Page 22 of Extra Witchy

That shouldn’t sting so much when it was essentially true. She tried to feign indifference. “More accurate to say it’s given up on me. Romance isn’t for everyone, you know? These days, I want something else far more.”

“To rub Dan Rutherford’s face in the dirt,” Vanessa guessed.

“Figuratively, butyes. Do you know how many times I’ve caught that asshole staring at my butt or my boobs?”

“If only pervy looks were actionable,” Margie said wistfully.

“Every time our paths cross, my skin crawls. Recently, he more or less told me I’m best suited to be his arm candy.”

“That son of a bitch,” Vanessa bit out.

“Rutherford always votes for whatever the mayor suggests and shuts down council members with a different point of view. He’s the reason nothing ever changes around here!”

Still frowning, Vanessa shook her head. “Say that’s true, I still don’t see how shacking up with some low-achieving white boy will help.”

Leanne could say to them what she couldn’t to Trev. “He’ll make me relatable, more appealing to the lowest common denominator. Voters like him will picture themselves in his shoes. ‘He got an attractive, successful woman. Why can’t I?’ And it increases my appeal to a demographic who otherwise wouldnevervote for me.”

Margie drank some of the wine and sampled the appetizer platter that had arrived while they were talking. “People who play devil’s advocate are annoying, but I feel like I should anyway. Are yousureabout that? Men who aren’t inclined to vote for you aren’t likely to change their minds because you pair up with Titus’s friend.”

Leanne sighed. “It’s impossible to be sure of these things, but precedent indicates that I’ll appear more stable and more in tune with family values if I’m married. And I guarantee Rutherford will go after my private life. Hell, in the last election, he dug up his opponent’s personal bankruptcy.”

“What a dick.” Vanessa stabbed a stuffed mushroom with an extra-vicious fork maneuver. “The more I hear about him, the more I think we should hex him.”

Leanne snickered and helped herself to the appetizer platter. “Don’t tempt me.”

Once Margie processed the new information, she nodded with a pensive air. “When you put it that way, the strategy is sound, but…isn’t it sort of hurtful? You’re using Trevor.”

That gave her a minor twinge, and she protested, “More like we’re using each other. Right now, the man lives with his parents. He doesn’t have a job. I’m giving him a purpose. People get together for all kinds of reasons, right? How is this worse than dating someone because they’re rich or they have a nice rack?”

“That’s not okay either,” Vanessa said sharply.

“I haven’t lied to the man,” she pointed out.

Since Margie tended to try and see the good in any situation—and that was why Leanne had invited her—she said uncertainly, “Well, it’s…practical. If neither of you have any illusions about why you’re together…”

“Put aside traditional crap for a minute. Just think about whether this will work or not, as astrategy,” Leanne added, seeing more objections building in their concerned faces.

Both Margie and Vanessa paused, eating some hummus as they reflected. Finally, Margie said, “Honestly, I think it might. You understand male voters pretty well, and picking someone who resonates like—”

“‘One of us,’” Vanessa quipped, making air quotes.

“Could be the edge you need,” Margie finished.

Leanne sat back, satisfied with their response. “I think so too. For now, you’re the only ones I’m telling. Priya and Kerry are too committed to each other to understand how I could do this. They got their happy ending, and that’s cool.”

“Not everyone is so lucky,” Margie said softly.

Vanessa added, “Danica seems pretty set on the CinnaMan too. And I hate to say it, but I’m pretty sure Clem isn’t just ‘distracting’ that witch hunter.”

Wincing, Margie nodded emphatically. “You see it too? I don’t know if Clem’s admitted how she feels even to herself, but that’s next-level complicated.”

“I wish she talked to us more,” Leanne said. “But you know how she is. If we offer help, she’ll say she’s fine and get mad at us for meddling.”

Nodding, Vanessa served herself some stuffed grape leaves. “I think she confides in Ethel. Clem has a hard time leaning on people because of her mom and dad.” She leveled a pointed look at Leanne. “You should understandthat.”

“Fair,” she admitted.

With anyone else, she might take offense, but Vanessa was right. She had a few things in common with Clem as a result of parental failures, but while Clem tried to do—and control—everything, Leanne did what she wanted. Except at work, where sometimes they backed her into corners and got her to volunteer for shit outside her lane. She couldn’t change policy or push for any improvements. Taking orders from people she knew were incompetent sucked, and Dan Rutherford treated her like she was nothing more than T & A, an attitude she often found reflected in the mayor and deputy mayor as well.

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