you’re my dad or her boyfriend from high school or the guy who used to mow our lawn.”
“Your mom got it on with the guy who mowed your lawn?” He smirked.
“No!” She swatted his arm. “You know what I mean.”
“I do.” He took her hand. “Maybe next time.”
“Next time?” she asked slowly.
“Yeah, when I’m here next. It’ll be soon.”
“Really? When?”
“I need to check a few things and of course, see if it works for you, but I’ll be in L.A. for a fundraiser in three weeks. I think I can come out here for a few days afterward.”
She was touched but also wary. “Is that really good for you? I mean, what if it gets out in your district that their congressman is traveling to Hawaii to hook up with a hotel maid?”
“Well, if you spin it like that, it does sound sort of bad, but I prefer to think of it differently.” He eased back in his chair. “What if I’m seriously dating a woman in Hawaii , whose struggling to finish school and take care of her ailing mother? What if we’re both traveling back and forth between Ohio , Hawaii , and D.C. to see one another? What if they see you with me in my district?”
“That’s a possibility.” She loved every word.
“And frankly, I’d even love it if they caught a picture of you in your uniform. You look hot in it.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m going to burn that thing when I quit.”
“So what are you going to do next? It sounds like you’ll be out of school and out of a job in only a few months.”
“I was planning on applying for some jobs back East.” A grim frown formed as she thought of who kept her in Hawaii . “It won’t be long before I’ll be moving.”
“She’s that far along?” he asked, taking her hand.
Abby nodded. “You know something about it?”
“I just researched it a little. Given the timeframe you told me, I suppose it makes sense.”
“I’ll miss her … I already do,” she said slowly, fighting the lump in her throat.
“Abby, come here,” he said as he stood up and led her to the sofa in the den.
She appreciated the few steps because it gave her time to collect herself. When he pulled her close to him on the sofa, she was able to muster a genuine smile. “But it will also be a relief.”
“Of course, you can get on with your life. Your mom would want that.”
“I want that.”
“You know, I can help you get a job in D.C. That’s easy.”
“No way,” she said with a sneer.
“You need to get over this anti-nepotism thing if you want to work in politics. It’s how things work.”
“It’s not how I work. I’d rather clean toilets than have a guy I’m involved with get me a job.”
“You’re never cleaning toilets again after this job.”
“Uh … that’s not true. I’ll still clean my own.”
Will grinned as if he was primed to say something. “I think I showed you I’m good at bathrooms. I’ll be in charge of bathrooms in the house.”
Abby’s mouth dropped open as she reacted to the bomb he knowingly dropped on the conversation. As she recovered, a smile crept across her face. “Aren’t we getting a little ahead of ourselves?”
“Possibly.” He grinned. “But most likely not.”
The End
(For Now)
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