Page 128 of The Baller

I realized why she was such a good politician. She reeled you in, she deflected every question, or answered with one of her own. She used seventy-five words when six would have sufficed, until you couldn’t remember what you’d asked. The last twenty-four hours I’d cursed her with every word I had in my vocabulary for making Radley cry, but now I felt sorry for her.

She wasn’t just the President; she was a mom who hurt, and wanted to make sure her daughter was okay.

I was beginning to wonder if maybe her eyes weren’t bloodshot from tiredness alone.

“I can imagine.”

Having two sisters, I often acted as mediator between them, or between them and my mom. It was one of my hidden talents, and I’d lost count of the amount of times one or other had called to rant to me, only for the other to beep through on call waiting.

“Madam President…”

She held her hand up. “You can call me Emily. I think it’s best we don’t keep this official.”

“Um… sure. Emily…” I drew in a breath, “I know what it feels like to watch someone you love break down. I know the helplessness that comes with it, but surrounding her with more guards isn’t the answer, and will only push her away.”

She fixed those steely gold eyes on me, with the look of someone who’d forgotten what it was like to be told no. “Then what?”

“The Radley you’re describing is not the Radley I know. I’ve never met someone more sure of what they want, and determined to go after it. She’s not weak, she’s strong and brilliant. She has more resilience in her than anyone I know, and yesterday she wasn’t scared. She was an angry woman defending herself against the biggest bully. She did that without my help, or Special Agent Riley’s. It was all her, and she came away smiling.” I shook my head, more at myself as I rememberedhow badly I’d handled my own shit. I was the panicked one, where she’d been nothing but cool. “We could all learn more about how to overcome obstacles from her.”

The President turned to the windows again. Far down below us, lines had formed for entry into the U.S.S. Intrepid, sitting proud on the Hudson. The sun was still low enough that it created a halo around the ship, bouncing off the wings of the aircraft resting on the top deck, waiting for the day’s visitors. When she turned back to me, her expression had changed, showing less concern, and more resignation.

“Do you love my daughter?”

I replied without hesitation. “Very much.”

“And what would you do in my position?”

The answer was simple. I didn’t blink as I held her gaze. “Trust her. She needs to feel like you trust her to live her life. She needs to feel capable.”

She nodded slowly, though I had the impression she didn’t need my answer, because this wasn’t about Radley but about me and whatIwould do. “You’re going to get photographed a lot.”

“I’m photographed a lot anyway,” I shot back.

Whatever she was about to say died on her lips as the buzzer for the elevator went off. I was ninety-nine percent sure this wouldn’t be Payton or Holiday. I pushed off the counter and gestured to the boys, right as the ding of the doors sounded, and out walked Radley.

“Mom?!”

“Hi, sweetheart,” Emily jumped off her stool and smiled, her eyes softening as she looked at her daughter’s flushed and still sweaty face from a hard workout.

“Come on, guys, let’s leave them to talk in peace.” I pushed Tanner and Parker toward the elevator, pressing a kiss to Radley’s temple as I passed. “I love you. Call me if you need anything.”

“Where are we going?”

“Downstairs,” I replied to Ace, and grabbed the back of his sweatshirt, tugging him with me, shoving him the last few steps inside.

“Wait!” he cried, sticking his head out before I could stop him. “Madam President… about Opening Day…”

Parker slapped a hand over Ace’s mouth and pulled him back into the elevator right before the doors closed.

Right before he made an ass out himself, more like.

TWENTY-SIX

RADLEY

For the firsttime in her life, my mom appeared to be speechless. Or maybe she was waiting for me to speak. Or run into her arms.

Not today.

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