Liz shot Brady a questioning look. She wasn’t sure what she was supposed to say in this situation. No comment seemed best, but Brady was answering her. Maybe as long as she followed his lead and mimicked the way he handled the press it would be okay. He nodded softly and she took that to mean go ahead.
“The Congressman and I are very happy together. We’re pleased to be able to share our relationship with the public,” Liz said, holding her head high. It was strange to speak to a reporter the way people had always spoken to her.
The woman opened her mouth to ask something else, but Brady held up his hand. “We’re running on a bit of a tight schedule for tonight. We really appreciate your questions, but we must be going.”
“Just one photo?” the woman insisted.
Well, normally reporters just snapped photos whenever they could, so her actually asking for a picture was a real treat. He placed his hand back around her waist and they smiled for the camera. A flash went off once, twice, three times. The woman thanked them even though it was clear she wanted to ask more questions.
Liz sank into the passenger seat of Brady’s Lexus and sighed. “Well, that wasn’t so bad,” she said after a moment.
“Baby, you’re a natural.” He found her hand again and squeezed it.
“It’s easier when you’re there.”
“It’ll get easier with time. Reporters, as I’m sure you’re shocked to hear, are always going to be around.”
“I know,” she whispered. And she did. She knew how the job worked. She just had to get used to it from the other side.
Chapter 7
AVOIDING
Brady flew out of Raleigh late that night and he had a car drive Liz back to her house. She was relieved to see that reporters weren’t waiting for her. She had let Victoria know earlier that she would be with Brady, and Victoria had responded that she was staying with Duke Fan in Durham. It did Liz some good to be alone. For now, her main priority needed to be catching back up in her schoolwork.
Already she was two days down this week. She couldn’t risk endangering her scholarship in her last semester. Now that she didn’t have the newspaper she would have plenty of time to make up the work. Thinking about the paper like that sent a pang through her chest.
In fact, without the newspaper, Liz found that she had a surprising amount of time to herself. She spent the next two weeks playing catch-up. Reporters still showed up on campus, but their numbers soon dwindled.
Brady had given her his weekends, but like her, he was playing catch-up with his responsibilities in D.C. She completely understood that he needed to make everything right and show his continued dedication to his career. This couldn’t be a hiccup in the campaign.
Come Monday morning, she was feeling more put together and considerably caught up with her work. She had been avoiding talking to Professor Mires about what had happened since the news had spread. She wasn’t sure if she would find disappointment on her mentor’s face, and she preferred to see nothing at all.
Victoria had Duke Fan drop them off on campus right before their first class. It was still strange not to have to come in early or stay after for the paper, but Liz was trying to adjust. Victoria had tried to get her to go party with her this past weekend, but Liz had decided against it. While she had reporters still tailing her she thought it would be better to show herself as studious rather than a party animal. And anyway, she didn’t really feel up to celebrating.
Victoria looked at Liz over the top of her Ray-Bans. “I think Daniel can pick us up after class if you want to meet here again. His class is canceled.”
The girl was gorgeous and voluptuous in uber-tight, whitewashed polka dot jeans, an insanely low-cut hot-pink sweater, and six-inch spiked brown boots. Liz didn’t know how she managed in those clothes. She felt ordinary in a light black blouse with gold buttons, tucked into a burgundy high-waist skirt. She had on black tights and, surprisingly, gold flats instead of heels.
Victoria gave her the expression she had been giving her for nearly two weeks—a mix of concern and curiosity. Between Liz’s losing the paper, having reporters follow her, and Brady being away in D.C., Victoria seemed to think there was a real risk that Liz would crack under the pressure.
“Stop looking at me like that,” Liz said, bumping into her shoulder. “I’m fine.”
“That’s what people say when they’re not fine.”
“I have the man of my dreams. Why would I not be fine?”
“Don’t give me that shit,” Victoria said with an exaggerated eye roll. “For a girl who loves to be stuffed full, I know how hard it is to be happy with everything in a relationship.”
“Oh my God, you did not just say that! Vickie, I can’t unhear these things,” Liz said, making a show of covering her ears.
“I’m just saying . . . I’m giving up threesomes in London and foursomes in Australia to be with Daniel.”
“La la la,” Liz singsonged.
“You’re giving up the paper, which is kind of as hard.”
“Did you just say that me getting kicked off of the paper is almost as bad as you giving up having sex with multiple men at once?” Liz asked in disbelief.
“Yeah?”
“Okay, just making sure I heard your crazy ass correctly.”
Victoria rolled her eyes again. “It’s not crazy. Once you’ve had . . .”
“No, stop right there.”
“God, Liz, you wouldn’t think you were fucking a congressman right now.”
“I love you, but you’re ridiculous.” Liz shook her head. “Anyway I have to get to class. I’ll meet you after!”
She watched Victoria traipse off across the quad and Liz could do nothing but just stare after her. She really was a force to be reckoned with.
Liz made it through her classes without an incident. She didn’t see a single reporter. People had gone back to ignoring her.
Liz was stepping out of the journalism building when to her dismay she ran right into the teacher she had been avoiding.
“Liz,” Professor Mires said in greeting.
“Hello, Professor Mires,” she said. Liz had never gotten used to calling her Lynda.
“I’m glad I ran into you. Will you stay after class tomorrow? I’d love to talk to you about some recent work that has come up,” she said with kind eyes and an easy smile.
“Oh, um, yes, ma’am.”
“Perfect,” she said cheerily. “See you then.”