Page 87 of November

Maisie laughed softly and said, “Speaking of Colter. Did you happen to talk to him last night?”

“He called me after he knew he’d won.” She shrugged a shoulder. “I think he intended to brag.”

“And you didn’t congratulate him?”

“No. Wait. How didyouknow that?”

“He called me a little while ago,” Maisie revealed.

“Colter called you? Why? What did he do? I’ll kill him.”

Maisie laughed and replied, “It was a good thing, I think. Well, it was his attempt at a good thing, at least.”

“A good thing?”

“He offered to get me on the next meeting agenda to talk about the historical landmark status for the shop.”

“He did?” India asked, confused.

“I assume you told him to.”

“No, I didn’t. I mean, I suggested he do that during the campaign, but you knew that. I didn’t tell him to do that last night. I sort of considered him a lost cause.”

“He didn’t promise me anything, but it’s something, at least.”

India smiled at her and replied, “I’m really glad, Maise. And if you don’t mind me being there, I’d love to show my support. The Stone name is good in this town, but the Sheridan name is even better. You can feel free to throw it around all you want.”

Maisie smiled back at her, and India tried to memorize it because she expected it to fall from Maisie’s face soon, when she inevitably told India that this thing, whatever it had been and however brief, was over between them.

“He also suggested that I join his staff.”

“He didwhat?”

“He mentioned that you thought it might be good for him to have someone on his team who didn’t just agree withhim all the time.”

“I did. But I didn’t say that it should be you. You said no, right?”

“I told him I’d think about it, actually.”

“Maisie, my half-brother is an asshole. He’s a total dick. I think he gets that from the half that’s not related to me. Of course, I have the asshole part in me, too, I suppose. I didn’t tell you he was my brother.”

“He said it would help if I decided to run again.”

“You might run again?”

“I want to make a difference. And I love my shop, but I think I can do more. This could be a good chance for me to get some experience and make a few connections.”

“It could be, yes. But he’s still Colter.”

“He said he’d be paying me to disagree with him, and I could always quit if I don’t like it.”

“That’s true.”

“I wanted to thank you for giving him the idea. I know it might be terrible, but it could also be really good for me.”

“Honestly, I didn’t think he listened to a word I said, so maybe he’s not a lost cause, after all.”

“Maybe not,” Maisie said. “And maybewearen’t a lost cause, either.”