Page 61 of Dirty Politics

“No,” Liv said, while fidgeting with her keys. “Our next-door neighbor, Billy Comer, was diagnosed with cancer - stage four pancreatic.”

Will inhaled sharply. “Shit. Liv, I’m so sorry.”

She nodded, looking back down. “This day has sucked. Speaker Miller had me reassess our votes in the Senate, and we’ve actually lost support. Can you believe it? I’m further away than when I started.”

She lowered her head into her hands.

“I can believe it, unfortunately.”

“This place sucks.”

“Tell me about it,” Will said, frowning.

“Bad day for you too?”

“I lost ground on the prisoner exchange. It’s always two steps forward one step back in this town,” Will said, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

“How do you keep going?”

“I don’t have any other choice.”

Liv nodded, her eyes looked tired and sad. “I’m keeping you from your run. Also, we don’t want to draw attention to ourselves. You should go.”

Just as Will was turning to go, he stopped and turned back. “Go away with me this weekend.”

“What?”

“I have this place not too far from the city. It’s private and relaxing. No one would know you were there with me.”

“I...um...I’m not...”

“We could leave tomorrow after work.”

“Um...I don’t know how to say this...”

He stared at her quizzically.

“It’s my period. Oh, god is this too much information. It just started, and I’m not exactly feeling...sexy. I know some people...do, but I’m not...um...I don’t want...god, this is awkward. I should have just made up some other excuse. Now I’m rambling. I should just stop talking. I am...stopping.”

Her face burned as she looked up at him. She was expecting a look of horror instead he was grinning.

“I like it when you ramble,” he said. “Just come. We’ll eat good food, drink good wine, snuggle on the couch watching movies, and forget about...all of this,” he said, while motioning around himself.

“Are you sure?”

“Of course - pick you up tomorrow?”

“Sure.”

—

Liv rounded the cornerto see Will waiting for her in his Tesla. She had arranged for him to pick her up a few blocks from her house so her roommates wouldn't find out she was leaving with him. She’d made up an excuse about meeting up with a college friend at the last minute that they had most definitely not believed but were too kind to press any further.

“Agent McQueen, is this incognito enough for you?” Will said, as she opened the door. He was wearing a ball cap and dark aviator sunglasses.

“Agent Steel, where is your fake mustache?” Liv laughed.

“Damn, I left it at home.”

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