Page 78 of The Player

Drew turned back. “About what?”

“Before answering that question.”

“The one about my girlfriend?”

Jed looked over at the reporters still packing up. “Let’s step outside.”

Drew followed him into the hall, his good mood already slipping.

“There’s a lot of attention on you right now,” Jed said. “We need to stay ahead of things.”

“What things?”

“A photograph like that gets people talking. Then they start asking questions, and I’d rather have answers ready.”

“They asked who she was. I told them.”

“I heard you.” He lowered his voice. “I’m talking about your image, Drew. The way we handle the attention around you. Especially this close to the voting.”

“What’s wrong with the picture?”

“I didn’t say anything was wrong with it.”

“Then what are we talking about?”

Jed checked the open doorway before answering. “You have supporters all over the country. Different backgrounds, different attitudes. You can’t assume everybody’s going to see that photograph the way you do.”

Drew went still. “Because she’s Black.”

“I’m saying you know how some people are.”

“Yeah. I’m getting that.”

“Don’t put that on me. My job is to think about how things will be received.”

Drew looked at him, squeezing the water bottle until the plastic crackled. “What was I supposed to do?” he asked. “Leave her standing there?”

“Of course not. But there are ways to keep your private life private.”

“I kissed my girlfriend. I didn’t call a fucking press conference about it.”

“Keep your voice down.”

“Then stop talking about her like she’s something I need to explain.” Drew turned and headed down the hall. He’d heard enough.

Later that night, Drew shifted his leg under Nicole’s and felt the sheet twisted around his thigh. They’d made a hell of a mess of her bed.

Nicole lay against him with her cheek on his chest, her hair spilling over his arm. He spread his hand across her back while she moved her fingers lazily over his stomach. Every so often, she paused, then started again, and he lay there soaking it up.

The ceiling fan was cooling the sweat on his skin now. When she shivered, he worked the sheet free of his leg and pulled it over her shoulder, leaving his hand under it. “Better?”

“Mm-hmm.” She kissed his chest and tucked herself closer.

With Bailey moved out, they had the whole house to themselves. If they got hungry later, they could walk their naked asses into the kitchen and find something to eat. He liked the idea of her standing in front of the open fridge with nothing on while he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. No scrambling for clothes because somebody might come home. Though for now, he was pretty fucking happy where he was.

Nicole tipped her face toward him. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” He brushed her hair back, leaving his fingers on her cheek. “Just glad I’m here with you.”