Page 149 of Governor

I, however, would be limited in some ways. We don’t want uncomfortable questions asked, and it does need to be “my” money that’s spent. There are future financial disclosure statements to be kept in mind.

We get moved in, Susa has a blast picking paint colors and furnishings for me, and life continues.

I run for the HOA and easily win.

It shocks me, but apparently comes as no surprise to Carter and Susa.

So between work and the HOA, I’m pretty busy. The three of us settle into life in the new house—houses, plural—and we become friends with our neighbors. We’re completely open that we’re good friends, and Carter is like a brother to me. I’m sure some of our older neighbors are wondering if I’m gay or something, but it’s none of their business, so I don’t give a shit what they think.

I do have to suffer through an annoying number of matchmaking attempts, some of which Carter makes me accept just to get them over with and appear neighborly. We mostly handle those by having the woman meet me for dinner at Susa and Carter’s, to make it seem like I want her to be comfortable by not being alone with me.

I then proceed to let Susa take over being a helpful bestie and sharing all sorts of stories about what a workaholic I am, and how I refuse to take time off, and other such charming personality quirks.

If that doesn’t scare them off, then I talk about not being ready to settle down, and put off making any additional dates with them. I don’t act like a jerk to them, because Carter and Susa don’t want me doing anything that might get brought up later by our opponents when they do deep background on me.

I just…act boring.

Thankfully, it works.

Carter and Susa help me prepare all the financial affidavits and do all the groundwork to file to run for a seat on the county commission board, and they go with me to the county elections office to file it.

Surprisingly, Benchley is going to support me, even against GOP candidates.

I don’t know how Carter manages this.

I don’t think Iwantto know.

But Benchley is also in the last year of his second Florida Senate term, and he’s term-limited out. We know his plan is to run for governor in two years.

Things are looking great for me as we make it through the primaries and into the general election.

Three weeks before the general election is when the first true test of our triad hits us out of nowhere.

* * * *

Carter is my campaign manager. He’s stepped back some of his work for the firm so anything he’s working on can’t be considered a conflict of interest. There really isn’t a position for him at the county once I’m elected—ifI’m elected—but as they advance me through higher offices, he’ll not only be my campaign manager then, he’ll transition into my chief of staff.

I can’t do this without him, and don’t want to.

It’s the middle of October when I get a frantic call from Susa a little after one in the afternoon. I’d just finished appearing at a Tiger Bay candidate’s forum and was almost home. Carter is in Orlando today, in depositions on a big case until late this evening, and is basically unreachable. I struggle against my own panic as I try to calm her enough to find out what’s wrong.

Because maybe this is about Carter.

She’s in traffic, her phone in speaker mode, and from the sound of her tearful swearing she’s also speeding on the Crosstown, heading home.

“Pet,calm down,” I order, channeling Carter. “Deep breaths, honey. Slow down your car, andtalkto me.”

She’s sobbing. “Daddy. Momma said Daddy’s in surgery. He collapsed in his office thirty minutes ago, and they rushed him to the hospital. Massive heart attack.”

Fuck.

“I’m almost home. I’ll pack for us. You slow down and get heresafely, understand?”

“Yes, Sir.”

I know it’s a reflex, and I can’t blame her, given the circumstances, but it still makes me feel…weird.

By the time she arrives, I already have our bags sitting inside the front door, including one for Carter. He’s in his car and will most likely leave directly from Orlando.