Page 65 of Capitally Engaged

Duncan

My assistant is keeping me up to date and says the exit poll numbers look strong.

Hunter

Seriously, you can’t track that yourself?

Duncan

What else are assistants for?

Hayden

My boss, ladies and gents.

But getting back on track, Char and I have ordered take out and are glued to MSNBC. We keep looking for you guys in the crowd.

Charlotte

I keep looking. Hayden keeps eating.

Spencer

Make sure you give the senator a good luck kiss for me. He looks handsome in his suit.

Preston

Making note to self to get him a restraining order against you before you move to DC.

Jax

I dunno. I think he’s got a shot.

Spencer

Meh, maybe. Maybe not. I think I’ve had enough of the over-controlling type in my life for a while. DC is my oyster. Let the bi boy run free.

Jax

We’ll definitely need to be sure we’re in town for Pride next June.

Preston and I were moving to Massachusetts in January so he could get involved in the local community and launch his campaign in his home state later next year. We found a cute little place in the Sixth Congressional District that had a home office for each of us and allowed pets. Preston adorably thought we were getting a dog, but I knew at heart we’re both cat people. Spencer planned to move into Preston’s studio. We hoped to be able to hang onto it until the election in two years.

“Preston,The Providence Timeswants you for a quote about the senator’s speech at the fall festival last week.” Laurel walked over, a headset in one ear and a clipboard in hand.

“Duty calls,” he said, giving me a kiss on the cheek and walking over to the reporter in question, shaking their hand and putting on his politician’s smile. I loved all of his smiles, but that one in particular could make me do anything he wanted. I banned him from using it all but once a week whenever I realized I had done the laundry four weeks in a row.

“So, you ready to sign up for another six years of this?” I gestured at the party with my glass of wine. Laurel looked around thoughtfully.

“I think I am, or at least the start of it. Caitlin’s talking about marriage and kids, but is getting promoted next year. We each want to attempt to carry a child, so I think I’ll go first, knock on wood.” She knocked on the back of her clipboard. “So whoknows if I’ll make it the full six years, but I also no longer want to ring the senator’s neck on a daily basis, so maybe I will.”

“Weekly though still, right?” I said conspiratorially.

“Absolutely.” She grinned back. “How are you feeling about the move? Ready for what comes next?”

“I am.” I looked back and forth, making sure no one nearby was paying us any attention. “My agent sold my next book series to a traditional publisher, under my real name. It’s a small-town sapphic cowgirl romance.”

“Jax! That’s amazing. I’m so proud of you, and also want you to send it to me ASAP. But does this mean the paranormal series you were telling me about is dead? Because I so want to read about the alien senator falling in love with a human girl.”

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