Page 14 of Pursuit of Happiness

Stevie stepped up. “I’ll drink to that. Public servants lining upfor a sip of fancy liquor.”

Meredith laughed and joined them. Jack had just begun pouringwhen Julia burst through the door with Jennifer by her side.

“There are five hundred wedding guests waiting for us to cut acake and you clowns are in here drinking.”

Meredith raised her glass. “You make it sound like we’re having akegger. We’re having fancy drinks. When we’re done here, we’re going to yoursuite and drinking your bottle.”

“You’re going to want to be sober for what I’m about to tellyou.” Julia glanced back at the closed door. “This can’t leave the room for thenext hour. Understood?”

Meredith didn’t have to look to know that most of the people inthe room were looking Stevie’s way since she was the only one not part of thegroup. “We get it. State secrets and all that. Pretty sure you’re safe in thiscrowd of attorneys and soldiers.”

“Connie Armstrong is about to announce she’s pulling out of therace.”

Rook let out a low whistle and Addison shook her head. Meredithfroze with the glass of Scotch halfway to her lips. She set it on the table,needing to be perfectly sober for this conversation. “What happened?”

“Information is still coming in, but it appears that the networkat her Dallas headquarters was hacked and emails have been leaked. I haven’tseen them yet, but word is they are pretty damaging. There’s a meetingscheduled at Connie’s office in an hour.”

Addison moved to Julia’s side. “Tell me you don’t have to go.”

“You couldn’t make me. But, Rook, I’m afraid that means—”

Rook set her glass down. “On it. Zoey, you should stick around. Ihear the cake’s fantastic.”

Meredith watched Rook dash off, and she reached into her bag,itching to make a call. Surely someone she knew had some inside info on whatwas about to come out. Whatever it was, it had to be big to take someone likeConnie Armstrong down.

“Do you need to go too?”

She looked up into Stevie’s eyes. What she needed and what shewanted were tangled up in the way she felt about this woman. She couldn’t letthat happen. Torn between wanting to go and wanting to stay, she searched hergut for answers, but Jen appeared at her side before she could settle on aplan.

“Mere, we should go.”

Jen was right. Whatever news was breaking could have hugeramifications for their entire party, and everyone who valued their politicalfuture would be wise to stay on top of it. She trusted Jen to vet the news, butif this news was big enough to interrupt a bride at her wedding, then shewanted to hear the developments firsthand.

“It’s okay. Duty calls. I get it.” Stevie smiled. “Trust me. I’veleft plenty of dates in the lurch for an emergency client call.”

Meredith ignored her sister’s urgent press on her arm. “Are yousure? I’ll ride with Jen, and Erica can take you home.”

“Nonsense. I can find my way. Go, take care of business.”

Meredith leaned forward and kissed Stevie lightly on the cheek.“Erica will drive you. It’s the least I can do for bailing on you. Have a greattime. I’ll talk to you later.” She motioned to Jen who dutifully handed Steviea business card with Erica’s number on the back, and with one last glance atStevie, made her way to the door.

Another reason not to get serious about anyone: having to bail ondates midway through because one of your Senate colleagues can’t run a tightship. She dared not look back because she knew if Stevie were still watchingher, all the reasons would dissolve in a puddle of regret.

* * *

“You feel like stalking the cake table with me?” Zoey asked.

“I’m guessing you’re used to this,” Stevie said.

“I don’t know that I’ll ever get used to Rook being on calltwenty-four seven, but since I used to be married to a job that sent me placeson a moment’s notice without ever asking how I felt about it, I know what it’slike from both sides.”

Zoey’s words were an echo of the assurances she’d offeredMeredith only moments ago, and she wondered if Zoey meant them any more thanshe had. The truth was, unless someone’s life was in jeopardy, she wasn’tcertain she’d rush off to deal with a crisis in the middle of a date on aSaturday night, but politics had its own set of rules. Rules that thankfullyshe didn’t have to live by. “I should probably go.”

“Nope. I’m overruling you,” Zoey said. “I could use help edgingout these DC insiders who are already circling the cake table. Besides, cake isthe very best reason to come to a wedding. I think it might be illegal to leavebefore you’ve gotten your share.”

“Oh, you do, huh?” Stevie glanced across the room and saw Juliaand Addison standing by the gorgeous, many-tiered cake. Thinking Hannah wouldnever forgive her if she didn’t provide her with a detailed report on thetasting, she reluctantly agreed. “Okay, I’m in. But you have to stick with me.I recognize a ton of faces in this room, but only from TV.”

“Deal.” Zoey led them over to a cocktail table on the edge of thedance floor, close to the head table where a photographer was shooting picturesof Addison and Julia cutting the cake. “How long have you been with the PD’soffice?”

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