Page 92 of The Mayor and the Mystery Man

Cal could use some pointers on cleanliness, and Russ was a neat freak. This was either a wonderful idea or would end in bloodshed.

Cal rolled his eyes and turned back to me. “We’re going to put my house up for sale this spring.”

“The Hogan House. Time to say goodbye.” Mitch wiped down the counter.

Mitch and I used to hang out with Cal’s older brother Derek in high school at his house pretending to study, which mostly entailed raiding the fridge and shit-talking classmates. When his parents passed, Cal inherited the house and moved back in with Josh.

“I’m excited for you guys.” I went over and clapped Russ and Cal on the shoulder. They were a ridiculously cute couple. Though, Dusty and I might be giving them competition. “I’ll help you move out, Cal.”

“You will?”

I nodded yes.

“Thanks, buddy!”

Perhaps it was the emotions of today that overwhelmed my common sense. I’d probably regret offering, but I was grateful to have these guys in my life, and if that meant a little manual labor from time to time, it was well worth it.

“I’ll have plenty of time next year.” I sat on my stool, refusing to look at the pity glances my friends were probably giving me.

I drank a healthy, needed gulp of beer, and when I put down my glass, I didn’t find looks of pity. My friends had stony faces of determination as if we were in a football huddle.

“You guys look a little scary,” I said.

“What’s the plan?” Dusty asked.

“Still figuring that out. Taking a brief hiatus to drink.” Another gulp of beer went down my gullet.

“We can figure it out together,” Dusty said. “We can reach out to Maria Lopez at theGazette, do an exclusive interview rebutting the story. It’s no longer true because we’re actually in love.”

Hearing Dusty say he loved me continued to send bolts down my spine.

“She’s not answering me or Vernita’s calls. She tweeted it was time to stop believing in fairy tales. She feels lied to.” Maria was so excited about the old pictures and seeing us together. She, and the rest of the town, thought we gave an Oscar-worthy performance.

“You can have a rally,” suggested Cal.

“You can push the things you’ve done to help Sourwood, do a massive nonstop campaign tour,” said Russ.

“I can hold an event here,” offered Mitch. “Reinforce your talking points and remind them they like you.”

“Thanks, guys. I was with Dusty to improve my likability, which I’ve now shot in the foot.” I wasn’t being negative, I told myself. I was being realistic. I never did well playing the likability game, and it backfired on me.

Dusty was unusually quiet. His forehead scrunched tight in thought. I was intrigued, and a smidge turned on. Amazing how my dick could find a way to get hard no matter the situation.

“What’s on your mind, Dust?”

“You’re thinking about this all wrong,” he said, getting my attention. “This isn’t about talking points or the campaign. Sourwood is like a boyfriend you’ve wronged. You need to win him back.”

“I don’t think I follow…”

“Ever since I got here and agreed to this, I’ve heard how you had a likability issue, but you don’t, Leo. I’ve seen how you are when you meet constituents out and about. You’re warm and thoughtful. You show them the sides of you that made me want to be your friend and made me fall in love with you. You care deeply, but you encase it behind this professional sheen and this wall of sharp-tongued comments.”

Dusty combed his hair back, his eyes alive and bright. “Your polling didn’t climb because of me. They climbed because you let voters in. You were genuine. You weren’t trying to project this image of the perfect politician. I helped show that side of you, and people want to see it.”

“I had to project that image.” I felt like I’ve always been trying to win people over, convince them I was worthy of the position.

“They want to see the real you.”

This sounded nuts. I tried to turn away, but Dusty swiveled my seat to face him. The other guys were clustered around, listening intently.

---