I glared at him. “I’m not going to quit. Then I’ll be branded a loser. People will just say I’m afraid of debating Meg. It will ruin my reputation.”
“I didn’t mean now,” Garrett said. “You have to wait until after the first round of elections. Ida cannot win. Can you imagine if she were mayor? It would be bedlam.”
We both stared off into the distance, envisioning the giant penis balloon apocalypse that would be Ida’s mayoral tenure.
I shook my head. “I’m not bowing out.”
“Then you’ll be publicly defeated.”
I laughed. “There’s no way Meg wins this thing.”
“She’s gunning for her pound of flesh,” Garrett said flatly, “especially because you brought that here.” He pointed out the window to Karen, who was on the phone.
I smirked at him. “All part of my plan.”
“You just poured gasoline everywhere and handed Meg a match.” Garrett glared at me. “Have fun losing the debate.”
* * *
Garrett was wrong.I wasn’t going to lose the debate. I didn’t lose things, except for Meg. I had lost Meg,temporarilyof course, and yeah, I might have lost a few battles against my father, but I would win the war.
Just because Meg had the Holbrooks working with her didn’t mean she would win. I was a Svensson, and I had a huge war chest. Collectively, my brothers and I were worth more than the Holbrook cousins and their parents.
Fucking Walter. I still was furious he had stolen my company. I fumed as I headed to city hall.
I was the last of the debaters to arrive through a side entrance to the staging area for the debate. Ida was there wearing a sparkly orange pantsuit. Meg was in her standard, no-nonsense skirt, blouse, and blazer. I, meanwhile, had on a bespoke suit, a two-million-dollar watch, and ten-thousand-dollar cuff links. Each.
“Ladies,” I purred.
“I ought to just hand you a whip and a ball gag and call it an evening!” Ida said cheerfully when she saw me.
“Now, Ida,” Edna scolded her sister. “You cannot use language like that on stage. Honestly, I have no idea why you are even running for mayor. You’re going to be in charge of this town over my dead body.”
“Jeez, older sisters!” Ida rolled her eyes dramatically. “Chill. I’m just down with what all the kids are doing, you know, trying to keep it real and get young people involved in civics.”
“Do not,” Edna said slowly, and even I stood up straighter when she used her judge voice, “embarrass me.”
Ida stuck out her tongue.
“I trust you all know the rules of debate. Ida, I know you don’t, and I know you didn’t read the packet.” Edna checked her watch. “Let’s get this over with.”
The judge stepped onto the stage and announced us. I grinned as I followed Meg and Ida out, waving to the crowd. My brothers were in the audience and were giving me a standing ovation. The townspeople were eating and drinking the refreshments my campaign had supplied.
This was my evening.
Until I saw him.
There, in the front row, was Walter fucking Holbrook.
19
Meghan
Kate gave me a thumbs-up. I tried to project calm and not seem nervous. These weren’t strangers—these were friends, neighbors, and fellow Harrogate citizens. Shoot, I practically knew everyone in the audience by name.
Still, my job was on the line. The threat of humiliation was very real as I contemplated losing the election for a job I had basically been doing the past few years for free.
And to lose to Hunter? Unbearable. Forget losing to Karen, who was sitting in the second row. She shot me a triumphant look.
