Page 57 of Game Change

I wonder if that’s another hint about her leaving. I don’t know if she’s aware, but she’s been hinting at it for a while. I’m sure she knows what she’s doing.

“I’d really like to talk in private. Not in the office or a busy restaurant. Since you shot down the coffee shop, you pick the place.” I put on my own coat, and once I’m done, I grab her hat and put it on her head.

“I live a couple of blocks away, but it’s just to talk,” she says as if she’s trying to convince herself.

I raise both hands. “I promise, but you have to promise not to fight with me.”

“If you start any shit, I’m gonna fight,” she says but smiles.

I gesture for her to walk ahead of me. When we get outside, I’m hit by biting winds and a temperature that feels colder than it did an hour ago.

“My car’s over there,” I say pointing at the Mercedes truck.

She looks reluctant to get in, but after another gust of wind, she nods. After giving me her address, which I already knew, I drive the short distance to her apartment building. It’s not a big building like where I live. It's on a quiet street in the city with a few multi-family homes nearby. I find a parking spot in the front and follow her in.

She punches in a code to get through the front door, and the security guard waves at her when we walk in. There are six mailboxes in the front lobby, and we take the elevator to the third floor. The hallway is wide and has good lighting. It’s well-kept and pristine. She leads me to a unit at the end of the hall and punches another code to get in. It’s a big space with high ceilings, and it looks like it has been recently updated. Her walls are light blue and decorated with eccentric African art. She removes her stiletto boots and exhales as if relieved to be rid of the things.

“Would you like some water or coffee?” she asks. “I can make some.”

“Water is fine.” She nods, and I follow her to the kitchen.

She has oak cabinets and white marble countertops that highlight her stainless-steel appliances. She opens the fridge and pulls out a bottle of water. After unbuttoning and removing my coat, I drape it across one of the chairs at the counter. She excuses herself, and after a few minutes, returns without her coat.

“You look pretty,” I say as I admire her. She has her hair in one long braid that’s pushed to the side. Unlike when she’s at the office, she has a more natural look, almost as if she’s not wearing makeup.

She blushes at my compliment. “I know you didn’t want to come over here just to tell me I’m pretty,” she says.

“You’re right. I wanted to be alone with you because I like you. I—” My phone starts to ring, and I’d ignore it, only this is Uncle Milton’s ring. “Hold on. It’s Uncle Milton.”

She flares her nostrils at the mention of my uncle, and I hope she’s finally going to aim all her anger at him and not at me.

“Hey, Uncle Milty,” I say. “You okay?” I turn and give my back to Brynne, afraid that my face will give away that something is wrong.

“I’m in the emergency room, and they’re refusing to let me leave on my own.” He’s trying to sound gruff, but I can hear the fear in his voice. Uncle Milton is divorced because he had an affair. It turns out, it was a long-term affair that went on for seven years and only ended when his partner died. He was so distraught over her death, he told his wife everything. She left him and never looked back.

“What happened?”

“I got a little lightheaded.” That’s all he says, but I know my uncle. I know there has to be more to it than that.

“And?” I ask, prodding him to tell me more.

“And I might have passed out and hit my head.”

“Where are you?” The question is barely out of my mouth before I’m grabbing my coat. He tells me he’s at Brigham and Women’s emergency room, and I tell him I’ll be right there.

“I’m sorry, Honeybee, but I have to go.” I’m not at liberty to say more, so I don’t.

“What’s wrong with Milton? Is he sick?”

“He’ll be fine,” I say, believing that. “But he—”

“I get it. Go,” she says. “I’m sure he needs you.”

If I wasn’t certain that was true, I wouldn’t leave. I cup her cheek and bend down to kiss her lips. I keep it chaste because if I don’t, I might not find the will to leave.

Chapter 30

Brynne

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