Page 103 of Tate
Agreed. What the?—
Tate glanced over and sure enough, the senator walked down the stairs in the center of the stage and over to the mic. She wore a long white dress, like she might be a virginal offering, her shoulder-length amber red hair down, and raised her hands to calm the applause.
Like mother, like daughter, Glo was breathtaking tonight in a crazy teal dress that was both short and long, with a sort of skirt that overlaid the back of the sleeveless dress, and a pair of glittery gold heels that were so high he’d wanted to reach out for her elbow and steady her.
Of course, she hadn’t needed it, Sloan filling in just fine.
And at the moment, the man was smiling, a weird look of satisfaction on his face.
Tate frowned.
Especially since Glo had gone nearly white.
“Hey, ya’ll,” said the senator, her voice pearly smooth in the mic. “I know this is a surprise. I wasn’t actually supposed to be here tonight. I spent the day with the good folks from Atlanta talking about how we’re going to make America a safer, better place, right?”
More cheers.
He looked at Kelsey, seated next to Glo. Her mouth was open, her eyes pinned to Reba. And next to her, his outrageously lucky big brother Knox, who’d flown their ranch plane down to Nashville, fit perfectly into the superstar boyfriend persona.
While Tate stood on the sidelines like the hired help.
Which he was.
“And that means I’m not going to stand down and be afraid, even when there are threats against me and my family!”
More cheers, galvanizing the American spirit. People loved a fighter.
“When I got the call from Carrie today asking if I’d present tonight’s award for New Group of the Year, I was thrilled. Because we all love to encourage new ideas, new dreams, right?” More applause.
“But more, I understand how things can change in this world, and I want to be the person who can adapt, change with them, and show up when people need me.”
Oh, for cryin’ out loud. Tate tried not to roll his eyes, kept his face unmoved. But, really?
“Which is why, before we announce tonight’s winners, I need to let you in on a little secret.” She leaned into the mic, close, and whispered, “Promise not to tell anyone until tomorrow, when we make our announcement?” Laughter from the audience.
And his stomach clenched, a fist inside?—
“Okay then. You’re the first to know.” She took a breath. “In the race for president, I’ve found the political party that I’ve long aligned with to be not hard enough on foreign policy, not willing to draw a line in the sand to put America first. So, as of tonight, I’m switching parties. And not only that, I’m doing it with the endorsement of Isaac White, my co-contender, the senator from Montana. I promise, I still believe in a fairer, safer America, but now with a party that also believes in a stronger America!”
More applause, but Tate had to wonder if it wasn’t simply because of the emotion in the room more than her announcement. He didn’t exactly follow politics, but it seemed that both parties were a mess. It didn’t matter which camp you lived in, you did what was right, regardless of your affiliation.
Still, it felt like an odd place to make the announcement…unless he accounted for the audience watching. Country music fans. People who also believed in a stronger America.
Shoot, he believed in a stronger America.
But he also believed in Glo having her moment in the spotlight, and his mouth tightened as Glo offered a wide grin and clapped as if she wasn’t completely blindsided.
She had her stage face on.
“Now, for tonight’s award!”
The video queued up and announced the nominees. On the jumbotron in the back, Tate caught the Belles’ stage photo. Glo wore a painted tattoo down her arm, an all-leather getup, her hair a white halo.
He loved all the versions of her, but for a second, the memory of her in faded boyfriend jeans, a T-shirt, and bare feet sitting on a stool in his mother’s kitchen, stealing a cookie, might be his favorite.
“And tonight’s award goes to?—”
He held his breath.
