Colt took my hand in his, and we entered the pub to an outburst of applause. We actually had become quite famous in our own right, and it was still taking me some time to work out how I felt about that. News cameras across the country had captured perfect footage of Colt and his sign, as well as me jumping into his arms. Now, there was constant speculation about when the wedding bells would be ringing. While I didn’t like the pressure and attention this put on us, Colt didn’t seem to mind. And as for various campaign strategists, they all but thought it made my father’s ticket a shoe-in for the win.
“Everyone loves a good love story to cheer for,” one of the campaign strategists had said when I inquired about whether the attention Colt and I were getting was appropriate for the campaign.
I could see her point, but I also hoped that none of it interfered with my law career, or Colt’s new job; he had just been offered a position at an Embassy downtown in DC.
I guess we would both find out soon enough though.
As for right now, however, it was simply time to celebrate our good fortune and get ready for the long campaign ahead of us. We all knew the real work was just beginning.
We smiled and waved, shaking hands with people who’d come to the bar in support of my father officially making the ticket.
Colt leaned down to whisper into my ear. “There’s your friend.”
I smiled, already knowing exactly who he was referring to. I turned to see Eden pushing through the crowd. Cameras flashed at her as she made her way over to us. We hugged and she kissed both of my cheeks.
That day at my father’s rally, I learned that she had spotted Colt in the crowd holding his sign when she arrived. When I realized that had been the reason for her unusual behavior and the secretive smile she had kept trying to hold back, all I could do was laugh. She had been right about needing a raincheck regarding whether we were going to hang out that night; Colt and I had spent that entire night in a hotel room, eating strawberries and using the whipped cream on each other’s bodies.
After we had told my dad, of course. I had never seen Colt so nervous. But luckily my father had already suspected and was fond of Colt, so we were in the clear.
Beaming from ear-to-ear, she looked toward Colt and then back to me. “So, do I get an official introduction now?”
I laughed. “Colt, this is Eden. Eden, this is Colt.”
They shook hands. “Nice to meet you,” Colt said. “Officially, that is. I certainly remember you already for that night in Turkey.”
“I bet you do,” Eden said, wiggling her eyebrows. “And you want to thank me, right? Because I’m the one who sent this girl over to you. She was all shy, drooling over you from afar.”
“Eden,” I said.
Colt gave a hearty laugh. “I definitely owe you then! Thank you, a thousand times.”
Eden took a bow. “My pleasure. All I ask is for you to pick a handsome best man for me to walk down the aisle with at your wedding.” She winked, and all I could do was shake my head. “I’ll be back. I’m going to get us some drinks,” she said.
“I never knew politicians had such sassy children,” Colt said with a laugh.
“I guess it’s time for you to get used to it,” I said.
“I’m already used to it.” He stooped down to kiss me, making our crowd of observers cheer some more.
Eden returned with our drinks just as the roar of the crowd reached an almost deafening pitch.
“Your dad is a rock star!” Eden yelled over the crowd.
I nodded, having come to the same conclusion some time ago.
It was astonishing how far he had come, but I suppose it wasn’t too surprising. My father had always been a hard-worker. Plus, he was smart, driven, friendly, caring, and everyone who met him could tell that unlike typical politicians, he genuinely wanted to bring about change for the better. He was the kind of politician that only came around once in a lifetime, and all the top news outlets were already holding non-stop discussions about his chances of actually being the President one day. While it all made me nervous, it also made me extremely proud of him.
Security guards from the pub began requesting for guests to clear an area to permit my father room to make an entrance. The crowd began to disperse, clearing a path at the doorway, all the while continuing to cheer.
Eden began to pump her fist in the air and chant, “Finley! Finley! Finley!” and not before long, it seemed like the entire pub had joined in.
A group of secret service agents arrived first, strategically positioning themselves around the pub and preparing for my father’s entrance.
Next, none other than Milly Penson walked in, a sheepish look for her face. The poor woman was entirely new to all of this, and I knew just how disorienting it was. Colt and I both began waving our hands so that she could spot us through the crowd. Grateful to see familiar and friendly faces, she hurriedly made her way over to us.
“My goodness, this is really something,” she said, hugging me.
“It sure is,” I said, hugging her back. “I guess we’re just going to have to get used to it though.”