Page 70 of Tips and Trysts

“I loved it.”

Alyssa beams and gives me another hug. Before she pulls away, she whispers, “You and Everett are so blindingly beautiful together.” I don’t know how she knows, and it’s the briefest of compliments, but strangely, it feels like…pride.

“Ms. Flores,” a familiar voice calls, severing the moment. Governor Logan tips his chin at me. “You have your arm back.”

Sure do. I just used this arm to press on your son’s perineum.

“What an astute observation, Warren,” Alyssa comments with an annoyed sigh, facing the governor.

The governor does this thing with his jaw—a hybrid of a swallow and a clench. What emerges on his face is a smile, but there’s something behind it, like a grimace trying to seep through his perfect teeth.

“A pleasure as always,” he murmurs, and it’s unclear if he’s speaking to Alyssa or me.

When he’s gone, Essie releases the breath she was holding. “What the fuck was that?” she blurts out. “I’ve seen less hostile interactions outside Walmart on Black Friday.”

“Warren has a way of souring situations,” Alyssa replies, rolling her eyes.

“Cora,” Beverly chimes in, which makes Essie jump and whirl around.

“What the fuck wasthat?” she questions, clutching her hand to her chest. “Were you just standing there? Why are you all so spooky?”

“Don’t mind Essie,” I request. “Did you need something?”

Pointedly, Beverly glances at Essie, who sighs. “Fine. Alyssa and I can go find Valeria and Lander—”

“Lander is with Everett and Dalton,” Beverly interrupts. “And it would be better if you kept your distance—”

“Beverly,” I cut in, taking my turn to interrupt. “You and I are in business. Reluctantly, sure, but we are. You and my girl Essie—” I cock my head at her, “are not. So you can talk to me as curtly as you want because I’m a big girl and I’m not going to fault a woman for doing her job. But if youevermake my friend feel small again, I’ll seduce Governor Logan and destroy his political career. Is that clear?”

Beverly’s lips press together into a perfectly painted mauve line that contrasts impeccably with the amused smiles on Alyssa and Essie’s faces. “That’s fair.”

“Lovely,” I say, grinning. “Essie, Alyssa, can you give us a minute?”

Once they’re gone, Beverly pulls me to the side. “What’s going on with you? Everett is uniquely poised to win, and by not fulfilling your end of the deal, you’re putting him at risk.”

I find myself nodding. “I know he is. I’m sorry, what did I miss?”

There’s a beat of silence before Beverly clears her throat. “Oh. Right—thanks. I need you to get a boyfriend or a date, remember? I can coordinate the photographer and send the photos to the right outlets, but it would help if you posted it on your socials. Simple.”

“Anything to support my friend.”My friend whose balls I sucked an hour ago.“That all?” I ask, refraining from stating the obvious: Beverly totally expected me to be a bitch about this.

She shakes her head. “Thank you, Cora.”

Once Beverly leaves, I check my phone and see two messages from Everett:

Politics Boy

My father is making me have dinner with him

Strongly considering eating meat so I get sick and have to leave, but then I’d be useless to you

Me

No worries

You were incredible, by the way. I’m really proud of you

Everett doesn’t reply, but I know he’s busy—and this is how things will likely go: him pulled in a hundred directions, and any encounters between us limited to secret trysts.

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