Page 84 of Enemy of My Enemy

He fumbled for something to say. “I’ve been a conservative my whole life. There are parts of the platform I don’t agree with, yes. But—”

Gus grinned. It wasn’t pretty. “Those parts you don’t agree with on that Republican platform? Those are the parts thathateyourguts. Because of who youare, and because of who youlove.” He punctuated his words by pointing at Jack and then at Ethan.

Jack shifted in his chair. It was one thing to know it, in an abstract, polling numbers kind of way. He saw it in the headlines, of course, and heard the sound bites, but it was easier to push those seconds of hate aside.

It was a whole other kind of gut-clench to hear it said to his face.

“And no one likes the entirety of their party anyway.” Gus went back to his notepad, oblivious to Jack’s unease. Beneath the table, Ethan rested his hand on Jack’s thigh, a warm, grounding presence.

Jack shook his head. “I have not been the staunchest conservative by any stretch. I’ve made a name for myself as a moderate. And yes, I don’t have much loyalty to my party after everything that’s happened. But I can’t just switch parties overnight.” He sighed and leaned back in his chair. “To be honest, there is no party that matches who I am and what I believe.”

“Join the club. More Americans identify as Independent than either Republican or Democrat. And, over sixty-five percent of the nation hates the way the current political system looks,” Gus snapped, still buried in his notes.

A moment later, he paused. He looked back at Jack, a curious sort of wonder in his gaze. “If ever there was a person,” he said slowly, “it would be you.”

“It would be me what?”

“To start your own political party. Branch off. Make the mythical third, inclusive party in American politics. Capture all those other disgruntled, unrepresented people in the world.” Gus’s hands rolled in the air, trying to capture the people he spoke of like capturing fireflies in a backyard. His eyes narrowed as he assessed Jack, his beady eyes seeming to lance right through him. “The only time in American history a new political party has succeeded was when it began from the top. The Federalists splitting and reforming under John Adams. Democrats under Andrew Jackson.”

Sputtering, Jack laughed, a helpless sort of snort. “You’ve got to be joking. There’s no way anyone would go for that! Not with me.”

“Just you watch.” Gus winked.

* * *

“What’s up?”

Scott and Daniels waited a few steps down on the Residence stairs, hands in their suit pockets as they frowned at Ethan.

Ethan closed his eyes. He was crouched on the stairs, dressed down in jeans and a canvas jacket with a ball cap pulled low over his head. His hands were fisted in front of his mouth. One foot bounced up and down. “Jack in his meetings?”

Scott nodded. “Cabinet meeting for the next two hours. Then he’s in with the national security team.” He frowned. “What’s going on?”

“I’d like your help.” Ethan coughed, clearing his throat. “I’d like you to take me somewhere.”

“Dude. What’s up? Where do you want to go?” Daniels crossed his arms.

Ethan pulled out his cell phone and passed it over.

Scott took one look at the website he’d opened and whipped his head up so fast his neck cracked. His jaw dropped, and he stared at Ethan until Daniels grabbed the phone out of his hand with a soft curse.

“Ho-ly shit,” Daniels said slowly. “Hey. Hey.” He smacked Scott on the arm. “You need to answer your phone, man.”

“The hell, Levi?” Scott glared, shaking him off. “What are you talking about? Why?”

Daniels punched the air, his shoulders rocking back and forth as he beamed. “Because I fucking called it!”

An hour later, they were parked outside one of DC’s older jewelry shops, a family-owned store that had been in business for generations.

The idea had been bouncing around in Ethan’s head, a desire that had grown from his soul and wouldn’t quit. When he woke in the morning and held Jack close, he dreamed of it. When they drank coffee together and walked down from the Residence. When Jack glanced his way during meetings, a smile in his eyes. When he sent silly text messages and took crazy selfies with Ethan. When he laughed. When he brushed his teeth and stared at Ethan in the mirror, still with those smiling eyes, or wiped sweat from his face after a workout, or just did any of the thousand things that were all Jack.

Hewanted, desperately. He wanted with an intensity that scared him, a thrumming, living desire that burned in his chest.

He wantedforeverwith Jack.

Sitting outside the jewelry store, he felt like he was going to fly right out of his skin. He wanted forever, but actually taking that step was almost too terrifying to imagine.

“Well?” Scott and Daniels turned together, staring at him with boisterous grins from the front seat. “We going in?”