While I appreciate that she’s covering for me, it was anything but a blip, and she knows it. I fell hard and fast for him, and never recovered. Since the cat is out of the bag, I admit, “Yes, I dated Isaac for a semester in college. He moved back to Canada, I finished my degree and moved to California. Haven’t heard from him since.” Aubrey narrows her eyes on me. “Okay, so we did hear from him a couple of days ago, on election night, but it was just him congratulating me. Nothing more.”
“I wouldn’t count on that being the story,” Ned sighs. “You had footage go viral on all social media platforms, and it madeinternational news. While you were getting your beauty sleep, the Prime Minister invited our President and her team to attend a summit to discuss food insecurity, with a focus on women, children, and the homeless. The timing is suspicious, being the day after you spoke about how your first order of business in office is to expand the free school lunch program. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out they’re connected.”
“Do you know why the President has requested I attend in person? Both her and the VP are aware of my previous relationship.”
“They knew?” Tracy gasps, glancing between the rest of us. “It’s only a matter of time before an old photo leaks. I need to get ahead of it.”
“No need, Ms. Jacobson,” Ned insists. Pulling his tea bag from the cup, he sets it on the saucer, then takes a small sip before continuing. “We’ll address it if anything surfaces. In the meantime, the President cannot attend and is sending Vice President Vasileiou in her place. We need?—”
“Ms. Harris?” my security advisor says flatly as he enters my kitchen. It startles all of us except Ned.
“Westley, what on earth are you doing here this early?”
“I asked him here,” Aubrey answers for Wes. “If we need to increase security, he’ll need to begin the hiring process.”
He takes a seat at the table, brows pinched as he scrolls his tablet. Not looking away from it, he adds, “We anticipated the increased presence when you won the election, but after yesterday, you won’t be able to volunteer without an escort… or three.”
“This is bullshit,” I grumble, crossing my arms over my chest and leaning back in my chair.
“No, you’re no longer a state representative. You’re Governor-elect,” Ned muses, sipping his tea. “We have a lot to cover and not a lot of time to do it. So, let’s start at the top with what I know, and you can fill in the missing pieces. Isaac Banks. You briefly dated in college, were essentially no-contact for a decade and a half, and he called to congratulate you on your win the other night.”
“Correct,” I confirm.
“He left a voicemail,” Aubrey adds while typing something on her computer.
“And… I called him back.” Everyone’s eyes pull from their devices and are on me in an instant. “It would’ve been rude to not thank him for the call.”
Tracy’s lips part in disbelief, but she quickly reins it in, straightening her posture. “You called him back?”
“Yes, of course I did. A world leader calls to congratulate you; it’s the respectful thing to do.”
“No, it’s what your communications director should’ve done, not you.” Aubrey sighs, “You and Isaac have history.”
I’m about to reply when Wes presses his fingers to his earpiece, his frown lines are deeper than usual. “There’s a delivery.” Without further explanation, he’s out of his seat and rushing to my front door.
“Do you think it’s a threat?” Tracy quietly asks, fingers poised on her keyboard.
Ned chuckles to himself. “It’s a threat, but not the kind you think.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Aubrey snaps. “Livy has the press outside of her house, her ex is spam-liking her social media posts, and we have to figure out what the hell to do about her attending this event in Canada. Oh, and that conference? It’ll be in the middle of winter in fucking Ottawa. Ottawa! In case you didn’t know, we’ve been in California, which is basically sparkles and sunshine eleven months out of the year. Do you think I want my best friend to travel to some tundra shit after she fought for over a decade to live her dream?”
“The Prime Minister isn’t going to host this summit in an igloo,” Tracy chuckles, typing something on her laptop.
“It may as well be!” Aubrey’s arms are wide as she lets out an exasperated huff. While I appreciate her trying to stand up for me, this is bigger than all of us. Our attendance has nothing to do with the weather and everything to do with my best friend worrying about me seeing my ex again.
Westley enters with a coffee carrier containing a single drink. “Sorry, ma’am. This isn’t vetted, but there was a delivery of a”—he checks the cup—“vanilla, caramel, no foam, extra whip latte. It’s my recommendation that you don’t drink it.”
“It should be fine, I’ve put tracking on any and all food service deliveries to ensure safety for you and your staff. But moving forward, even when vetted by me, we need to be mindful of all deliveries,” Ned insists.
My breath catches. Did Isaac really send me my favorite coffee, or was it a stalker? I’m speechless, and thankfully, Aubrey finds out for me, “Is there a sender?”
“No.” Wes shakes his head and I grab the coffee, bringing it to my sink.
I don’t need to check it. Both Aubrey and I know exactly who would send me what was my favorite drink before my metabolism decided that was no longer an option. As I pull off the cap, I whisper to myself, “I’m sorry, Isaac,” as I pour it down the sink. It isn’t the calories, or the delivery, I need… time. Fifteen years weren’t enough to put space between us. My heart can’t handle it if it's really from him.
“Livy,” Aubrey says softly, cupping her hand on my shoulder. Keeping her voice low enough only I can hear, she reminds me, “I was there when he had to leave, and when you finally broke it off. You know that was from him.”
“It’s not from him,” I insist, struggling to keep my composure.
