Page 140 of Release

Chapter Thirty-Three

Saturday

Now that we’ve won the election, there’s still stuff to do.

Alotof stuff.

George didn’t get an inauguration the first time around—he got Ellen’s memorial and a quiet swearing-in ceremony, him taking his oath with Aussie holding the Bible given to Ellen by her grandmother, with his and Ellen’s wedding picture tucked inside the front cover.

It didn’t matter that they were both atheists—the Bible was a treasured family heirloom that Ellen valued because of what it meant to her.

Had she been alive, with her holding the book for him, he would have sworn his oath on one of his law dictionaries. Declan and I stood back and watched from the side of the room, safely out of the way of the cameras.

I didn’t want attention on us. I’m his chief of staff. I’d appeared in front of the cameras as the “family spokesman” too many times over the weeks before that moment. I was happy to step out of the spotlight for this.

I mean, thank everything under the sun that what I thought we knew was dead wrong. I’m always going to grieve Ellen and feel cheated that we didn’t get more time together. So will George.

But George, at least, was home where he belonged. I’d be damned if I’d not celebrate that.

So we survived that trial and made our way through navigating George’s new job. Dropped into it running full speed, and we had a steep learning curve.

Thankfully, George is a brilliant man, I’m a tenacious, resourceful bitch, and wily Declan is the eager glue who held us both together, even back then.

And now we’rehere, at this moment, able to plan a proper celebration for a re-elected governor. George will get to relish and revel in this night, so I want it to be a good one. I want to help celebrate it as much as I can without drawing any attention to myself.

Or triggering suspicions.

That means I have to be careful and watch myself.

Today, this first Saturday after the election, it’s only me and George sitting in his kitchen and discussing plans. Declan’s at the grocery store right now.

I’ll only need George’s input on a few items. The logistics and minutiae I’ll handle myself, or let Declan take care of. But a few things are personal touches, and he needs to make the call.

Today, I’m going over music with him. I thought George would want his first dance to be with Aussie, but she’s bringing Ashleigh, and he’d rather she have that memory.

“I’d like my first dance to be with Declan,” he tells me.

I’m a little…confused. “Are you asking me, or telling me?”

“I’m asking,” he quietly says. “I want my second dance to be with Aussie, and my third to be with you. But I want everyone to see me dance with him first.”

I’m not sure what to make of that. “That’ll make people talk. You realize that, right?”

“They’ll talk even more when I kiss him right there in front of everyone.”

It finally clicks. “Ah. Is that how we’re doing this?”

“That’show we’re doing this. Plus, it means Aussie won’t have as much attention focused on her over Ashleigh. I’ll take the bulk of the incoming PR fire.”

I smile. “They’re going to be howling across this state.”

He shrugs as he smiles in return. “Let them. I’ve earned this happiness. I won’t hesitate to throw that back in their faces, either. God obviously wanted me to survive and be governor, right? I can use their own words against them.” His smile fades. “So, is that a yes?”

“What?”

“Do you mind if I dance with Declan before I dance with you?”

I sigh. “Do youreallylove him? You know what this’ll mean, right?”