Read Online The Gambit by Allen Longstreet - Free Book Online Page B

that chose to imprison us. Without the Confinement, mine and Cole’s idea would have never resonated with people. We wouldn’t have been able to make an impact, or our mark, as you worded it.”
    There was a pause. Grey’s expression was worrisome, and he nodded in the direction of the TV.
    “Well, whoever they are, the ones that are behind this lie…they are trying to erase your mark.”
    Grey’s cold words swept over me like a frigid winter night. In his dark eyes, I saw that we both knew what he had said was the truth.

    “You okay with chili?” Grey asked. “I don’t recall you being a vegan, from what I can remember.”
    “Given that I’ve only had a quiche and some coffee all day, I’d eat just about anything at this point.”
    “On that note, dinner is served my friend,” Grey announced as he set the steaming bowl in front of me. “It’s been in the slow-cooker all day.”
    “Where are your roommates?” I asked.
    Grey sat down in front of me. “They’re out of town. Your timing couldn’t have been better.”
    I blew air on the spoonful of chili in front of me. The blend of spices and hardy texture created a delicious meal. It was comforting to have at a time like this when I couldn’t relax.
    “Oh, nice,” I said.
    The clinking of our spoons against the ceramic bowls was the only sound I could hear. Grey kept looking up at me between bites. I was surprised with as bushy his beard was it didn’t get messy.
    “So, are you still with that girl? What was her name, Megan?”
    I blinked. I didn’t want to tell him the news.
    “No, we broke up a little over a year and a half ago.”
    “What happened? I thought you both were going to get hitched one day. Weren’t you guys together for like, five years or something?”
    My gut twisted as he reminded me of that fact.
    “Yes, Grey. Five years.”
    Grey’s expression became sullen. His eyes were softer, and his mouth was closed. I think he caught on that Megan wasn’t something I enjoyed talking about.
    “Ah, shit man. I’m sorry I brought her up. We can drop it if you want to. Did she cheat on you or something?”
    I swallowed. It was so hard for me to say it. It had been a year, and I still felt guilty about what happened.
    “She broke up with me for what I became. She couldn’t handle the person I had turned into. She wanted to spend time with me, and I wanted to be at the office. I couldn’t balance the two.”
    “No way…” Grey murmured.
    “Yes. She made me choose. She made me choose between my party and her. I was livid at the time, for being given that ultimatum, and for the fact that she couldn’t wait until after the election…but back then, there was still a whole year left. She was fed up from being on the back burner while I became the most popular face in Washington. I chose the Convergence over her. I chose my passion over love.”
    “Damn dude, that’s rough,” Grey consoled.
    “No shit, I thought I was going to marry her, too. You remember we met back while we were in Georgetown.”
    “Yep, I remember like it was yesterday. When I came to visit you during your junior year, and we all went out to the bar together, back when it was still a rush to be twenty-one.”
    I laughed at the memory. What good times he spoke of.
    “I’m surprised my liver made it through those four years.”
    “And your GPA,” Grey added.
    “Ha, that was a little worse off than my liver was,” I joked.
    “We both made it, though, you know. The fact that we are both employed and not out in the streets after the Confinement is an accomplishment in and of itself.”
    “That’s exactly what I want to change in Washington. There can’t be another Confinement again. Perhaps when Goodman takes office we will finally get some answers.”
    “Aren’t you worried about the polls? I mean, after what happened last night and then today, do you think it might hurt your party in the election?”
    I felt the same, crushing feeling I felt at my