I have to give him something in return. Not because he expects it, but because I’m beginning to see that that’s what love is. A give and take between two people who care about each other so much it drives them to study each other, serve each other. Make each other happy in a bunch of little ways. Big ones too. “You asked me why I kissed you, our first day of school?”
He nods, staring into my eyes.
“It was… I wanted to… You were the most beautiful boy I’d ever seen, and you had this aura about you. You were so enthusiastic about being at the academy. So earnest. And I knew that we could be great together, if I just let you in. I wanted to see what it would be like.”
“So you kissed me.”
I bite my lip. “Was that wrong?”
His face splits in a devastating smile. “You can kiss me anytime you want, mon coeur.”
“Ricardo?”
He inclines his head. “You’re in love with me too? It’s about time you admitted it, woman.”
“Shut up. And yes.”
“Yes, what?” Ricardo’s eyes glint as he teases me.
Taking a deep breath, I wrap my arms around his torso and press my face into the folds of his shirt. “I love you too.”
A quiver runs through his body. A sigh. A breath he was holding in, waiting for my response. Pressing my cheek against his chest, I exhale as his warmth washes through me.
“Just try not to fall off any more roofs, okay?” He breathes into my hair.
“I did not fall! I was pushed. There’s a difference.”
“All the same… Now that you’ve solved Professor Rook’s murder, maybe you should turn your attention to something else you’re passionate about. Something preferably much safer.”
“Politics?”
His warm laugh rumbles across the silent courtyard. And then he’s singing. It’s a low, quiet sound. One of my favorite songs. Singing for me. Just like I always dreamed someone would. Peace ripples through me as Ricardo’s voice fills the quiet.
Neither of us moves until the firefighters come rushing into the courtyard.
35
I’m sitting in the ambulance being checked over when my parents’ sedan pulls into the parking lot. Daddy doesn’t even bother to park properly before he and my mom fly out of the vehicle and dash toward us, faces drawn in worry. Blowing past Cal, Adrienne, Mikhail, Genevieve, and Ricardo, they reach the ambulance.
Brushing off the EMT’s hand on my shoulder, I stand. “I’m okay, really. I just—”
Cutting off my explanation, they pull me into a hug so tight I can barely move. It’s heaven.
Over my head, Daddy asks a question. “She fell off the roof? How is that even possible?”
“Ask questions later, Terrance. Let’s let the nice man finish looking her over first.” Mom reluctantly lets go of me, but I don’t submit to the EMT’s gesture to retake my seat.
Instead, I look up at Daddy. “I have to say something first.”
He’s never looked so scared as he does in this moment, standing in front of me in a rumpled t-shirt, sweats, and his house slippers. “Go ahead, princess.”
The nickname catches me off guard. He hasn’t called me that in years. Its use dredges up old frustrations. The hairs on my arms bristle. “Okay, first, please don’t call me that. I am not a princess. And second, I resent the fact that you’ve been grooming Cal as your successor when it’s me who wants to be a politician. Let Cal go do art, and train me instead. I know everything about the party platform, government, our constituents. Quiz me and I’ll prove it. I’m ready.”
Daddy gapes at me, clearly at a loss for what to say.
Clearing his throat, Cal steps forward. “She’s right, Dad. The truth is, I hate politics. I’ll stand up there and wave when you need the family during your campaign, but all the making contacts and rubbing elbows and crap? No, thanks.”
“Oh, thank goodness,” Mom says, lowering herself onto the back edge of the ambulance.
It’s my turn to stare. “You knew?”
“Of course. I was waiting for you to stand up for yourself. I don’t want you to think you have to let me do your fighting for you, Charlotte. You’ve got enough strength to do it all by yourself.”
I wrap my arms around her. “I’ll always need you, just not in the same way.”
She smiles into my hair as her gentle hands rub over my spine.
Daddy finally finds his voice. Clearing his throat, he puts a hand on my shoulder. “You’re telling me you want to follow me into politics? And Cal doesn’t?” He blinks as he looks between my brother and me.
I give an emphatic nod while Cal shrugs.
He blinks. “Wow. I had no idea. I wish you’d told me sooner.”
“Come on, Daddy. I did everything I could to let you know. I’m constantly asking you questions about the party and your campaign and everything. I’m surprised you didn’t get it.”
“But you never said.”
My eyes widen. He’s right. I did everything but verbally tell him I wanted to be a politician. How can I be surprised he didn’t know? He’s not a mind reader. My lips purse together. “Are you saying that if I told you sooner I wanted to be a politician, you’d have supported me?”
Daddy shakes his head in disbelief. “I’ll support you in whatever you want to do, even if I’m dubious as to its efficacy as a career path.” It’s obviously a reference to Cal’s art, and my brother grumbles under his breath.
“I want to be a chef!” Adrienne chimes in, making me laugh.
“Thank you, Captain Obvious,” Cal says with half a smile.
“I just want you to be proud of me,” I say in a low voice, studying Daddy’s face.
His mouth curves up in a smile. “I’m proud of all three of my children. An artist, a chef, and a politician. I’ve got a designer, caterer, and speech editor built into my little family. What more could I ask for?”
All three of us groan good-naturedly at his feeble joke.
The laugh lines around Daddy’s mouth tighten. “But about that tin of drugs…”
I swallow, not sure what he’s going to say. “Actually,” I interrupt. “I have an idea about how to handle that.”
We’re gathered in the foyer of the academy. Adrienne, Cal, Ricardo, Genevieve, and Gul. Mikhail stands a few feet away, ready to step outside when we give the signal. Daddy fired Bodyguard Steve for leaving me unattended long enough to be pushed off the academy roof, and is already looking for a replacement.
Through the heavy wooden doors comes the low murmur of the press setting up cameras and microphones. Warming up their voices. Practicing the phrasing of the questions they’ll inevitably lob in my direction once Ms. Cain opens the floor for questions.
Gul meets my look, her expression guarded. Grady never woke up after our fall, and it’s been hard for her, knowing that he tried to kill her while simultaneously dating her. The wary expression she turns toward Ricardo and Mikhail when they’re being sweet to Adrienne and me inclines me to believe that it’ll be a while before she trusts another guy. Hopefully she’ll speak up if she needs help.