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“Definitely didn’t hate them.” I wink.

He grins and pulls me in for another kiss. I hear clapping and whistling around us, pulling me back to reality.

With grins on our faces, we do our best to answer the barrage of questions from reporters, smiling as they snap photos. It’s much easier to stand in front of them now that we’re not pretending.

Over the last six weeks, Madden has continued campaigning and speaking at events. His heartfelt speech at the press conference clearly endeared him to some of his voters. In fact, our bizarre love story apparently sparked fascination among some of the public. To Kansas locals, we’ve pretty much turned into the American version of William and Kate.

We’ve kept close tabs on the polls. Miraculously, Madden has pulled ahead with a slim, five-point lead over Mark Jones. Meanwhile, Larry Highman is barely hanging on.

Sophie is all moved in with her parents now, and her room and the nursery are all set up. Madden’s Mom and I even squeezed in a baby shower for her. It was a small gathering of just family and a few of Sophie’s friends from high school. She cried during most of it, both out of joy and deep sadness. It has been difficult for her to experience all of this without Sam.

Tonight, she’s coming over to our place for a movie night. I grabbed all of her favorites from the supermarket: pickles, sour patch kids, beef jerky, and frozen yogurt. Pregnancy is a strange thing.

I’m standing in the kitchen with my laptop on the counter—typing away—when I feel muscular arms slide around my waist. Madden’s soft lips roam their way up my neck. Nothing makes me swoon more, and he knows it.

“Stop that! I’m finishing up a post for your Facebook page.” I giggle and playfully swat his arm.

Madden tickles my sides. “Can’t I flirt with my hot new social media manager?”

“When I told you that I missed working and wanted to freelance, I didn’t realize that so much sexual harassment would be involved,” I say with a sarcastic scowl.

He winks. “Whatever. You know you love it. Plus, you’re doing an excellent job. I would’ve been a moron if I let someone else snatch up your amazing freelancing skills.”

The doorbell rings and Madden goes to let Sophie in. She’s 38 weeks pregnant, so he takes the snack tray with him. The man is surprisingly perceptive.

“Odette, get off that darn computer. It’s movie time!” Sophie yells as she waddles through the door, grabbing a handful of Sour Patch Kids on her way past Madden.

“I know! I’m just finishing something up on Madden’s website real quick,” I say as I continue typing.

She smiles. “I hear his website has attracted a lot more traffic since you took over as social media manager.”

With a flourishing click, I submit my post, then head into the living room to join them. “Where’d you hear that?”

She laughs. “I was eavesdropping during the campaign meeting at my parent’s the other night. Did you know that my brother always refers to you as his campaign’s secret weapon?”

“Does he really?”

“And I’m not even ashamed,” Madden says with a grin.

Sophie sighs. “You guys are disgustingly adorable.”

“Sorry, Soph.” I give her a sympathetic look as I grab a few Sour Patch Kids and toss them in my mouth.

“It’s okay. I love seeing you both so happy. And it works out that I get an awesome sister-in-law as a bonus.”

I curl up between Sophie and Madden on the couch as we flip on a Netflix comedy. I notice that Sophie seems to grow quieter as the evening wears on, though. Somewhere in the middle of the movie, I glance over to make sure she’s alright and find her looking incredibly uncomfortable.

I lean towards her and whisper, “Hey, you okay?”

She grimaces. “Yeah, I’m fine. I think the junk food gave me indigestion.”

I get up and walk to the kitchen, thinking some water will probably make her feel better. When I return, her face is pale and her eyes are wide. She looks from me to Madden. “Um… I’m pretty sure my water just broke on your couch. Would either of you mind driving me to the hospital?”

“Holy cow! Of course.” I plop my glass of water on the counter and grab my purse.

Madden jumps up, blurting something incomprehensible about hospitals and bags and babies. I hurry to him and place my hands on his shoulders. “Calm down and take a deep breath. You’re not even the one giving birth.”

Sophie doubles over with a laugh that quickly turns into a wheeze of pain. “Yup. Time to go.”