Page 109 of Hurry Up And Wait

“It’s fine,” I practically barked at her.

I thought she might leave it at that, but she apparently didn’t know when to stop.

“It’s just…you left without saying anything. Your father?—”

I cut a harsh look her way. “The senator.”

She paled slightly under my threatening glare. Maybe it was too harsh, but she needed to remember to never address him as my father when we weren’t actually in front of the cameras. That tie had been severed a long time ago.

“Bradford, I know you’re upset, but…we’ve got to go out there and make this look real. You’re my fiancé?—”

“Fake fiancé,” I corrected. “Don’t forget this is all a ploy set up by the senator.”

Her nostrils flared in defiance, the first sign that she had any gritinside her. “Whether this is fake or not, we still need to show a united front or neither of us will get what we want.”

I hated to admit it, but there was truth in her words. If the senator wasn’t happy with my performance, he would simply deny me the information, and then this would all be for nothing.

“Fine, what would you like to know?”

“For starters, where did you rush off to the other day?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“No, none of it is,” she snapped. “I thought we were making progress. We talked and actually got along. All I’m asking is that you don’t shut me out when all I’m trying to do is help you.”

“And why is that?” I asked accusingly.

“Because helping you helps me. Don’t forget that I have a lot at stake too.”

She did, and I knew that, but the mood I was in…I couldn’t afford to keep pushing her away when I was in a bad mood. I needed to keep her on my side, and my piss-poor attitude wasn’t helping matters.

“I went home to see Isla,” I admitted. “I told you the senator was being difficult. So, I’ve been staying away.”

“Okay,” she hedged.

“And it was all too fast. I got to see her for one night and then I had to leave to get back here.”

“Well, that explains your shitty mood,” she grinned.

“I just needed to check on her. She’s…special, and I feel like I’m blowing this.”

“You love her,” Olivia smiled. “I think it’s sweet you wanted to check on her.”

“You’re not mad that I left you to deal with the senator on your own?”

She shot me a half grin. “Knowing that you left to check on someone you care about? I think that says a lot about you as a person.”

“I’m not sure the senator would feel the same way.”

“Well, maybe he needs to see this side of you. It would be much more effective for his campaign than flashing you around and?—”

“The senator can never know,” I snapped, cutting her off. “Olivia, you don’t know him like I do. He’s not the man you think he is. Thatimage he puts out for everyone, it’s all a mirage. But he would do anything to win, including using the both of us in any way he can. I want my personal life left out of this.”

She gave me a jerky nod. “I understand.”

“Good.”

The car pulled to a stop and I took a deep breath, preparing for what lay ahead. I felt her hand wrap around mine and squeeze gently. “United front,” she smiled.