The Rebel King (All the King's Men Duet #2) - Kennedy Ryan Page 0,110

arguably the most pain.”

“I’d never thought of it like that.”

“You and I don’t have to. When people speak out about a past as painful as theirs, as long as they’re not breaking the law, you don’t get to tell them how to do it. So it’s not awkward for me that Lennix objects to some of my father’s business practices. So do I. That doesn’t mean I don’t love him or want a relationship with him. It means we don’t agree. I won’t tell Lennix not to voice her outrage on these matters. My role should be to listen.”

“Are you concerned at all about the potential complications of running for president and dating someone like Ms. Hunter?”

“Excuse me?” A muscle in my jaw ticks. My teeth grind together. “You should define what you mean by ‘someone like Ms. Hunter.’”

“Yes, well.” He clears his throat. “Someone who has been so vocal protesting for a particular people group.”

“Her people, you mean. Native Americans.”

“Yes, but if you’re president it will be of the United States, all of them, all the people. Does it complicate things that in the interest of her people, Ms. Hunter has espoused views about our forefathers that some consider unpatriotic or un-American?”

“I think her views should be considered, not un-American, but pre-American. They were here first. This was all theirs. We stole it. The implications of those wrongs are still being felt. And I think we get patriotism twisted a lot.”

“You think we should redefine patriotism?”

“I think we should remember what patriotism actually is; that it’s rooted in love of country and seeing a vision for life, liberty and justice for all fully realized. Our forefathers wrote the truth, but in many cases, didn’t live it out. Patriotism is loving this country enough to examine its problematic history so we can fulfill our forefather’s words.”

“Some would argue that our forefathers did what all nation builders have done,” Bryce says. “The strongest take over and make something good better, something that will last.”

“Your version of colonization sounds like Darwinism, with the strongest surviving.”

“It’s not too far off,” Bryce chuckles.

“I’ve lived all over the world, and America is my favorite place to be by far. I believe in it, or I wouldn’t be running to lead it. Just because something ends up wonderful, doesn’t mean you don’t expose the wrong in how it began. This country is amazing, but our origins are complicated and, in many cases, morally reprehensible. In the process of building something incredible, we stole, we destroyed, we took advantage of, we hurt a lot of people. We detract from our greatness when we, not only refuse to acknowledge or examine our actions historically, but don’t seek ways to heal and make amends where we can. I believe that’s the essence of what ‘people like Ms. Hunter’ are asking of us.”

Bryce nods, his eyes narrowing. He turns over the card in his hand and picks up another.

“Thank you for articulating that,” Bryce says. “Could we return to the romantic nature of your relationship with Ms. Hunter?”

“By all means.”

“So you met her protesting your father’s pipeline, and then what?”

“We reconnected briefly a few years later in Amsterdam when she was on vacation and I was completing my doctorate. We didn’t see each other again for another decade, when Ms. Hunter’s firm started managing my brother’s campaign.”

“And you resumed your relationship?”

“God, no. She wouldn’t give me the time of day. I literally moved to D. C. to be closer to her, but she wouldn’t consider me for months.”

“So when did it become romantic again?” Bryce chortles. “I guess mutually romantic, since Ms. Hunter had held out.”

“Around five months ago.”

“And why did you hide your relationship?”

“Because of what’s happening right now. People making erroneous assumptions about her, about her work ethic, about how she became so successful. She’s earned everything she has, including my love.”

A sigh passes through the crowd at my confession.

“So you do love her?” Bryce roots around for clarity, which I’m more than happy to give.

“Yes, we’re in a committed relationship.”

“And marriage?” Bryce probes.

“Something we’ll decide when the time is right for us.”

“Americans like to know what we’re getting,” Bryce says. “It’s a package deal. They want to know what their first lady would do, who she is.”

“If they elect me, Americans can expect a man smart enough to ask for help when he doesn’t know, and bold enough to stand on his own when necessary. Someone who will fight for them in new, innovative ways, who will