Page 79 of Tips and Trysts

“Come get your boy,” Valeria instructs.

Lander appears in the doorway to Cora’s condo and his face pulls back in surprise when he sees me. “I was fully expecting Dalton,” he admits. “You’re supposed to be home prepping for the Regina Rutherson interview.”

“Fuck Regina Rutherson,” I respond—something nobody has ever said about 24N’s most powerful anchor. I motion to Cora, whose face still hasn’t entirely lost its stunned expression. “She’s more important.”

“Everett, it’s PR,” Cora protests. “It doesn’t mean anything.”

“You don’t have to do this,” I insist, taking another step toward her. In my periphery, Valeria flinches. I look over and raise an eyebrow.

“Sorry,” Valeria mutters. “It’s a reflex. I’m not used to Cora letting guys go near her so…easily.”

“Wait, were you about to throw hands?” I question.

“She was,” Cora remarks, placing her thumb and index finger on my chin and orienting my face so I’m looking at her. “And she’ll do the same thing if anyone gets handsy tonight. I’ll be fine.”

The thought of some leather-wearing,I-don’t-really-vote,-you-know?,cigarette-butt flicking degenerate coming up behind her and touching her in a grimy club is my literal nightmare. “No. Nope. I hate it. I’m beggingyou to stay home.”

Cora sighs. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but:Stop begging. It’s just PR.”

“Don’t care. I don’t want you out with someone else. Men looking at you is one thing, but I’m the only one who gets you.”

“Everett.” Cora takes a step forward. “I want to do this for you. I want you to win. You seriously can’t survive one night where a guy I’ll never see again buys me a drink and takes a picture with me?”

“I would ratherdie,” I reply immediately.

Cora lifts both eyebrows. “You’re serious,” she mutters. “I did it. I rewired Everett Logan.”

“Call Beverly and cancel.”

“Then she’ll tell your father,” Cora counters. “Is that what you want? You want Governor Warren E. Logan to know?”

When I don’t answer right away, Cora knows she won the hand. She kisses me. “Everett, I’m going. I’ll be at your house in two hours. Can you last two hours?”

“Uber’s here,” Essie announces while she tugs on her heels by the door. “Let’s please not mess up my rating by making him wait, okay? Okay, great.”

Nearly panicking, I tighten my grip on Cora. “Don’t go.”

Cora lets out a slow exhale. “I didn’t want it to come to this, but…” She rises on her toes to look past me. “Lander, can you…”

“No,” I protest. “Princess, don’t you fucking go—”

But right when I’m moving toward Cora, Lander grabs my arm. He hauls me into the hallway, and I fight the whole way.

Twenty-Seven

EVERETT

“We—” Lander grunts, successfullyyanking me a few feet before I latch my hands on Cora’s doorframe. “—are not—” He pulls my arm harder, managing to break my grip. “—doing thisagain.” With a final heave, he shoves me into his condo, slams the door, and flattens his back against it.

Over on the couch, Pierre perks right up. Tongue lolling, he wags his tail and releases two piercing, high-pitched barks. I, personally, interpret those barks as a resounding,I’m proud of you, favorite uncle! You and the pretty, sneezy lady are meant to be!

I tug the hem of my shirt, straightening it. “Move,” I order, cocking my head to the side.

Lander’s expression is unwavering. “No.”

“Move.”

“No,” Lander repeats, frowning now. “Who are you?”

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