“He told me I’m slipping in the polls, and my head isn’t in the game.” His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.
“Does Ben think it’s because of me?”
Pressure built behind my eyes. The thought of my being responsible for Drake losing his Senate seat made my stomach churn.
When Drake didn’t answer immediately, merely averted his gaze, I had my answer. “Never mind. I get it.”
That was it. I needed to let him go until after Election Day. It wasn’t impossible; after all, it was only six months. It would be the longest six months of my life, but for him I’d do it.
“Maybe we shouldn’t see each other until—”
“No,” Drake said, his voice sterner than I’d ever heard it. “Ben doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Truth be told, I think he’s a bit more concerned about himself right now.” Pulling me closer, he said in a softer tone, “I want you by my side when I announce I’ll be running as the incumbent, and I want you with me after I win.”
My heart soared at his words. “I’d love nothing more.”
“Good. I don’t want to talk about work anymore. I just want to hold you.”
Intensely happy, I curled up as close to Drake as I possibly could and fell asleep in his arms.
? ? ?
When I walked into school the following Monday, my thoughts were preoccupied by a hot, sexy senator. Sadly, I wasn’t thinking about the intimate times we spent together, but rather what he had told me about the latest poll numbers. Granted, he’d told me not to worry about it, but how could I not? As far as I knew, he would be the frontrunner no matter who the Democrats chose to represent them. I knew there was another Republican who wanted to be in the running, but Drake would most likely be running in the primary unopposed.
Mason popped his head in as I was writing the day’s homework assignment on the whiteboard for my next class.
“Hey, Luce.”
“Hey, yourself.” After I set the marker down, I sat at my desk. We had about fifteen more minutes until our free period was over.
“I’m sorry I’ve been MIA lately, but I had some things to take care of with the NCAA and a couple of my players.” He sat on my desk. “How are things?”
“They’re good.” I smiled, but it felt forced.
“Okay, what’s up? Is it Drake?” He bit into an apple he’d pulled from his backpack. “Do you want a bite?” He extended the apple to me.
“No, thanks.” I laughed. “Things are good; really good, in fact. It’s just something he said to me that has me on edge, and my mind is racing.”
“What did he say?” He took another bite, and my stomach growled. “You sure you don’t want any?”
“Yes, I’m fine.” Biting my bottom lip, I said, “He’s slipping in the polls.”
Mason furrowed his brow. “Isn’t it a bit early for that?”
“Apparently not.” My shoulders slumped. “It’s because of me.”
“Okay, now you’re being paranoid.”
I began to explain what Ben had told Drake, but we were interrupted by the bell. We agreed to talk about it later.
After my class, I went to the office to confirm I had a vacation day available so I could go to the Outer Banks with Drake for Memorial Day weekend. Thankfully, I did, and I arranged for a sub to cover my classes on that Friday.
? ? ?
On my drive home that afternoon, I called Drake to tell him I had the time off, but my call went to voice mail, so I just left a message. This was the first day in a long time I hadn’t received a text message or a phone call from him during the day. It made me a little nervous, but I was sure he was busy. He was a US senator, for God’s sake.
When my phone rang a few minutes later, I snagged it from the passenger seat to answer it, but it wasn’t Drake.
“Hey, Mace.”
“Hi. I’m stopping at Five Guys. Want to have dinner with me? I’ll bring it over.”
“Who can pass up a greasy burger and fries? Yes. I’ll see you soon.”