Page 10 of Power Play

I couldn’t force myself to go home. Not with Kyle’s offer consuming my every thought. I gnash my teeth at the text still on the screen from Taeler. She doesn’t want to stay at the trailer tonight—I don’t have water after all—deciding to stay with her grandparents instead. They already think I can’t take care of my own daughter, and instances like this just prove them right.

Hell, I can barely take care of myself these days.

Maybe everyone is right. I’ll never amount to anything. I should just toss in the towel.

I scratch a chewed-up fingernail along my scalp, raking my fingers through my dirty hair. A section of the slick brown strands falls in front of my eyes. I inspect it, holding it up to the light. Damn, Kyle was right. It looks like day-old dog poop. But the box of dye was five dollars, so… it is what it is.

But does it have to be?

I shake my head, swiping the locks behind my ear, and grip the chilled highball glass in front of me. I take a slow sip of the whiskey. The rows of liquor bottles behind the bar blur before me.

Debt free. Plus the monthly ten grand from now until he's out of the White House. All for me. After the 'wife' bomb, he spent the next hour detailing his expectations.

The contract.

I would stand by his side, allow my background to be used as a way to make him seem more human. Pretty much he needs Trailer Park Barbie next to him to show the voters he isn't the aristocratic douche they assume he is at the core. Which he is, so basically I’ll lie, which isn't ideal, but no credit card debt and zero student loans to pay back, plus changing Taeler's life, make a convincing argument for hoodwinking the American people.

The last few drops of Jack slither down my throat, leaving a warm burn in their path. The slap of the glass on the smooth wood of the well-used bar signals the bartender for another.

A shadow creeps over, followed by the shuffle of feet to my right. “Celebrating or drowning your sorrows?”

Resting my chin on my shoulder, I flash Ben a tired smile. I should hate him, but I don’t. He left me pregnant and scared, let his parents take Tae away from me. A piece of me might love him. Well, maybe not him but the memory of him, of the fun and love we shared before those two pink lines appeared. Maybe when the right man comes along, it’ll make me realize my hang-up on Ben is simple infatuation and inability to let go of the past.

The right man.I huff and reach for the fresh glass of whiskey.Like that will happen.

In undergrad I was too busy studying and working to date, plus no one wanted to date the single mom. Then during law school, no one would touch me with a ten-foot pole because of the shit Kyle spread around about me. You would think those fancy-schmancy idiots would know poor choices and low economic status doesn’t rub off with skin-to-skin contact.

“Both,” I say after taking a quick sip as he slides on to the stool to my right.

“Budweiser.” The bartender nods before turning to the cooler that holds the longneck bottles. “Do I need to kick that rich pussy's ass?” His smirk grows into a full-on mischievous smile. I love that smirk; it makes me forget to be overwhelmed. “I went to State in wrestling, remember?”

“Yeah, I remember.” Mostly because he won't let anyone in a ten-mile radius forget.

“Those were the good old days, am I right?” His Adam’s apple bobs with each long pull he takes of the beer.

“Maybe for you,” I murmur. “I was pregnant and then had a baby to keep alive and fight to keep.”

His shrug has sparks firing in my veins. Idiot. He really didn’t get it then and still doesn’t. He doesn't remember how difficult it was balancing school and taking care of an infant because he wasn't there. A slice of pain cuts through my heart at the memory of Ben breaking it off after I announced I was pregnant. He loved me but wasn't ready for that kind ofcommitment. Like love isn't.

“I'm sorry for not telling you about Taeler's decision. I really am.” His short nails scrape at the bottle’s label as he stares at the bar. “But itisher decision, and I can't blame her. I know you tried to make something of yourself, but look at you now. Was it worth it?”

All those years separated from Taeler plus the lifetime of debt I accumulated. Was it worth it?

“Yeah it was. Still is.” I sigh into the glass at my lips before taking a sip of whiskey. The warmth blooms in my belly, adding to that first glass. For the first time today, I’m not chilled. “At least I know. At least I tried. That means everything. Sure, it’s not what I expected, but I'm not giving up, and I feel like that's what she's doing. She's letting a little roadblock stop her from trying. What's the point of living if you don't risk everything for the dream of something better?”

“What did he want, anyway?”

I spin the base of the thin glass on the bar, the remaining slivers of ice swirling together. “A job offer of sorts.” A little embellishment never hurt anything. “It could solve all my financial problems, but… I don't know. I hate the guy.”

Ben's warm hand wraps around my wrist, stopping the glass. Turning on his stool, he leans forward, putting his face inches from mine. His long blond lashes flutter, drawing attention to his soft baby blue eyes.

“Is he asking you to do something illegal?”

“No.” Unless you count lying about his character.

“Did he ask you for favors that involve your pussy?”

I cringe, sliding back on the stool. “So crass.”

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