Page 73 of The Mayor and the Mystery Man

In the darkness of the audience, I made out Dusty mouthing I’m sorry at me before the moderator moved to a new topic.

* * *

“She’s getting desperate.”

My dressing room had a tenser vibe post-debate. Vernita, Ari, and Lucy sat around in extra chairs, not saying much of anything. Dusty stood in the corner, arms folded, quietest of all.

“The fact she’s going after Dusty for an isolated incident that has no bearing on any issue in this race…that is a clear sign of desperation.” I wiped off my light stage makeup I wore to avoid getting drowned out under the lights.

“It’s a low blow, but it’s one that could work,” Vernita said. She looked to Dusty. “Is there any information we’re missing?”

Dusty remained mum. He was shellshocked.

“Of course, there is!” I said for him. “That actor was sleeping with his girlfriend. Dusty doesn’t go around attacking people.”

“Is that what we tell people?” she asked with strange doubt in her voice.

“It’s the truth.”

“It doesn’t mesh with our timeline of when you and Dusty got together.” Vernita was a master at being the bearer of bad news. “We said that you and Dusty have been together since the summer.”

“So we can’t have him defending the honor of a girlfriend last month.” I smacked my head into the wall, covered with actors signing their names and messages left for future productions. Maybe the drywall had good ideas because I was out.

I heaved out a sigh.

“I am so sorry,” Dusty uttered from his corner. I hated seeing him like this, small and meek. How dare Rita do this to him.

I went over and held his head in my hands, stared into him with every fiber of strength I had in me. I would be strong for the two of us.

“You fucking listen to me. You have nothing to be sorry for. You don’t owe anyone in this room an apology. I meant what I said up there. You are the best person I know.” I planted a kiss on his lips, willing them to curve into a smile. “If things were reversed, I would’ve beat the crap out of that guy. I mean, we all know I have a better right hook than you.”

“That’s bullshit. Your pretty hands haven’t hit anyone.” The edges of his mouth pulled themselves up.

“That’s because I prefer to fight with my mouth.” I turned back to Vernita with a determination that surged through me like a roller coaster. “What happened happened. What we’re going to do is fight back harder. Get back to the actual issues. Hammer Rita on her family’s connections, her shoddy track record, her plan to steal the riverfront for her one-percent pals.” I laced my fingers with Dusty’s, held our hands up for all to see. “We’re going to do more events, more rallies, meet with more people. We are a package deal.”

“Let’s go, Dad!” Lucy yelled. Ari backed her up with a loud WOOOO.

“Bring it in.” I held out my hand. Vernita, Lucy, and Ari stacked theirs on top. Dusty remained in the corner. “Dust, you’re in this, too. Get in here, hot stuff.”

Dusty took one giant leap to the center of the room and smacked his hand on top.

“On the count of three, we say mayor,” I ordered. “One, two, three…”

We all screamed mayor, Dusty loudest of all.

20

LEO

Over the next three days, Dusty and I brought it. We spent mornings going to every coffee and breakfast place to meet constituents. My volunteers and I worked the phones at night. Fortunately, when we spoke to voters one-on-one, a bunch of them sided with Dusty. Who hadn’t wanted to punch out an annoying co-worker? And a contingent ofOcean Cityfans couldn’t stand Adam’s character. Maybe the damage wasn’t as substantial.

I felt a definite turn of the tide when Harlen Carruthers’s office got back in touch to schedule a meeting. His endorsement was still on the table.

We met up at a Starbucks one town over for maximum anonymity. Harlen was black, short, and bald but made up for it with his mighty gusto. His speeches were the stuff of legend. He was one of those politicians who pushed past stereotypes of what electable men should look like, breaking down barriers.

As soon as he sat down with his large coffee, he put on his game face.

“I watched a recording of the debate.”

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