’m off duty,” she said. “Besides, you’re the one playing roulette, showing up unannounced.”
