Page 72 of November

“I wanted to,” she replied, taking in Maisie’s concerned expression. “I want you to win, Maise, but if you don’t, and he comes afterChapter & Verse, I’ll help however I can. Idohave a lot of money, but we don’t even have to go that route. There are other options.”

“Like what?”

“Connections. He may have some, but I do, too. I can call those connections. We’d figure it out, okay?”

“I don’t know why, but I kind of believe you.”

“I think that’s a good thing, right?” she checked.

“Yeah, it’s a good thing.”

“So, I know today is going to be crazy, and you might not know until late, depending on how things go, but I’d like to take you out tonight. If not tonight, maybe tomorrow night.”

“Yes, that sounds nice.”

“And I’d like to take you somewhere with really good food and a wine list. Is that okay? It won’t be super fancy, but I–”

“It’s fine, India,” Maisie told her with a smile. “Wherever you want.”

“Really? I was expecting a lecture about how important places like that little blue shack are to the city and how they have the best food around.”

“Well, that’s true,” Maisie said with a shrug. “But you’ve been doing a lot of things for me since we met. It’s time I go somewhere you want.”

India smiled at her and said, “Okay. Well, let’s see how the rest of the day goes, and if it’s not tonight, then tomorrow.”

“Sounds good.”

“If we don’t go out tonight, though, maybe I can justbewith you? I was thinking I’d be here when you got the news, or that I could drive you home and be there if you don’t find out early enough.”

“What if it’s so close, they need all night to count the votes?” Maisie asked. “Will you be with me in the morning?”

“Do youwantme there in the morning?” India asked.

“I bet you’re really pretty when you wake up,” Maisie said.

India laughed and replied, “This face takes me about an hour to put on each day, so you’d be wrong.”

“The makeup looks good on you, but I’d love to see you without it.” Maisie cupped her cheek. “You’re beautiful, India. And I’d love to see you in the morning, but I think, if you slept over, it would just be sleep. Is that okay?”

“Of course, it’s okay. That’s what I was hoping for,” India said.

Maisie’s eyes flitted to her laptop then, where she had half the screen showing the election results that weren’t in yet. The other half showed a news site with a video playing, and India’s eyes went wide when she saw it because it was a campaign commercial for Colter that she hadn’t seen. Admittedly, India didn’t watch a lot of TV, and she hadn’t paid any attention to her brother’s campaign, forgetting he was even running until she met Maisie. There was no sound, but several pictures of Colter with his parents, his two dogs, and then one of him with their mother, his father, andIndiaappeared before fading into his campaign logo and slogan.

“India?” Maisie asked her. “Why were you just in Colter Stone’s campaign ad? That was you, right? I’m not just imagining that I saw you in his ad? I’ve never seen that one. It must be new. How–” Maisie stopped and shook her head. “I must be seeing things.”

India sat back in her chair, sighed, and said, “You’re not seeing things.”

Maisie turned back to her and said, “Well, I know you’re not dating him, since you told me you’re gay, so…”

“God, gross. And no, I’d never date anyone like him.”

“It was a picture with his parents.”

“Yes,” India said with a nod.

Maisie didn’t say anything for a minute, and India knew she was waiting forherto offer an explanation, but she didn’t know how to explain it without messing things up between them. When it appeared that she would have no choice, because Maisie wasn’t speaking first, India cleared her throat, looked Maisie in the eye, and bit her lower lip.

“He’s my brother.”