Sophia straightened her suit jacked for the hundredth time since she arrived at the statehouse, tried a silent Jedi mind trick on the occupants of the Speaker’s office telling them she wasn’t the one they were mad at, and knocked on the door. It was exactly seven. She hadn’t had her coffee yet and she was oscillating between nerves and anger at being called to this meeting, at the ass crack of dawn on a Sunday no less, presumably to be yelled at.
When acknowledged, she opened the door and took the offered seat. She was still nervous, but the place for nervous tells and tics was outside. In here she wasn’t giving anything away.
“Good morning, Sophia. I’m sure you know why we asked for this meeting.” The Speaker was noticeably less jovial than usual.
“If you’re interested in a design team update, I still don’t have the final recommendations. As for the other part, I think the governor has the same goal as you do. Getting legislation passed and signed shouldn’t be a problem. You can fight it out with her and the public to see who gets the credit in the end.” Sophia folded her hands over her knees. She wasn’t about to mention the work she and Valencia were doing together, which was coming along nicely.
“Do you think, at seven in the morning on Sunday, I give a fuck what you’re talking about during your design team meetings?” Red crept up the Speaker’s neck.
Sophia counted to five in her head so she didn’t impulsively say something politically stupid. “Honestly, Mr. Speaker it’s early, as you mentioned, and I don’t know what fucks you give.”
The majority leader barked a laugh which he turned into an awkward cough. He put his hand on his knee and pounded on his chest with his other hand. Sophia offered him the water that had been set for her.
“Let me enlighten you then. The fuck I give has nothing to do with what you’re talking about in those meetings. It’s who you’re talking to. We warned you about keeping company with the wrong people, then I tried to make it crystal clear in case you weren’t picking up on the subtlety.” The Speaker jabbed his finger in Sophia’s direction.
Sophia had known her association with Reggie was why she was here now, but it still shocked her to hear it said out loud. What could these two men possibly have against Reggie? Had they ever met her?
“With all due respect, sir, both of the women you suggested I stay away from are part of my four-woman group. It would be nearly impossible to participate in the design team without interacting with both of them.” Sophia’s heart was racing, and her mouth felt as dry as a sawdust and peanut butter sandwich.
“And was kissing Reggie Northrup at Valencia Blackstone’s clothes party last night part of your small group assignment too? Or playing grab ass all over the damn city? Perhaps your career isn’t as important to you as I thought. I expected more from you, Sophia.” The Speaker’s good-natured, happy uncle routine was replaced with the venom of a pit viper.
“It was a grand opening celebration for a hot new fashion designer, Lily Medeiros, not a clothes party, and what I do in my personal life is none of your business.” Sophia balled her fists in her lap.
“You don’t get a personal life. Everything is the people’s business now.” The majority leader had the decency to look sympathetic.
“It might be the people’s business, but it’s none of yours. I haven’t heard any complaints from my constituents about who I’m spending my afterhours time with.”
“Sophia, be smart about this. You were offered the chance of a lifetime. No freshman rep rises to the kind of leadership position we’re offering you. All you have to do is ditch the Northrup heir. And you should trust us on this one, you want to do that anyway.” The majority leader leaned forward in his chair, his expression earnest and concerned. “Bartholomew Northrup’s not as retired as his prison sentence would lead you to believe. You think your reputation’s in danger now, being seen with Gina? Wait until father dearest let’s everyone know the way to his heart is to do a favor or offer up a sweet deal to his daughter’s girlfriend.”
“So you’re afraid Bartholomew Northrup will make me too radioactive for you to promote or that he’ll drive up the price so high you won’t be able to afford the kind of bribes you think it’ll take to get me under your thumb? Are we done here?” Sophia stood up.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” The Speaker stood as well and drummed his fingers on his desk. “I’m not afraid of the Northrups, Bart and I go back a ways, but you should be. You’re new to this game and don’t have very many cards. I have the power to help you rise to meteoric heights. I can also bury you in a well so deep you’ll never dig yourself out.”
Sophia wavered. She’d dreamed of this job her entire life. What if everything came crashing down? If she took his offer, was that how she wanted to succeed?
“You won’t though. It’s not a good look for an old White guy to keep a capable, intelligent, popular Black woman from advancing because I kissed someone you don’t like. You can try and spin it however you want, but I’ll make sure that’s how it’s reported in every news story and all over social media.” Sophia forced the Speaker to look away first before grabbing her purse and walking out the door, head held high. She gripped her purse hard so they wouldn’t see that her hands were trembling.
She really hoped she was right. The voice of her mother was ringing in her head telling her turn around and apologize, grovel if she had to, but keep her job prospects secure. Her heart was telling her to run for the door. She’d taken a big gamble, but even if she crashed and burned, she wouldn’t have been able to live with herself under the Speaker’s thumb. Something didn’t feel right about any of this and she wasn’t going to be beholden to him for the rest of her career.
What she needed now was to figure out who her friends were. Where her power came from so that she had her own alliances and backup should the Speaker move against her. Valencia seemed like a good bet, and the governor’s enthusiasm for legislation from the design team had seemed genuine. It was a start.
She pulled out her phone as she walked out of the statehouse. It was only seven thirty. Drawing lines in the sand and pissing off the most powerful members of her political party had taken less time than a children’s cartoon. If she needed to brush up her résumé she’d list “efficiency” as a special skill.
It was too early to call Lily. She was likely still buzzing from the night before, and there was no telling who was sharing her bed. She texted her to tell her they needed to talk later. Her phone pinged a minute later, but it was from Davey.
We have some things to talk to you about too, but in about four hours. Why are you awake?
Sophia stared at her phone. We? Did he mean Davey and Lily? Things? What things? She wanted to write back and demand answers, but she knew her brother would turn his phone off and make her wait longer if she badgered him.
She was about to put her phone back in her bag and go home, or in search of coffee, but that wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted to see Reggie. She wanted, it felt like she needed, to reach out to her, have some connection to her, which felt weird since Reggie was the reason her career might have just imploded. She didn’t question it though, she knew the feeling of calm that flowed through her veins when she was with Reggie. She needed that right now.
She didn’t know if Reggie was a morning person or slept until noon. She didn’t even know if Reggie was working today. She didn’t care, she sent a text anyway. If she was asleep or at work, she could ignore it.
I miss you. How is that possible?
She responded quickly, as if she’d been waiting for Sophia to get in touch. How was your meeting?
It’s poor manners to threaten someone before they’ve had coffee.
Can I fix the coffee problem? I just made a pot.
Sophia smiled at her phone. She could picture Reggie in her kitchen, or what she imagined her kitchen looked like, dutifully readying the coffee.
I’d love that. And seeing you.
Reggie gave her directions and Sophia made it to her house easily. God-awful early on a Sunday was thankfully traffic-free. Reggie was waiting on the porch with two mugs.
Sophia made it halfway up the walk then stopped to admire the view. Reggie was wearing athletic shorts and a well-loved T-shirt. Her hair was still sleep tousled and the morning light framed her in a warm glow. She looked like every happy thought Sophia wanted to get lost in and damned sexy as the cherry on top.
“Hug or coffee first? You look like you could use both.” Reggie put down her mug and stood, arms open.
Sophia realized coffee was in danger of losing its crown as her beacon out of bed in the morning. Reggie’s arms were likely to detour her from any cup, mug, pot, or shop no matter how carefully brewed.
“Do you know how terrible politics are?” Sophia nuzzled into Reggie’s neck.
“That’s a total shock to me. Pull back the curtain and tell me more.” She guided them to the porch. Reggie sat one step up and wrapped her arms around Sophia. She handed her the steaming cup of coffee.
“Well, you see, there’s this woman.”
“There always is.” Reggie kissed the top of Sophia’s head.
Sophia looked around. Was anyone watching? She looked down at the sidewalk at the step below. Her eyes felt heavy with tears. Why did she care?
“What’s wrong? Did I do something wrong?” Reggie swung down to sit next to Sophia, lifting her chin gently.
She shook her head, not trusting her voice. She took a breath. “No, of course not. I’m the one who’s wrong. Can we go inside?”
Reggie looked confused but she nodded and gave Sophia a hand up. Sophia followed her inside to the dining room table.
“Can I get you something to eat?” Reggie rubbed the back of her head and shifted from foot to foot.
“No. Sit with me. I’m sorry I’m being weird. My meeting this morning has me jumbled up.”
Reggie nodded more than she needed to and finally sat. “Was it what we thought? I mean, you and me, from last night?”
Sophia smiled sadly. “They didn’t seem to think the night was as magical as I did.”
She couldn’t get a read on Reggie; her face was impassive. It occurred to Sophia that this morning must have been hard for Reggie too. But she was here with her now. She’d stood up for them, but Reggie didn’t know that.
“The Speaker of the House thought my fraternizing with you was a personal affront after he told me to stay away from you.”
Reggie cut in. “I told you I wasn’t popular in the statehouse.”
“I’m probably not either, at least not with him. I told you last night, this”—she pointed between the two of them—“is not wrong. You’re not wrong.”
A smile slowly crept across Reggie’s face. “Please tell me you didn’t say that to the leadership of your party.”
“I answer to the voters, not to those guys.” Sophia’s voice was stronger than her conviction.
“Maybe you aren’t really a politician if you believe that.” Reggie shook her head looking shocked, but still smiling. “Thank you.”
Sophia took a sip of coffee and waved her off. “I’m still the bloodthirsty politician of your nightmares, or theirs, but I’m on the hunt for new allies. Ones who won’t tell me who I’m allowed to kiss. Speaking of which, I know this is asking a lot and is probably going to piss you off, but do you mind if most of our kissing is indoors for the next week? Just until I get a feel for the new landscape?”
She knew that request was going to push all of Reggie’s buttons, and she felt guilty making it. She wasn’t ashamed of being with Reggie, but she knew it would come across that way. She’d made her choice to see where these feelings for Reggie were taking her when she gave the implied middle finger to the Speaker on her way out the door.
“Oh.” Reggie stood up abruptly and took her mug to the kitchen. She roughly poured more coffee and spilled some on the counter. “Sure. Whatever you need.”
“Can I explain why?” Sophia joined Reggie in the kitchen and stood shoulder to shoulder next to her.
Sophia took Reggie’s silence as consent. She interpreted Reggie’s stiff shoulders and locked jaw as a sign she needed to talk fast. Was this the time to mention the new information about Reggie’s father?
“Politics is about power, among all the other things, and I need to figure out where mine is. Now I have friends in the House, and I hope in the governor’s office too. I need to consolidate some of that power right now.”
“What does that have to do with us?” Reggie still looked out the window above the sink.
“Everything. I’m a freshman representative. No one expects me to be challenging the Speaker for dominance of our caucus, but I don’t want to be dependent on him for my rise or fall, or to get things passed that I really believe in. So I need my own coalition, independent of his influence.” Sophia reached out and tentatively slid her hand over Reggie’s.
Reggie turned to her. There was deep hurt in her eyes. “So while you shore up your career, you want to hide me away? I’ll be the skeleton in your closet, hopefully never to find the light of day?”
“What? No.” Sophia took a step back. “Babe, never. I’m worried things are going to get ugly for a little while and I don’t want you to be a target, and, honestly, I don’t want to provide any more ammunition until I have people at my back to help me deal with the onslaught. In my experience, people in power don’t give up any of it, even a tiny slice, without a fight. And I took their advice about you and told them they could shove it up their ass.”
“You didn’t really tell them that, did you?” Reggie tentatively stepped to Sophia and put her hands on her waist.
“I think they were clear on the message.” Sophia looped her arms around Reggie’s shoulders. “I’m not ashamed of you, or this. I’m sorry I made you feel that way. I just need a bit of slow motion until I can put myself out there without losing everything I’ve built.”
“I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions. Ava said I need to get in touch with my emotions more, but they go a little haywire on me sometimes.” Reggie pulled Sophia closer.
“Not haywire. Perfectly normal.” Sophia risked a kiss.
She was rewarded when Reggie let her hands roam freely and deepened the kiss. Standing in Reggie’s kitchen, bodies tangled, kissing and caressing, Sophia had never been happier.
Reggie broke the kiss, her breath coming heavier than usual. “I still wish you’d let me onto the front lines with you. I’m tougher than I look.”
Sophia slipped her hand under Reggie’s shirt and across her abs. Reggie shivered under her touch. “I hope not. I like your soft parts and look forward to exploring more.” Sophia trailed one finger past Reggie’s waistband but stopped just short of the apex of her thighs.
Before she fully processed, Reggie’s mouth was back on hers, more insistent this time. Reggie walked her backward as they kissed, out of the kitchen. Sophia didn’t know if they were headed for the couch or elsewhere in the house, but she didn’t care. She wanted Reggie, right now, anywhere Reggie was leading.
“Is this okay?” Reggie stopped their motion and their kissing and made sure she had Sophia’s full attention.”
Sophia cupped Reggie’s crotch and squeezed. “Get moving, hot stuff.”
Reggie took Sophia’s hand and started down the hall. Sophia’s stomach tumbled with nerves, anticipation, and lust.
They stepped into what Sophia assumed was Reggie’s bedroom and Reggie closed the distance between them. She pulled the shirt from Sophia’s tailor-made dress pants and slid her hands under the turquoise fabric.
She was moving too slowly for Sophia’s taste, and she was about to take Reggie’s hands and move them to her breasts when Reggie’s phone rang. Reggie glanced at the bed where she’d tossed it. Sophia redirected Reggie’s gaze to the task at hand, but Reggie stepped toward the bed instead.
“I’m sorry, it’s work. I’m on call and I have to answer it.”
Sophia wanted to be mad, but she understood the call of duty.
“I bet kindergarten teachers don’t get calls interrupting Sunday morning foreplay.” She rubbed her hands up and down her own torso, pausing a few extra seconds on her breasts before sitting serenely on the bed, waiting for Reggie.
Reggie barely said three words during the short call. She looked annoyed as she ended it.
“I have to go in. They’re short staffed.”
Sophia stood up and kissed along Reggie’s neck. “Tell them you’re busy all day and are unavailable.”
Reggie intercepted Sophia’s next kiss and delivered a searing one of her own. “I wish it worked that way. Perhaps a small consolation for you, I’m going to be wet and uncomfortable because of you all shift.”
“No consolation at all since I’m going to suffer right along with you. Do you really have to leave now?”
“Afraid so.” Reggie moved to the closet and pulled out her uniform.
Sophia made no move for the door or any coy nod to covering her eyes as Reggie changed. From the look of it, Reggie enjoyed her watching. Her ballsiness backfired, however. A mostly naked Reggie was a lot to take in. Her muscles were defined enough to make Sophia want to demand a feat of strength, but she hadn’t lost her feminine curves. A delicate tattoo of branches and birds surrounded one of her upper forearms and bicep. Today’s boxer briefs were forest green with red chili peppers. Sophia was certainly feeling the heat.
“You okay?” Reggie looked amused.
“Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m feeling.” Sophia pouted.
“I wish I didn’t have to go. I’d do almost anything to stay and get you to look at me again the way you did when you saw me in my underwear.” Reggie pulled Sophia to her feet and led her back to the kitchen. She put the mugs from earlier in the sink and walked Sophia to her car.
“We’re outside. Can I kiss you good-bye?” Reggie looked around.
“You better.” Sophia pulled her in, not caring if there were cameras around. At least, not right now. “Call me later if you get off work before tomorrow.”
Sophia saw Reggie waving in the rearview as she drove away. She felt more solid in her refusal to bend to the Speaker’s demands earlier. Reggie, more than any political carrot dangled in her face, felt like the future. Maybe it was political suicide to grow a mind of her own, but the seed was planted. Political greatness didn’t come to the meek.