Page 51 of Senator

After leaving Veer and spending a good hour crying, I’d checked in on Kevin, who was recovering miserably from a hangover. I’d offered for him to fly up and lounge around in PJs with me, while we ate pints of double chocolate chunk ice cream, but he’d declined, telling me it was time to move on and he needed some alone time to get himself together.

He was right, and I’d spent the rest of the day accepting the fact that my ambition came with a price. What started worrying me was, would the price both Kevin and I had to pay end up making us resent each other? He deserved love as much as I did, and the only way to have the type of relationships we both wanted was to sneak around.

We’d known from the start our relationship was a politically orchestrated arrangement, but now that it was going to become official, my stomach hurt with the knowledge we’d live out our lives wrapped in a well-planned lie.

I released a deep breath and opened my compact to check my makeup one last time. My makeup was flawless, as was my updo. The only thing that gave away the turmoil inside was my eyes.

Anyone who knew me would see the sadness, especially Tyler, who was going to fill in for Kevin tonight. He’d flown in from Louisiana an hour earlier and had decided to meet me at the hotel. I was both excited to see him and dreading it. My twin had a way of knowing what was in my mind before anyone else. Hopefully, we wouldn’t have to discuss my melancholy or fucked-up love life until after we got back to our family condo.

I returned my compact to my clutch and waited for Oscar to open the door. The second I stepped out into the cool spring air, Tyler greeted me.

“Hey, little sis.”

I smiled and hugged him, letting the comfort of his arms engulf me. He must have sensed my sadness since he held on for a few seconds longer.

When I stepped out of his hold, I said, “You’re only two minutes older than me.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “I’m still older, and therefore you are the baby of the family.”

“Whatever,” I halfheartedly grumbled.

He offered me his elbow. “Time for the Camden twins to rock this joint.”

I slipped my arm through his. “I doubt there will be any opportunities to dance on tables at this event. Remember we are two well-respected members of Congress.”

“Who like a good party,” he muttered as we walked toward the hotel entrance. “Do you miss being carefree without all the attention and watching every step you take? Sometimes I wish we could go back to the way it was.”

“If you remember, I’ve never had the chance to party it up without a chaperone. Someone was always watching over me in undergrad and later in law school. Hell, at Stanford it was twice as bad. It was Sam’s security along with mine.”

“It’s not my fault you turned out to be super nerd extraordinaire and entered college at fourteen, while my ass was still in high school like a normal kid.”

“Stop your whining. You did your own version of trailblazing. You’re one of the youngest members of the House.”

“True, but becoming a politician ruined my love life.”

Tyler’s last relationship had ended in an epic disaster. He’d learned a little too late that the woman who he was planning to marry wanted him for his influence and social standing, not the man underneath the affluent name. I couldn’t stand the gold digger from the moment I met her—all she talked about were the people I knew and if I could get her an introduction. It had taken two years and walking in on her fucking the neighbor for Tyler to accept that she’d played him.

“You and me both.”

Tyler and I posed for a few photos and then entered the hotel.

“Will you do me a favor tonight?” I asked.

“Sure.”

“Don’t leave my side unless it is absolutely necessary. I am too exhausted to handle any confrontations with anyone, and without a doubt there will be a few people who are ready to strike at my heels.”

“I’ll do my best. Once our first lady makes her speech, all hell is going to break loose, and we know who they’re going to point the finger at.”

“Me, of course.” I adjusted my clutch and nodded to a few passing congressmen. “Who decided it would be tonight? You or Tara?”

“Yours truly.” Tyler gave me a devilish grin that made him look like a little boy who was getting into mischief. “Tonight’s benefit is all about children, making it the perfect place to announce an initiative aimed at ending the child bride trade. Tara and Mrs. Edgar happened to agree with my assessment. Plus, today is the last bipartisan event all the candidates will attend before the campaigning begins.”

I gripped Tyler’s arm. “I don’t want you to get the backlash. If Edgar comes after me, don’t get in the way.”

“You think I’m worried about what Edgar thinks of me? He knows how to play the game as well as anyone. Besides, he went after you in the most underhanded way. He used your attacker and his father to question your ethics. Everyone knows he was the one who set up Decker’s press conference. I feel it’s time for payback.”

“Calm down, superhero. This isn’t about me. I put the demons of Decker Junior to bed years ago.” Well, for the most part. No one truly got over being assaulted. “This is about Tara and clearing her name.”

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