The Lying Season (Seasons #1) - K.A. Linde Page 0,42

from this square box and take you out for drinks.”

She had clearly come prepared with a speech. She thought she had to convince me. But the truth was that after what had happened with Court, my life had been hell. I needed to take a few hours off early today. I should have cajoled Shawn into giving everyone today off. Though…he’d claimed we’d have a day off soon—probably the day after the Fourth of July.

“Come on,” Demi groaned. “Shawn already left to deal with some field issue. Please tell me you’ll come. We’re dying to get you out of here.”

“All right, I’m in.”

“Really?” she gasped.

“Yeah. We should have taken today off anyway.”

“Oh my god, I’m so excited. Let me tell Aspen. She’s going to flip.”

I laughed and nodded. “Who else is coming? I think I’ll tell everyone to take the rest of the day off.”

“You’re the best!” She stepped out of my office and up to Aspen’s desk. “The rest of the day off!”

Aspen slapped her hand in a loud high five. I just shook my head and closed everything up. My head hurt, and I needed to get out of here. Even if I would have preferred to head home and chill with English, this was good for my team.

Especially since word was stewing that the mayor might get a primary challenge. It wasn’t uncommon for some nobody to enter against the incumbent, just hoping to get their name out there. But after Court’s debacle, I feared that someone from her own party would try to make a splash and actually attempt to get the nomination. And I feared even more that they might have a chance.

I didn’t want to think about it. Instead, I walked around the office and told everyone to go home. We were done for the day.

I told myself that I wasn’t purposely leaving Sam’s office for last. But…

“Hey,” I said, peeking my head inside.

His office looked like a bomb had just gone off in it. I’d shared an office with Sam for months before I needed my own, and he’d been meticulously tidy. This was…crazy.

He glanced up once and then returned his gaze to his computer. “Hey. Can I help you?”

“Actually, we’re done for the day. Memorial Day and all.”

“Oh.”

“Also, some of us are checking out a bar that just opened. Any interest in heading over with us?”

He shook his head. “I really can’t. I’m so bogged down here.”

I could see that he was. “Oh, okay. You know, it’s crazy for me to say this, but it’s all going to be there in the morning.”

“Yeah,” he said. His face was grave. “I just want to get ahead. See if I can get through this paperwork. You know how it is.”

“Sure.” I ran a hand back through my unruly red hair, trying to tame it into a ponytail. “Well, if you change your mind, text me.”

“Okay. Have fun.” But he didn’t look up when he said it.

And I was pretty sure he wasn’t leaving.

“You ready?” Demi asked as I left Sam’s office behind.

“Yeah,” I said, trying for cheer.

“Great. Let’s go, girlfriend.”

Then I followed them out, trying to wrap my head around what had just happened in Sam’s office.

It was another week later before I ventured back into Sam’s office. The announcement had just come through. Ronald Reyes, the owner of one of the biggest tech conglomerates, had just announced that he was going to challenge Leslie in the mayoral primary.

I was sick about it. Even though we’d guessed that it was coming, it was harder to hear it. Even harder to know that he looked like a favorable candidate. He had a fortune to rival the Kensington name. He was a rather attractive Hispanic man in his early fifties and still happily married to his wife of almost thirty years. As far as we knew, he didn’t have any scandals or children who were going to try to ruin his campaign.

But if he did, we’d find it. We had opposition researchers for a reason.

I had one hand on my aching stomach when I knocked on Sam’s door. I’d felt sick all day once the news broke. I’d taken medicine, and nothing helped. The stress was gnawing at me.

“Come in,” Sam called.

I stepped into the office. I knew I was pale and shaky. I was determined that we’d still win this, but the first wave of anxiety never suited me.

He glanced up at me and then frowned. “Hey, are you all right?”

“Uh, you know, just the

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