Page 171 of Incisive

Mom vigorously shakes her head. “No, we’re good here, honey. We can see.”

“Okay. I love you. Both of you. Thank you for being here tonight.”

Actually… maybe it’s better they aren’t on stage. I hug them, taking my time. Everyone can wait on me.

They both smile. “We love you, too, sweetheart,” she says.

I’m fully cognizant that this might be the last time I get to hug my parents.

Then I turn and start shooing everyone else out on stage, including Leo and Jordan, while thunderous applause shakes the ballroom. Shae, Chris, Kev, and their kids. And Casey-Marie, Declan, and George. Ciro, Ily, and their kids join us, too.

I give everyone on stage with me hugs and motion for the audience to applaud them, because I didn’t do this alone. I couldn’t have.

Shae asked to speak briefly at the start and I’m happy to have her do it. One of the staff hands her a mic and she smiles and waves to thunderous applause while she waits for them to quiet down.

“Wow, this is a great party, isn’t it? Glad Elliot’s in the hot seat tonight.Again.” She receives a round of laughter for that. “I’m so happy to be here tonight. Elliot wasn’t just my VP and a damned good man. He’s a man I’m glad to call a personal friend, an extended member of our family, adopted uncle to our children—and to Pecan—and a man I am proud to callmypresident for another four years.”

I know I’m blushing. I jam my hands in my pockets and study my feet, smiling, but mostly it’s to keep my hand on the ring box in my right pocket. Jordan passed it to me on our way onto the stage.

If Stella’s in the audience somewhere she’s probably feeling butthurt she’s not up here but tonight is aboutme. For once, Iwantto be selfish.

I want thisonething.

Shae’s not quite finished. “When I picked Elliot to run with me, it wasn’t only because I thought he’d look good in a tux. Which, comeon.” She motions at me as laughter and cheers—and more than a few wolf whistles—fill the room. She offers me a playful smile. “It’s because I picked a man who I knew would be, god forbid if the worst ever happened to me,theperfect person to step into my office and take over. A man of integrity and intelligence, of bravery, of a calm and steady nature. A man who never lets his ego get in the way of his judgment.

“In other words, apresidentialman. Thank goodness the voters of this country have seen in him twice now what I saw in him. And now we also have Ciro, who is every bit as good a man as Elliot, and whose future efforts I’m looking forward to supporting. Our country is in excellent, capable hands. I don’t know about y’all, but I sleep well at night knowing these two men are hard at work in the White House.” She hands the mic off to one of the event staffers and hugs me to thunderous applause.

“You don’t propose to Leorightnow,” she whispers in my ear, “I’m going to help Jordan and Casey-Marie beat you in a bad way after I drop the announcementforyou.” She’s smiling when she steps back. When I glance Jordan’s way he winks and gives me a subtle nod. Casey-Marie’s standing there with a playful smirk on her face.

Ah. Sir enlisted a little insurance.

No backing out now, not that I want to.

This is the moment I’ve dreaded and longed for, and it’s all going to play out at once, right now.

In almostthemost public way possible.

There is no going back.

CHAPTERFORTY-SEVEN

I’m handedthe mic and it takes me a moment to parse my thoughts. I didn’t prepare any comments ahead of time because I knew I’d forget them and I don’t want to work from notes. I damned sure didn’t want to hand anyone a teleprompter script and have it leak to the press.

“Thank you all for coming tonight. I appreciate the trust you’ve placed in me, and in Ciro, and our administration. And thank you, President Samuels, Mr. Bruunt, and Mr. Markos, for all being here tonight. My parents are here tonight, backstage.” I can see them from where I’m standing and I wave to them. “They don’t like being in the spotlight and, frankly, after all my years in DC I can’t blame them.”

There’s a wave of laughter and I pause for a moment. “I’d like to thank them for their love and support throughout the years. I’d also like to thank Ciro’s wife and kids for sharing him with me and the country for another four years. You’re amazing, and like extended family to me.” I turn and blow her and the kids a kiss.

I wait for more applause to settle before continuing. “There are a couple of others I’d like to thank. Because I can’t do this alone. For starters, Jordan Walsh, who’s more than just my body man and trusted advisor. He’s my best friend and closer than a brother to me. I can’t do any of this without him.”

I turn and look him in the eyes as I say that. As everyone applauds he gives me a nod and a smile I know means he’s a little embarrassed to be the focus of attention, but he’s proud of me.

And that he loves me.

I wish I could do better than that but, for now, I can’t. I nod back and notice Leo smirking next to him.

“I’d also like to thank my chief of staff Casey-Marie Blaine, and deputy chief of staff Declan Forrester for putting up with me. You havenoidea how much they do and how vital they are. And thanks also to Governor Forrester for sharing them with me.”

George laughs and gives me a two-fingered salute from his temple. It’s well-known around DC that Casey-Marie is close to the men. If anyone thinks they’re more than just friends and former co-workers and live together, they’ve never outed them.