Page 87 of Small Sacrifices

Coleman's eyebrows shoot up, breaking free from her otherwise controlled demeanor. "As in, within the work week? Or by Sunday?"

Reid can see in the set of Everett's shoulders that he's never once in his life taken the concept of awork weekinto consideration. But he tries to not let that show, squares his shoulders and clears his throat. "Just the week," he says. "We'll see."

It's painfully transparent. Still, Coleman doesn't even smile. She gives no indication that she finds any of this funny. God, Reid really hopes they're right about her. For Everett's sake, if nothing else.

"And you want my help with this?" Coleman asks, eyeing Everett as though she can't believe he's involved. Reid would prefer she focus on Marisol, who's orchestrating this plan. The last thing Everett needs now is additional pressure to speak for them.

"Yes," Marisol says. "Your support in this would lend the accusations credibility. But it would also be good for you, because you can make sure you won't be tarred with the same brush as he is."

They had debated whether Marisol should bring this up. It feels a bit like a threat, but it's a legitimate concern for Ms. Coleman. If she's not cautious, she could be dragged down with Mackenzie even though she was elected separately. The realization hits her quickly, face flashing with fury before she closes her eyes, as if to shut it out.

"I would need to view all these documents before it goes to press, and know how you got them." In an obvious attempt at retaining her equilibrium, she steeples her fingers in front of herself. "Youaregoing to the press with this, right?"

Marisol nods eagerly. "We'd like to, but there are some factors that make that difficult. So we wanted to ask you if you knew someone trustworthy. We can't afford for someone to run to Mackenzie and just spill everything."

"What factors?"

Of course she would ask that. Reid feels a wave of anxiety wash over him. Everett has made it clear he doesn't want to discuss it unless absolutely necessary—evidenced by Reid's lack of clarity about what exactly Everett plans to get his fatherto admit. Everett freezes at Coleman's question, but Marisol is prepared.

"Everett doesn't want his involvement to be known. Surely, you can understand that." The look she gives Coleman is so deadpan that it's clear understanding and respecting it is the only option she has.

Later, it turns out that Ms. Coleman does indeed have a journalist that she trusts—an old friend from university who has by now written several think pieces on the implications of Governor Mackenzie accepting campaign funds from Agrifarm.

They argue about the timeline for going public—how much to reveal and when. The older woman brings a politician's experience to their little scheme, emphasizing how important it is to make people feel. She's the one to point out that they cannot be doing this piecemeal if they want to "get Mackenzie out of the way", as she puts it.

"You need to dump it on people all at once. If you drag this out, they won't care as much," she says.

After the lieutenant governor has left, what ensues is an awkward waiting game ofwho leaves first.The answer to that question is'no one'because they are all way too stubborn. In the end, Everett cuts one last annoyed look in Marisol's direction before he drags Reid into a corner.

"Hey, can I come home with you?" he asks. "I'd like to stay the night, if possible. Just to sleep."

Huh. That… Even blinking several times and then squinting at Everett doesn't help Reid make sense of that one.

"My sofa is too small to sleep on," he says. Everett should know this, given that he sat on it just yesterday. But maybe he's forgotten.

A small grin flashes across Everett's face, there and then gone again. "Yeah, it is."

Oh.

Hedoesknow. Then what… His bed.

Oh God.

Immediately upon realizing, Reid flushes so violently that it feels like his face is burning. Everett wants to sleep in his bed. And it's possible he doesn't just want to sleep. Reid doesn't really know what to do with the fact that he justasked.So far, everything between them has grown organically and in the moment. The thought ofplanningfor intimacy is overwhelming.

Unbidden, the thought comes to him that he should probably be thankful to Briana for insisting he get something bigger than a twin bed,just in case.Until now, it's mainly been nice because he can starfish in his bed without his limbs hanging off too much and distracting him so that he can't fall asleep. But this is a whole other ballgame. Which… oh God, that is so not the phrase to use in this context, is it? The mental images it evokes are quite vivid.

"Just for sleeping," Everett repeats. "I really don't want to be under the same roof with my father right now."

That just hurts to hear. And it's not like Reid doesn't like the idea, he just… still feels a little weird about it. But there are a few hours left in the day, he'll have time to get used to it. His heart is galloping and his palms are sweaty, but he sounds calm as he agrees.

"Great!" Everett says. "I just need to use the restroom real quick. I'll be right back."

As Everett walks away, Reid watches Marisol fidget out of the corner of his eye. She clearly has something to say, and it's probably not too good. So he lets her come to him. He's not about to seek out more stress in times like these.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" she asks almost as soon as Everett has turned a corner and is out of earshot.

It feels like he's missing a lot of context to that question. He has no idea what she means, and he says as much.

---