Page 39 of Accepted Precedent (Love & Politics #3)

Andrew

TWO WEEKS LATER

S ince Evelyn dropped the bomb that she’s pregnant, she’s been monitored by doctors almost daily.

The ultrasound showed she’s indeed having twins, which puts her at higher risk for preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and at least a dozen other conditions Mickey researched.

For now, she’s in peak health, but Mick’s paranoid as fuck.

If he’s half as invested in parenting as he is with her pregnancy, he’ll be an amazing dad, even if he’ll be a bit of a helicopter parent.

While I’ll never be father of the year, I’ll always be here for Evelyn and their kids when they need me.

Hiding our relationship with Mickey from Ileah has been more of a challenge than I thought it would be.

More than that, masking my feelings for Kristin is increasingly difficult with every passing day.

At Mickey’s insistence, she moved in with us to help Ileah with her Senate campaign, but I’m confident it has more to do with wanting another person available for anything Evelyn might need.

I’m pouring a cup of coffee when Kristin joins me in the kitchen. “Morning,” she yawns, grabbing a mug from the cabinet.

Fuck, why does she always look so adorable first thing in the morning?

I quickly look away before she catches me ogling her. “Morning.” My chest tightens the closer she gets. She grips the coffee pot and hums a song to herself as she pours a cup. “What are you singing?”

“Oh, nothing. Just had a song stuck in my head.”

Kristin begins to walk away, and I blurt, “Want to get lunch later?” She pauses, but doesn’t turn. “As friends.”

“We’re not friends, Andrew.” She continues walking, sipping her coffee. As much as I want to call after her, I can’t risk Ileah overhearing.

There’s really only one way out of this mess—step away from politics and disappear indefinitely.

The more I think about it, the more I’m tempted.

I’m an asshole for even considering it. Jaclyn and Ileah are going to shatter glass ceilings, and I want to selfishly jeopardize it for them, all so I can have a chance with my best friend’s sister.

Evie and Mick would never forgive me, but I’m exhausted from keeping up this charade.

I was only supposed to be married for a year—not a decade.

We’ve accepted that this is our fate, but I fucking hate it.

And now there are children in the mix.

I bring my coffee and laptop onto the patio and take a seat on the porch swing. After a few hours of drafting emails, a news alert grabs my attention. There’s a live video of Alex—pretending to be his twin, Chris—with Jaclyn, holding a press conference in Texas.

I click on the link where he’s addressing the crowd.

“My brother was an incredible man who did so much for Texas and our country. I can’t think of a better way to honor Alexander’s memory than to have another Blake represent the state he loved so much.

Regardless of the outcome of the special election, I will not be seeking reelection in Florida, to support my wife in her political career. ”

Everything is moving forward as planned.

Jaclyn is a bit more conservative than I am, but we agree on fundamental issues, which will make it easy for me to endorse her.

If anyone is going to bring together our divided country, it’ll be two women of opposing parties setting aside their differences for the greater good.

The next few years are going to be a roller coaster for them, and I can only hope all of this was worth it.

Evelyn joins me on the patio and I wrap an arm around her shoulders. “How was your appointment?”

“Pointless,” she huffs, shifting to get comfortable. “I’ve been thinking about how I want to decorate the nursery.”

“Oh yeah? What are you thinking?”

“Something super patriotic. Maybe a mural of an eagle. Oh! Can we do a giant American flag? Or should we just do a projection screen so it waves? Is that good for babies? The whole stimulating the frontal lobe thing?”

“Fuck, Evie,” I laugh so hard I almost can’t breathe. “You’re worse than Mick.”

“Wait! I’ve got it. We run away, move to Ireland, and become soccer—sorry, football —fans. The whole room will be football-themed. Mick will be happy so long as everyone has O’Leary jerseys.”

“They call them kits,” I correct. “But we’re not moving.”

“Mick is just so overprotective. I want to do something that will distract him from his internet deepdives on possible pregnancy complications.”

“I know he’s a lot, but he’s worried. His brother died of leukemia when he was young, and I doubt he ever went to therapy for it. He’s paranoid.”

“I know, but it’s overwhelming. I have no idea what to do; there’s no road map for how we’re supposed to handle this.” She takes a deep breath and I hold her closer. “I love him, Andy, but I won’t be a prisoner for another decade.”

“I’ll never let you, neither will your sister. Tell him how you feel.”

“Tell who how you feel?” Mickey’s deep voice makes both of us jump. When he comes into view, I scoot over and bring Evelyn with me so he can sit next to her. “What’s going on, angel?”

Evie straightens her posture as he takes a seat next to her. “If I divorced Andrew today, and there was no political fall out, what would you want?”

He takes a moment to consider it, and a small, rare smile teases at the corner of his lips.

“We’d be just like this, but kids playing in the yard—probably three or four little ones.

Maybe one of those barbeque islands with steaks on the grill.

I’d have to figure out how to use it myself.

I would get to keep both of you, even if I have to share Andrew with Kristin.

” I still, my heart stopping at the mention of her.

He sighs, then continues, “Finn will have earned Ileah’s trust, and they’d come by for Sunday dinner.

Jaclyn and Alex— Christopher —would join us for game night, or invite us to the White House.

But we’d have dinner that didn’t require three different forks… Mostly, I want you two to be happy.”

Evelyn stands, then straddles Mickey, taking his face in her hands.

“I don’t care that I’m legally married to Andrew—I’m yours.

We all are. I didn’t need to stand in the rain to gain that clarity.

” I’m not entirely sure what she’s talking about as she places his hands on her belly, but my heart swells at the sight.

“I love you so much it hurts, Mick. And I promise, when all of this is over, we’re going to make sure you have all of that and more.

” He slides his hands lower, gripping her ass to pull her closer.

“But you have to let me go more than a day without seeing a doctor.”

“All right, love. You can go two days.”

Evie cups the nape of his neck with both hands, and brings his lips to hers. If that isn’t my cue, I don’t know what is; they need their moment. I slip off the swing and kiss her shoulder. “It’s time to make his dreams reality, babe.”