Page 77 of The Americana Playbook

Parker’s cheeks puff as she stifles a laugh.

“I’m serious,” I hiss. “There isn’t a better talking point?

“Politicians are the world’s greatest bullshitters. You’d think she was the Montgomery, not my dad.” Parker sighs. “She’s built her entire image on being thepeople’slady. Madeline told me that will be the title of her official biography whenever my father’s run ends. I suggestedWicked Witch of the West Wing, but that got vetoed.”

“The opposition often criticizes my husband’s enthusiastic budgeting when it comes to education. They’d rather see your tax dollars be funneled tightly into military contracts or spending you will never reap the benefit of in your lifetime,” Candice continues. “That’s because the value they place on children has a monetary limit. For my husband and me? It’s priceless.”

Parker’s body tightens against me.

“Their value knows no bounds, and with proper education, with intense funding of charter schools exactly like this, we’ll see a return on our investment in just a few years. A future president, after all, could be sitting in this very room…”

Parker seethes. “She’s so full of it.”

As the room erupts in applause, Candice holds out an arm, motioning for Parker. She squeezes my hand at her waist before moving to the center of the stage.

“They’ll just be doing a walkabout next.”

I turn, finding one of Candice’s aides. “A walkabout?”

“A walk from the school to a local coffee shop. We’ll depart from there in approximately forty minutes.”

The aide makes conversation, throwing numbers out at me, citing polls and counties, how the Montgomery campaign will be pounding the pavement in swing states in the next few weeks. I nod as if I understand as much I do an offensive spread.

“Fitz.”

I’m always happy when Parker says my name but never have I been more relieved because, damn, it’s hard to be a fish out of water.But I won’t lie. I’m also happy Parker not only waits for me, but holds out her hand for mine before I’m even in reach.

“This way. The hall is clear. Students are in the cafeteria for lunch,” someone says, as we follow Candice, the school’s principal, and the governor out of the auditorium. But clearly that’s not entirely the case.

“It’s Captain America!”

“Fitzy!”

In front of us, Candice turns her head, and I catch the narrowing of her eyes as Parker giggles at my side.

“Maybe you should run for president,” she says jokingly. “You could go withVote for Fitz and let America’s Captain Lead the Ship.”

Another kid calls my name. I slow, but following the lead, don’t stop. Not until he holds up a phone. I never say no to kids if I can help it.

“Hey.” Stopping, I tap the agent at my side. “Can you take a photo for the kids?”

“Sir,” he says quietly. “It’s against protocol.”

Parker steps in front of me, and I watch how everyone freezes while she holds her hand out beyond the agent. “I’ll take it. Can I see your phone?”

There’s scrambling from inside the classroom as another three students appear in the doorway the agent now stands in front of. “Score!”

“You’re in the way,” Parker tells the agent who doesn’t stand down, but when I push past, doesn’t stop me either. “Get in the middle, babe.”

God damn, there she goes with the babe again.

Parker smiles curtly when the agent finally steps to the side and holds up the phone. “Okay. On three, sayrebels.”

Tipping her chin up, she looks over the top of the phone at me and winks, and even though this photo will only be blasted on social media, looking at her as we ruffle some feathers brings another award-winning grin from me.

“Get over here,” I say to Parker, but apparently Governor Stetson thought I was inviting him. Thankfully, he stands on the side.

“How’s that for protocol?” Parker tosses the phone to the agent she had ordered to move out of the way and moves right in front of me.

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