Page 108 of Dignity

The last presidential election, she and I were both on the desk, sitting next to each other, the key anchors on a panel of four.

Lauren hesitates. “In about forty minutes. I’m heading downstairs. Why?”

“I have my key, so I’ll let myself in. I’ll be waiting for you.”

“What?”

“I need to see you tonight. Alone.”

There’s understandable hesitationon her part. “Why?”

“Love you.” I hang up on her, smiling because I know she’ll not only feel frustrated as hell at me, but by the time she arrives home she’ll be curious, too.

More curious than she already is.

Maybe there’s more sadist in me than I thought.

The driver drops me off at Lauren’s front door. Lauren never asked for the keys back when I moved. In fact, she asked me to keep thekeys, and my alarm code. When one of us had to be out of town for a while, we looked after the other’s place, grabbed mail, whatnot.

It feels a little disorienting coming here tonight, this home where I used to live with her.

After I let myself in and disarm the alarm, I put the chilled bottle of champagne I bought in the freezer.

Ineedthis celebration with her tonight. I owe her. It’s afull circle.

She was there at the start of my career. She loved and supported me when she didn’t have to.

She’s helped protect my secret.

I’ve shed my shoes, overcoat, and blazer by the time she arrives, and I’ve loosened my tie and rolled up my sleeves. I’m stretched out on her sofa and watching TV when she walks in.

I stand, and she stares at me for a long moment before sheliterallydropseverything that was in her arms and flings herself at me for a hug.

“Oh, mygod,” she tearfully says as she clings to me. “When we finally called it for her, I wanted to pound my fist on the desk and screamfuck youto the assholes on set with me and cheer for you. You freakingdidit!”

She’s wearing jeans and the pink unicorn T-shirt I gave her, and her glasses. “You should have heard thembitching and whining about you after we signed off. They’re absolutely fuckinggreenwith jealousy!”

I chuckle, the chuckle of Sir that Shea now knows so well, a man Lauren really isn’t familiar with at all. She never saw this side of me, becauseIdidn’t even know I had it in me until Shae.

“Shedid it,” I counter.

Lauren draws back enough to look at me. “Uh, I saw the exit polling data. Thatwas allll you, and sheer fucking genius, Kev.”

I shrug. “Team effort.”

“So why are youhere? Shouldn’t you be at her party?”

“Because I wanted to make sure we’re still on for the inauguration. Seems likesomeonepromised to be my date.”

That smile I love so much, the playful one, lights her face. “Damn right, I will.”

“That’s my girl.” I untangle myself from her, help her out of her coatand scarf, and lead her to the kitchen, where I pull the bottle from the freezer. “This is forus,” I say.

She fetches glasses while I open the bottle. Once we both have full glasses, she holds hers up in a toast. “To the new White House chief of staff,” she says, gently clinking with me.

“Thank you. To the most beautiful cable news host not just on FNB, but anywhere.”

She smiles, blushinga little. “Thank you.”