Page 17 of Accepted Precedent (Love & Politics #3)
Andrew
SEVEN YEARS LATER
“ I t’s not even close, Andy!” Kristin insists in the same tone Mickey used to have with me. Unfortunately, it has my slacks feeling a little tight. “Stop checking the stupid ticker. You’re the new Senator of Maryland!”
“Don’t jinx it. They’re fuckin’ pundits who don’t know shite. The polls aren’t even closed yet,” Finn warns, not tearing his eyes away from his computer.
Last election, my marriage to Evie boosted me double digits.
This time, I’m not so lucky. While Mickey and Finn have assured me they’ll take care of it, my nerves are shot.
Patricia Yates is a ruthless candidate who spent years campaigning on a platform of unity and change.
We disagree on very few topics, effectively making gender the only deciding factor.
If it wasn’t my own Senate race, I would be voting for her myself.
“Don’t listen to him,” she whispers, sliding her hand into mine and squeezing once. But she quickly pulls away as if I burned her.
Kristin has been my Chief of Staff since I was elected, and managed my campaigns with Finn since the beginning.
Every year that passes, it gets harder to fight my attraction to her.
There’s a magnetic energy I’ve never been able to ignore, and fantasizing about bending my sister-in-law over my desk has become a daily occurrence.
It doesn’t help that the only person I’ve slept with for eight years is my best friend.
This celibacy pact is going to be the death of me.
It isn’t as if anything could happen with Kristin… but a man can dream.
My friends-with-benefits situation isn’t sustainable for Evie and me. All of this was supposed to be temporary—a few years to secure Maryland for Mick and Finn. Everything I’ve ever worked for has come to fruition, but once this election is over, I need to let Evelyn go and help support her career.
I glance around in search of Evie, but she’s nowhere to be found. With the rest of my staff on the phones until the last second, I sneak away to try the small conference room. As I’m walking down the hallway, hushed voices get louder.
“I don’t fuckin’ care if you’re married. You’re still mine, angel,” Mick growls, his voice carrying clearly through the closed door. I pause outside and lean closer to eavesdrop.
“Yours? Are you kidding me? Because of you, I’m married to a man who’ll never love me,” Evie snaps. “I don’t want him to—that’s never been our journey—but do you know what it’s like to go your whole life without anyone loving you?”
“Andrew loves you.”
“Fuck you, Mick. You know it’s not the same thing.
He’s my best friend—we’re not in love. It was supposed to be two years.
Two. Not eight, or ten, or however long I’m supposed to parade around as his trophy wife like a show dog.
You can’t come in here after being out of my life for almost a decade and tell me you miss me or that I’m yours.
If you want me, you have to work for it. ”
“I will, but we need more time.”
Shit. This is all my fault.
Not wanting to startle them, I carefully open the door a crack. They turn to the sound, and I open it the rest of the way. “Hey, Evie? I was wondering if you had a minute.”
“Yes,” she huffs, eyes narrowed on Mick. “We’re done here.”
“We are not done.” His voice booms loud enough that most of my staff likely heard.
I keep my voice soft and soothing as I assure him, “I just need a minute with my wife.”
His eyes briefly bore into me with fury I’ve never seen, but his expression quickly softens as his shoulders fall. “This isn’t how it was supposed to be.”
“Well, everything kind of went to shit when Yates decided to run,” I groan.
“Life happens.” Mickey could destroy everything I’ve built with a snap of his fingers.
One wrong move and everything Evie sacrificed will be for nothing.
I take a hesitant step closer, then another, and stuff my hands in my pockets.
“You can blame me, but you certainly can’t blame Evie. None of this is her fault.”
“I know,” he sighs. “I promised I’d take care of both of you… and I failed.”
Evie tucks into my side as I wrap an arm around her. “You didn’t fail us,” she admits softly, then takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry I yelled at you. It’s been a long day.”
“Oh, angel.” Mick reaches to tuck a few rogue strands of her amber locks behind her ear, and she leans into his touch. “I deserved it.”
“You did,” she chuckles. Pulling away from me, Evie wraps her arms around Mickey, taking him by surprise. “For what it’s worth, I missed you too.”
My heart breaks at her admission, and the moment his arms envelop her, his entire aura relaxes.
I used to bring him this kind of peace, but it’s been years.
The two people I care about more than anything in the world are hurting.
There has to be a light at the end of the tunnel where all of us can be happy.
Mick doesn’t release her as he asks me, “How’s it lookin’?”
I rub the back of my neck and wince. “Kristin thinks we’re good. Finn is, well, not as confident.”
“Shit, I should get out there and help with calls.” Evie tries to step away from Mickey, but he doesn’t let her budge. “Seriously? It’s election night.”
“They’re fine, love. Finn is like this every two years. I am too, but…” He sighs, not taking his eyes off Evelyn.
I finish for him, “But Daddy—” Coughing to mask my slip-up, I clear my throat. “I mean, Mickey is a little distracted today.” My gaze falls to Evie. “I’m sorry. I needed both of you here.”
“What can I do to help?” she offers, her eyes darting between me and Mick.
A smile escapes me with no chance of stopping it. “You already are.”
“If Finn thinks there’s more work to be done, I can’t just stand here.”
Mick kisses the top of her head and whispers, “When my brother and I want someone in office, we make it happen. Andrew’s seat is secure.”
“Would you mind checking on Finn?” I ask him, needing Evie alone for a minute. “He seemed a little on edge, and nothing I said made it easier.”
“He’s probably monitoring the race in Florida when I told him not to,” he groans, and finally takes a step away from Evelyn, but takes her hand.
As Mick begins walking away, Evie remains rooted in place. “We’ll be there in a minute. I need to talk to Andy for a sec.”
“Of course, angel. I’ll see you out there.” He kisses her knuckles and leaves the room.
Once I’m confident he’s not within earshot, I quietly ask, “How long have you been fucking Mick?”