The conversation with Victoria had been much more enjoyable than the one with her parents. They reminded Liz of all the fears she’d had when she had first agreed to going public. What about your career? Will you finish school? How will this look going forward? Are you happy? Are you sure you want this? Liz shut out the questions for now.
“I think you should give yourself more time. I’m not keeping you from the newspaper, Liz, but just imagine what it probably looks like right now,” he said, giving her a knowing look.
Chaos. Gossips. Judgmental stares. She knew what was facing her, but the paper felt like home. It had always been her escape.
“I know what it will be like.” Like the press conference but worse, because it was her peers, her coworkers, her friends. “I can’t avoid it forever, though.”
“No one would ever expect you to.”
“I could have Victoria pick me up and get back there in an hour or so,” Liz said stubbornly.
“I believe you would do it,” he said. He crossed his arms over his chest and she read him like a book. He was daring her to do it and see how he would react. He had once thrown her over his shoulder without any hesitation because she wouldn’t get in his car. That would be a hysterical headline: “Congressman Brady Maxwell Keeps New Girlfriend in Line Caveman Style.” Oh, the backlash.
Liz sighed and cuddled back into Brady’s lap. No use arguing right now. “How long will I have with you before you have to take me home?”
“Baby, you’re mine now. I’m not letting you go home tonight.” Brady turned her face up to him and she read what he was saying in his eyes.
“But I thought with the reporters hounding us . . .”
“They can hound us all they want, but if we’re ‘out’ in public, you’re staying with me,” he said, kissing her lips lightly. “You still have the key. I’ve always belonged to you.”
“I’ve always belonged to you too,” she whispered.
Chapter 3
HEADLINES
Brady dropped Liz back off at her place the next morning before she had to be at the newspaper. He wasn’t planning to leave North Carolina until late that night and promised to see her again before he left. She didn’t like the fact that they would be separated so soon, but what else could she do? She had already delayed him an entire day. She just had to get used to their new relationship—only officially being together for three days and already out to the public while also dealing with long distance. All the best things in life rolled into one package.
Victoria was sitting on the couch with her boyfriend, Daniel, who Liz lovingly referred to as Duke Fan. “Hey,” Liz said, closing the door and waving at the pair.
“Hey yourself,” Victoria said. She jumped up off of the couch and rushed to Liz’s side. “So how was it? What happened? Are you and Brady officially out of the closet now?”
Liz laughed and shook her head. “Have you not seen the news about it?” she asked incredulously.
Victoria just shrugged. “Psh! I don’t watch or read the news. You know that.”
“Ah. How could I forget? We went to a press conference yesterday and Brady told the whole world we were dating. We were basically mobbed on our way out of the place. It’s kind of surreal.”
“Oh my God, it’s like you’re a celebrity or something,” Victoria said. “And dating a politician. I’m so jealous.” Duke Fan huffed on the couch, causing Victoria to giggle and swish her hips. “So what happens now?”
“I think I try to go back to my life?” Liz said uncertainly.
“What? Somehow I thought this would come with more perks. Like you two eloping and moving to D.C. and going to a million fabulous parties Great Gatsby style.”
Eloping! Where the hell did she come up with this stuff? They had just gotten together—marriage could wait.
“Pulling literary references out of your ass, Vickie.”
“Ugh! Now that Hayden is gone can we drop the nickname?” she pleaded.
Liz dropped her smile almost immediately. Hayden. She hadn’t had much time to think about him since he had attempted to apologize for ratting out her relationship with Brady and Liz had sent him packing. There had been too many other things going on, like Brady and the press and what the hell she was going to do with her life now that she was a political journalist dating a politician.
“Oh, sorry,” she whispered.
“It’s fine,” Liz said. She didn’t really want to talk about Hayden. Everything was too fresh after the breakup. A whole-year-long relationship down the drain for nothing.
“Well, don’t feel guilty about what happened. He was the jackass who wrote the article. You didn’t force his hand.”
“I know. I know,” Liz said, cutting her off. “I’m just going to get ready for class.”
“All right. You sure you don’t want to talk about it?”
“Very sure.”
“Well, Daniel said he’d drop us off so we don’t have to walk. Right?” Victoria asked. She turned toward her boyfriend with a smile.
“Sure thing, Vickie.”
Victoria groaned and gave him a death glare. “Not you too!”
Liz couldn’t keep from laughing. What a pair.
After changing into a loose, blue striped button-up tucked into a pair of skinny jeans, with dark heels, Liz tied her hair up into a messy bun and then followed Victoria and Daniel out to the car. They arrived on campus just in time for Liz to get to the newspaper before her class. Liz made plans with Victoria to walk home together, and then she crossed the busy street and in through the back door of the Union. She took the stairs up to the second floor and then rounded the corner to the newspaper office.
She stared at the office with a contented sigh. The newspaper was her sanctuary. She couldn’t even count the number of times that she had walked through these double doors. It was like coming home when she walked into the office.
The paper had already gone out for the day and there were fewer students in the building as a result. That did not, however, mean that it was empty. Students milled around the desks looking over articles, rehashing articles from the morning, drinking coffee, some even frantically working on homework. She even caught a glimpse of Tristan, one of her coworkers in the campaign division last year, diligently laboring on what was likely another incredible piece.
Liz smiled at the familiarity of it all and walked through the bustling room to her office. She heard whispers all around her as more and more people glanced at her. She tried to shrug it off and keep walking.