Page 43 of Pursuit of Happiness

“That’s definitely a worst-case scenario. Gordon, I need a nightat home. In my apartment surrounded by my things. I need to sleep in my ownbed.”

“Someone’s grouchy again today. This wouldn’t have anything to dowith meeting up with a certain someone would it?”

She scanned his face for clues about his reaction to what heapparently already knew and decided it was pointless to try to hide how shefelt from him. “It might. How did you know?”

“It’s my business to know. Besides, one of my people overheardJen making the arrangements.”

Meredith raised her hands in surrender. “Is it wrong that I wantto have a little personal time with someone who has nothing to do with thiscampaign? Because I’m telling you right now that if I don’t get this, I’m notgoing to make it for the long haul.”

Gordon pursed his lips and studied her like he was trying tofigure out how to deliver unpleasant news. She poked him in the arm and said,“Out with it.”

“Fine. It’s not wrong for you to want some private time. Key wordprivate. But just how on the down low do you think you’re going to be able tokeep this? If I found out, someone else will too.”

“Trust me, we’ll be careful. The last thing Stevie wants is to becaught in the eye of a media hurricane.”

“And that’s the last thing I want for you too.”

His statement was emphatic and stoked a fire of rebellion inMeredith. “You object to me dating someone?”

“No, I object to the candidate dating someone while trying toland the highest office in the land. It’s not just about you anymore.” Hepointed toward the crowd of campaign workers waiting on the other side of theroom. “All these people, and thousands more across the country, are givingtheir time and money to do whatever they can to help get you elected. You owethem a duty to stay focused on the prize, and the prize right now is gettingelected.” He lowered his voice. “Not getting laid.”

“It’s not like that,” Meredith hissed, ready to punch him in themouth. “She’s—”

“Amazing? Wonderful? I know, I know. She may be all of thosethings, and you can indulge in all of her wonders. After you’re elected.”

Meredith started to fire off a response, but she knew in herheart she owed it to him to at least consider his advice or why else have himlead her campaign in the first place? Was he right? Did her growing feelingsfor Stevie affect her focus? She reflected over the past few days. She’d beenat times excited and grumpy and out of sorts. The excited part had nothing todo with the campaign and everything to do with the knowledge that if she couldjust hang in there for a bit longer, she could escape it all with a beautifulwoman and a few blessed hours of privacy. If thinking about what she wasmissing was affecting her this much so early in the campaign, what did the nextseven months have in store?

She couldn’t think about it right now. Not while she was standingin the airport watching the plane with her name emblazoned across the side beput out of commission. Not while she waited for the results of today’sprimaries to roll in. Eleven states were up in the air, and Lankin was nippingat her heels. She was already so on edge, what would happen if she didn’t seeStevie tonight?

Nothing, because not seeing Stevie tonight wasn’t an option.Maybe Gordon had a point, and if she survived tonight’s delegate count, shecould reevaluate, refocus, and put things on hold while she finished out thecampaign, but tonight she wasn’t going to move the goal. She’d counted on thisreward for getting through the last month of nonstop travel and appearances,and she damn well deserved it. Tonight, whether she was victorious in the pollsor not, she was going to have a win.

* * *

Hannah poked her head in Stevie’s office. “We’re headed to happyhour after work. Are you coming with?”

“No thanks. I’ve got plans.” Stevie barely looked up from thework on her desk, not because she was focused, but to avoid Hannah’s naturallie detector. She did have plans, just not ones she could tell Hannah or anyoneelse about because she was determined to keep her trip to New York asclandestine as possible.

“Plans, huh?” Hannah walked into her office and plopped down in oneof the chairs across from her desk. “Let’s see. You can’t possibly have planswith the hot chick who’s running for president because she’s going to be prettybusy tonight.”

“What? Oh, yeah, I guess that’s right.”

Hannah narrowed her eyes. “Wait. You do have plans with her,don’t you? But how? She’s in Atlanta and you’re here. Are you going to havephone sex with the next president of the United States? I could totally sellthis story to theNationalEnquirerand retire to that beach house I’ve been dreaming about.”

Stevie stifled her visceral reaction to theEnquirerreferencebecause she knew Hannah was kidding. She knew Hannah pretty damn well, and itfelt weird not to share her plans. “Shut the door.”

Hannah leaned over and pushed the door shut. “Spill.”

“This is top secret, like if you tell anyone I’ll rip your tongueout top secret. Got it?”

Hannah mimed locking her mouth shut and throwing away the key.“Mmm-mmm.”

“You’re a goof. I’m flying to New York this afternoon and stayingthe night at Meredith’s place in the city.” She watched Hannah’s face for somereflection of her own excitement, but she got nothing but a puzzled expression.“What?”

“Does Meredith know you’re coming?”

“You’re hilarious.”

“No, really. CNN says her plane was grounded in Atlanta and hercampaign coordinator there is looking at hotel space for her entire team and aballroom where they can watch the returns.”

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