Page 12 of The Senator

“Yes, well, you didn’t answer when I called,” I snapped in return.

“Oh, Senator, I’m sorry. My cell is charging in my office,” was Mario’s response. If not answering a call from me was all the fucker thought he should be sorry about, he was sadly mistaken.

“You need to come out to the house. We need to talk about the statement you and Flora released today. I didn’t authorize it.”

“Uh, what? I… I got a… got an…” Mario was stammering, which only served to piss me off worse.

“I don’t know or care what you got, but you didn’t get it from me. You need to come out to the house ASAP.” I hung up.

I dialed Blaire’s number, hearing the phone answered on the first ring. “What?”

“Blaire, it’s me, Spence. I promise you, I didn’t give permission for a press release, and I’m trying to get to the bottom of it right now. I’m so sorry this is happening to you. I never meant to hurt you.”

The sniffle I heard was behind me. I turned to see Vanessa standing in the doorway. She stepped forward and reached out her hand, so I gave her the phone, not seeing that any further damage could be done.

“Blaire? This is Vanessa Brady. I’m so sorry this happened to you. I was the one who suggested Spencer should take you away for a few days before the campaign kicked into overdrive. I’ve known the two of you had seen each other since that party in January where you met. I approved completely.”

I couldn’t hear what Blaire said, but I could hear Vani’s response.

“It’s not a game, Blaire. Your feelings matter. I’m guessing Spencer didn’t tell you we have an open marriage, did he? We live separate lives together, which is what we’ve always done. I’m sorry you got caught in the crossfire. Goodbye.”

Based on the turn of events—and the look on Vani’s face—the relationship with Blaire was definitely over. I knew it in my gut, but it seemed as if my wonderful wife was trying to help me tie up loose ends. I would forever be grateful.

CHAPTER 6

NASH

I was folding laundry in my sublet when my cheap cell phone chimed from the charger on the kitchen counter. I picked it up to see it was a text from Vani Brady, as she’d invited me to call her when she demanded my cell number and gave me hers in return. I still wasn’t certain of that situation, but I did like the two of them. They seemed to have had a lot of shit thrown at them lately, and from what I’d learned, they were great people who didn’t deserve any of it. Their business was exactly that—their business.

Vani was a sweet person, though I was sure there was a toughness under all the mascara, lipstick, and those big blue eyes. She was beautiful, but she’d made it clear she wasn’t into me. I wasn’t offended. I hadn’t really considered a threesome with her and her husband, though the idea of it was intriguing. I was into him, but I wasn’t making a move. Based on what I’d read and heard, the man had enough bullshit in his life to last a lifetime.

Please come to 16 Sunnybrook Lane, Great Falls. It might seem premature, but we need you. Be careful! The press is camped out. Vani

For reasons I didn’t know, I grabbed my laundry and went to my bedroom, pulling out a duffel bag I got as a gift when I went to an open house at a nearby gym. I couldn’t afford to become a member, but the guy at the desk said I had a magical tongue and no gag reflex, so I worked out when he was working.

I called a cab after checking my cash stash and packed some clothes. I didn’t have a credit card, so Uber wasn’t an option, but I could get a cab from Bailey’s Crossroads to Great Falls easily. What I needed clarified was why should I do it?

What’s going on? Are you guys in danger? Nash

It seemed a logical question to me, so I waited for a response before I inserted myself into an unknown situation with two virtual strangers. After a minute, a response came.

Danger? Not likely. Pain? Definitely. There’s a lot to be said. Please come talk. There’s a gate to the backyard on the right side of the house. Go through the woods. Vani

As much as I wanted to ignore the text, something new tugged at my heart. No attachments. No regrets. Suddenly, those words seemed offensive, but I didn’t know why. I realized I couldn’t figure it out on my own, so I sent a response.

I’ll be there in an hour. Nash

It was surprising to watch my fingers tap out the text, but I was acting on instinct, not common sense. Why? I had no idea, but it seemed important that I go see Spence and Vani. When I received the return call from the Red Top Cab, I grabbed my things and went outside to wait under the shelter of the front door awning. What the hell am I doing?

The cab pulled away after I had my duffel out of the back seat, the driver happy to have been paid in cash. I understood his attitude completely, because getting paid under the table—as happened when I tricked—didn’t suck. I didn’t have a bank account, credit cards, or a credit score, as far as I knew. I lived on cash and lies, mostly to myself.

I was an independent contractor in both of my jobs, and I had the tax forms in confirmation, but I didn’t pay taxes. Hell, I didn’t make enough to owe taxes, but some government offices might disagree. I wasn’t chancing it, regardless.

I’d asked the driver to let me off down the block, seeing the swarm of media vipers parked outside the prestigious brick home on the cozy cul-de-sac. I walked down the hill and into the woods, finding the gate Vani had mentioned. It was unlocked, so I let myself inside and trudged up to the back deck, knocking on the door while holding my duffel in my left hand.

Vani opened the door and held her finger to her lips. “Thank you for coming. Spencer’s chief of staff is here, trying to explain why he issued a statement regarding the encounter in Antigua without Spence’s consent.”

I was confused. “Why did you need me?”

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