also send you monthly alimony and child support checks. The sum of which you can dictate. Within reason. I suppose there might be times I will need to see the child.”
Need to see the child. Oh my God, is this really happening?
“You are a cold man, Harrison Montgomery.”
“I’m a practical one. Embroiled in a situation that requires me to be as clear as possible. Furthermore, as my wife you will agree to help me campaign; appear in public with me as my doting and totally supportive partner. If at any point word of our agreement is leaked to the press, you and the child will get no money from me.”
“What if you don’t win?”
“I’m not entertaining that option yet.”
“Well, I’m not entertaining any of this yet.”
Harrison sat back. “I understand you have your pride. I … admire that about you, Ryan. And despite my awful comment earlier, I know you’re smart.” He glanced around her tiny apartment, including the psychology books on the shelf, before looking back at her. “There must be something you want. Something I can give you to make this rather indecent proposal of interest to you.”
She was silent. Overwhelmed. Exhausted and angry. Sad and ashamed.
He took her cell phone from the edge of the bookshelf behind him.
“I’m putting in my cell phone number,” he said. “This is my direct line. You have forty-eight hours to give me an answer.”
“Or what?”
“Or I am forced to make a statement about you. I would like to make the statement that we’ve been secretly falling in love and have gotten married in a small private ceremony at the Georgia Governor’s Mansion.”
“And if I don’t agree to your proposal?”
“Then you are a former bartender at The Cobalt Hotel who, with the help of your brother, a dubious DHS agent, is trying to blackmail me.”
“That will ruin his career.”
“Undoubtedly. It’s not like I want any of this, Ryan. He has forced both of our hands.”
She took a deep breath and slowly blew it out. “Why can’t we just say we’re dating? Or engaged? And then just break up when the election is over?”
“Because politicians don’t date, Ryan. They are either married or single. And they really don’t date pregnant bartenders who live in studio apartments in Queens.”
“But you marry them?” she spat. “How noble.”
“Marriage will give it all some legitimacy.”
There was a knock on the door and then, withoutasking permission, that Wallace guy walked in, looking around her home as if it smelled bad.
“This place looks like my shitty dorm room,” Wallace said. “Nice loft.”
“Fuck you,” she snapped, and the venom felt good.
“Oh, she’ll make a lovely addition to the family,” Wallace laughed. “Your mother, in particular, is going to adore her.”
Harrison herded Wallace toward the door. “Give us a second, would you?”
“We need to move,” Wallace said. “We’re already late for The Carter Center conference.”
“I know. I’m hurrying.” Harrison shut the door behind Wallace and turned to face Ryan.
He still glittered. She was sweaty and sick and ruined, and he was still more beautiful than any man should be. But his wattage was turned down, the fairy dust wiped away by a certain weariness, a reluctant helplessness.
The glimpse of this vulnerability had a predictable effect on her and because she was an idiot, she wanted to hug him.
Don’t believe this , she told herself. This version of him is an act to get you to do what he wants. Underneath he’s the soulless robot who knows too much about your life and thinks you’re stupid .
“Marriage isn’t going to fix this, Harrison.”
“It won’t be easy. But it’s a start. My family—”
“Is complicated.” She laughed, remembering when he’d said that. For regular people a complicated family might mean their mom was gay, or they had two sets of stepparents who couldn’t stand one another. She never would have been able to believe he meant he
Need to see the child. Oh my God, is this really happening?
“You are a cold man, Harrison Montgomery.”
“I’m a practical one. Embroiled in a situation that requires me to be as clear as possible. Furthermore, as my wife you will agree to help me campaign; appear in public with me as my doting and totally supportive partner. If at any point word of our agreement is leaked to the press, you and the child will get no money from me.”
“What if you don’t win?”
“I’m not entertaining that option yet.”
“Well, I’m not entertaining any of this yet.”
Harrison sat back. “I understand you have your pride. I … admire that about you, Ryan. And despite my awful comment earlier, I know you’re smart.” He glanced around her tiny apartment, including the psychology books on the shelf, before looking back at her. “There must be something you want. Something I can give you to make this rather indecent proposal of interest to you.”
She was silent. Overwhelmed. Exhausted and angry. Sad and ashamed.
He took her cell phone from the edge of the bookshelf behind him.
“I’m putting in my cell phone number,” he said. “This is my direct line. You have forty-eight hours to give me an answer.”
“Or what?”
“Or I am forced to make a statement about you. I would like to make the statement that we’ve been secretly falling in love and have gotten married in a small private ceremony at the Georgia Governor’s Mansion.”
“And if I don’t agree to your proposal?”
“Then you are a former bartender at The Cobalt Hotel who, with the help of your brother, a dubious DHS agent, is trying to blackmail me.”
“That will ruin his career.”
“Undoubtedly. It’s not like I want any of this, Ryan. He has forced both of our hands.”
She took a deep breath and slowly blew it out. “Why can’t we just say we’re dating? Or engaged? And then just break up when the election is over?”
“Because politicians don’t date, Ryan. They are either married or single. And they really don’t date pregnant bartenders who live in studio apartments in Queens.”
“But you marry them?” she spat. “How noble.”
“Marriage will give it all some legitimacy.”
There was a knock on the door and then, withoutasking permission, that Wallace guy walked in, looking around her home as if it smelled bad.
“This place looks like my shitty dorm room,” Wallace said. “Nice loft.”
“Fuck you,” she snapped, and the venom felt good.
“Oh, she’ll make a lovely addition to the family,” Wallace laughed. “Your mother, in particular, is going to adore her.”
Harrison herded Wallace toward the door. “Give us a second, would you?”
“We need to move,” Wallace said. “We’re already late for The Carter Center conference.”
“I know. I’m hurrying.” Harrison shut the door behind Wallace and turned to face Ryan.
He still glittered. She was sweaty and sick and ruined, and he was still more beautiful than any man should be. But his wattage was turned down, the fairy dust wiped away by a certain weariness, a reluctant helplessness.
The glimpse of this vulnerability had a predictable effect on her and because she was an idiot, she wanted to hug him.
Don’t believe this , she told herself. This version of him is an act to get you to do what he wants. Underneath he’s the soulless robot who knows too much about your life and thinks you’re stupid .
“Marriage isn’t going to fix this, Harrison.”
“It won’t be easy. But it’s a start. My family—”
“Is complicated.” She laughed, remembering when he’d said that. For regular people a complicated family might mean their mom was gay, or they had two sets of stepparents who couldn’t stand one another. She never would have been able to believe he meant he
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