Page 105 of Whiskey and Regret

“It was nice.” I smoothed my hand repeatedly over the comforter on the bed.

“Nice? That’s it, Xari? I expected you to be bubbling over with details.”

“To be honest, Navy I don’t remember much about any of it. I’m just glad it’s over and I didn’t fuck up.”

“What’s wrong with you? Something is seriously off. I can’t remember ever hearing you sound so…defeated. Did you and Senator Freeman stop messing around?”

“What? No. We’re in love. Why would we?” The words tumbled out before I realized what happened. Navy’s gasp made me realize my faux pas immediately.

“I knew it! I knew it! Not only are you fucking Senator Freeman, you’re in love with him?”

I pinched the bridge of my nose and groaned. How the fuck did I let that slip? It wasn’t a little slip either. That was a full-blown fucking slip.

“Goddammit, Navy.”

“Don’t goddammit Navy me. You’re so caught up in whatever has you down that you let your secret slip. I mean, it wasn’t that big of a secret. I knew from looking at you two that something was going on. It looked serious but I couldn’t be sure how serious because you were so hell-bent on keeping it a secret.”

“Ugh. Everything is out in the open now and I feel so exposed. I hate this.”

“Hate what, sis? Something is really bothering you.” Her tender tone made tears prick my eyes.

“Frankie walked in on us fucking and she had no idea we were even together,” I confessed.

“Oh no…” Navy sighed. “Is she okay?”

“No. She’s hurt. She made me promise her I wouldn’t get involved with Evander. She said she sees the way women look at him and she didn’t want me to be one of those women. I promised her I wouldn’t be. Now…look at me.”

“Have you talked to her?” Navy asked.

“I tried but she keeps telling me to leave her alone. She won’t talk to her father either. I don’t know how to tell her that dick is everywhere, but chemistry isn’t. I don’t know how to package that for a twelve-year-old.”

“Leaving the dick is everywhere part out would be a great start.”

“It’s so true though. I can’t tell you how many casual fucks I’ve had but Evander is different.”

“He must be because you’ve changed since working for him.”

“I have. In the best ways. He’s changed too.” A smile tried to inch across my lips but stopped once Frankie popped into my head.

“Now that you mention it, he has changed. He’s so laid back now,” she noticed.

“See, that’s all me. There’s no way to show Frankie how much we care about each other. All she knows is that I’m fucking her father. Evander and I wanted to tell her in a comfortable setting so she wouldn’t feel like either of us lied to her or hurt her but now…” My words trailed off.

“It’ll be okay, Xari. If you’re really in love with Senator Freeman…I mean, Evander then Frankie finding out like this isn’t going to kill the relationship. It’s a hiccup for sure but not the end.”

“Thanks, sissy. Are you mad at me for being with Evander?” I wanted to know what Navy thought. Her opinion meant a lot to me.

“I’m shocked. Well, I was when I put it together. I was never upset though.”

“Shocked?” A small laugh slipped out.

“Yeah. You and him are polar opposites. He’s so straight-laced and you’re such a wild child. I’ve worked with him for a year now and I thought he lived and breathed being a senator. I used to wonder if he went home and plugged himself in at night to recharge.” She laughed at the notion. I understood how she could have that perception of him because I had it too.

“The only time I’ve seen him relax a little is when Frankie is around. You’ve unlocked a part of him. It’s interesting.” I shifted on the bed and pulled my knees up to my chest. I missed Evander right then. I wanted nothing more than to lay my head on his chest.

“Navy,” I said in a small voice. “What if he wants to put things between us on hold until he can get Frankie to come around?” The silent worry leaped from my heart and into the air. I couldn’t take it back once it left my mouth.

“I don’t think that’s going to happen, Xari.”