Page 37 of Capitally Engaged

“I suppose it does,” Duncan said, as if he were weighing my words. “Does she know you’re planning to run for office?”

“She does.” I hesitated, and decided now was a better time to deliver my news than through another group text later this year.“I’m going to announce my candidacy for the House after the Senate election this year. I’m running in the next cycle.”

Cheers and congratulations erupted from the table, and my brother signaled Eduardo for another glass of scotch for all of us. Something much more expensive and worthy of a celebration than what was included in our flight. Only after we had toasted the good news, and our food had arrived, did Duncan bring the conversation back around.

“So I have to ask, did you make the decision about the timing to run before or after you proposed?”

I thought about how to answer that question, not wanting to build in any more lies. “I decided before I proposed, but Jax knew I had been thinking about it. She actually called me out on the timing before I could tell her my final decision.”

I held up my hand as Duncan started to interrupt. “But I promise it’s different. Jax cares about people and issues like I do. She left a political reporting job to come work for the senator’s office because she saw how overworked and stressed I had become.” That was mostly true.

“I understand it seems fast and sudden, but you said it yourself, Dunc. She shows up. She’s been showing up for me and I have faith she’ll keep showing up.” I said this with conviction because I knew it to be true. Even when she was mad at me over the couch, she still came to the interview instead of blowing me off and finding another job on her own. “Can you please just trust me and move on?”

I looked at each brother, waiting for them to nod. I knew their concern came from a place of love, and I hated lying to them. I needed this conversation to be over.

“All right, deal. But I would like to have more family dinners when our schedules line up. Whoever happens to be in town. If she’s going to be around, I want to get to know her better.”

I swallowed another mouthful of scotch, the burning of it down my throat matching the burning of my conscience. What would happen when Jax and I eventually went our separate ways? We may well extend our arrangement past the initial three months, but eventually one of us would want out. At the very least, in our current circumstances, it meant a sexless existence. That had been my reality for the last several years, but I doubted the same rang true for her.

“You got it,” I responded, hoping the smile on my face looked natural and not forced.

“So Hunter,” Duncan turned on the youngest Brandt brother present. “What’s new with you?”

“And here I thought you’d never ask,” he drawled, a knowing smirk on his face. His expression turned serious as he looked at his twin, who nodded encouragingly. “Actually, I do have some news. I’m about six weeks away from finishing my culinary certification at the community college in Winterberry Glen.”

I put my hand on Duncan’s arm before he could signal for another round of scotch. We needed to be able to walk out of this place. “That’s so great, Hunter. I had no idea you liked to cook.”

He laughed. “Honestly, neither did I. But after I moved out of Dad’s and Margaret’s a few years ago, way later than I should have,” he added wryly. “I got sick of eating take out. I started out small and worked my way up to recipes I found online.

“I’ve made a few things for dinners at Dad’s place, but it’s sort of sad to not have anyone to cook for. So, I found this program and Hayden helped me with the tuition, so I didn’t have to tell anyone. I know I have a habit of starting things and not finishing them. Part of me wanted to wait until I finished to tell anyone, but then I realized I had to sit through all of your graduations, so maybe it was time you returned the favor.”

“Absolutely,” I said, and Duncan echoed me. “Tell us the date and we’ll be there.”

Hunter looked bashful. “The program is finished in April, but I walk in May. I’ll get you all the info so you can mark it in your calendars.”

Duncan and I made eye contact, and I nodded. “I think it’s time for that extra round of scotch after all.”

We sat at the table, much longer than we deserved, Duncan slipping Eduardo a few hundreds from his billfold to make up for the lost turnover. It had been months since we all were able to spend time together, and even longer since it was a casual afternoon without any agenda or time constraints. We even FaceTimed Spencer for a few minutes, before dirty looks from our neighbors made us promise to call him back individually over the next few days.

Eventually, Duncan pushed back from the table, announcing he had some work that needed attending to at the office.

“Is work code for something else?” Hunter asked. Duncan gave him a sly smile, and hugged us each in turn, turning toward the exit with a salute.

“I wonder if Charlotte is up for a mid-afternoonworksession,” Hayden mused, checking his phone. I shuddered. I knew all my brothers weren’t hard up for sex, but I didn’t need the fact shoved right in my face.

“What about Hunter? He’s staying with you guys, right?”

“He has that friend from his job at the auto body shop who lives here now he’s going to meet for a drink, right, Hunt?”

“Right,” Hunter answered, checking his phone and not meeting either of our eyes. Only the fact that mixing champagne and scotch did not make a good combination for Hayden did his twin sense not pick up that Hunter was obviously lying.

“She says if I come home right now, she’ll let us play secretary/boss,” Hayden said, pushing his chair back so fast it scraped on the floor, “so I’m out.” He saluted us and left the room as fast as polite company would allow.

“I’m positive she did not want him to tell us that,” Hunter said, watching his twin’s departing figure.

“He’ll be okay to get home, right?” I wondered if I should follow him.

“Oh yeah. Charlotte’s like a homing signal for him. He won’t let her down,” he answered. Looking at his phone again, a small smile appeared.

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