Incumbent(61)

LUCY: Sure. Have fun.





Fun? That was the last thing I was going to have, but I didn’t want her to feel bad about that.



DRAKE: Thanks.



? ? ?

My bow tie felt like a noose around my neck; I must have retied it ten times. Gretchen was meeting me at the event, and we were already late. It had started forty-five minutes ago, and I was still at home. Frustrated and not caring anymore, I left my tie as it was and headed out.

The ballroom was packed with people from all walks of life. There were civilians, men and women in uniform, and since this was a bipartisan event, the politicians were out in full force.

Scanning the crowd, I spotted my beautiful sister in a navy cocktail dress talking to a man. I didn’t know who he was, but she looked happy.

Wait—did she just do a hair flip?

As soon as she spotted me, she said something to him and walked in my direction, leaving him behind. Thank God.

“Hey, big brother, you look like hell.” She kissed me on the cheek.

“Thanks,” I said wryly. “I was going to tell you I thought you looked stunning tonight, but forget it.” I chuckled.

“Aww, you think I’m stunning?” She batted her eyes at me. “Let’s get a drink, and you can tell me why you look like you lost your ability to shave.”

If there was one person in this world who could make me smile, it was my baby sister. We headed toward the bar, where I got a Woodford straight while Gretchen ordered champagne. Once we had our drinks, we moved to a cocktail table just past the bar and sat down.

“Okay, spill it. Not only do you look like a mountain man, but you’re drinking bourbon.”

“I just got back from seeing Lucy.”

Gretchen’s face lit up. “That’s fantastic.” Then her brows lowered. “Wait, why am I here and not her?”

“I’m going to tell you something, and you can’t repeat it. This is Lucy’s story to tell, but I need to talk to someone about it.”

She nodded solemnly and lifted three fingers in the air, just like we did when we were kids and swore each other to secrecy. Scout’s honor.

I took a deep breath. “When Lucy was in high school, she got pregnant.” When Gretchen’s hand immediately covered her mouth, I added, “It’s a long story.”

“Okay. I’m sorry, I’m listening.”

I went on to spill the details, including how she changed her name from Abbi to Lucy.

“To me, she’s Lucy,” Gretchen said, waving a hand in the air, “and that’s all that matters.”

I shouldn’t have been surprised that Gretchen’s feelings mirrored mine. My sister was wise beyond her years.

“Her parents sound awful,” she added, and I couldn’t disagree with her. “So, when you went to Georgia, you went to find her high school boyfriend?”

“Yes.”

Gretchen’s eyes widened. “Wow, Drake. You really do love her, don’t you?”

“More than I ever thought possible.”

The band started playing, so I took my sister for a spin around the dance floor. As we swayed to the music, I counted my blessings, thankful to have such a great family. I had wanted to make Lucy a part of it one day.

Then I heard Gretchen groan, and glanced down to see her rolling her eyes.

“What is it?” I turned to follow Gretchen’s pointed gaze, and saw my ex-girlfriend Emily in the arms of Grissett’s campaign manager.

“Holy shit,” I said, then lowered my voice. “She was using me the other night. I knew she was a bitch, but this takes it to a different level.”

“Who is he?” Gretchen asked.

We froze on the dance floor next to the pair, and when Emily spotted me, she stopped dancing and a sly smile transformed her face.

“Hello, Drake. Do you know my fiancé, Charles?” Her hand went to her hip, which was cocked to the side. “What? No kiss hello?”

“Prescott.”

Charles extended his hand to me, so I shook it. I felt like warning the man that his fiancée was a horrible person, but he deserved her. He was as dirty as they came, the perfect sidekick for a worm like Grissett.

“We were just about to head out.” I put my hand on the middle of Gretchen’s back.

“Hello, Gretchen.”

My sister grimaced, crinkling her nose. “Emily.”

Emily leaned toward my ear and whispered, “Tell Abbi I said hello.” She winked, and her lips twisted into a malicious grin.

How the hell did she know? Then understanding hit me and I briefly closed my eyes. She must have heard me tell Gretchen the story. Was she standing behind us? Son of a bitch!

When Gretchen looked at me, confused, I said, “She heard us.”

Gretchen gasped and looked into Emily’s eyes. “The best thing my brother ever did was break up with you. You’re a wretched woman.”

Emily shrugged. “Once Grissett gets elected, Charles will be right behind him. I’ll be the one in the White House one day while your brother hangs out with a phony. I’m sure the tabloids will love to get their hands on this story.”

“Emily, even you aren’t that cruel,” I practically growled.

She fanned her nails forward and disregarded my comment. Charles was pulled away by someone, but Emily didn’t budge. “I’m just doing my civic duty. She works for Northridge School, right? Do they know what she did?”