Graduating (Covenant College Book 5) (6 page)

“No, I know you from somewhere,” Reagan said, ignoring my joke. “I just can’t place it.”

I felt a familiar presence move in behind me and I stiffened. Crap.

“She’s with me.”

Uh-oh.

“Aric Winters. I didn’t know you’d be here.”

Aric’s left hand was settled at the base of my neck, holding me still. He reached around me with his right and shook the governor’s hand. “Kennedy, it’s good to see you.”

Brittany’s nose wrinkled when she heard the familiarity in which the two greeted each other. They may not be friends, but they’d known each other long enough to be on a first-name basis with each other. I could tell that irked her.

“How are you, son? I didn’t know you were still here. I thought you’d graduated. I sent you a card.”

“I got it,” Aric said, keeping his hand on my neck. “I’m actually still living in the area while I work for my father.”

“At his senatorial office?” Gov. Reagan looked confused. “I think you’re an hour or so north for that.”

“No,” Aric said. “I’m working at the lumber business.”

“You’re not interested in politics? Forgive me, son, but a boy with your looks and charisma could go far in the political arena.”

“I’m just not interested,” Aric said. “It’s not my thing. I’ve never been interested.”

“I didn’t even know the lumber business had an office around here,” Reagan said, his eyes traveling to the hand Aric was using to secure me in place.

“It’s in Midland,” Aric said. “I drive over there every day. It’s only a half hour. It’s not a big deal.”

“Did you want to stay close to the campus for … the fraternity?”

“I’m not involved with the frat,” Aric said. “I have no interest in those politics either.”

Something was going on here. Reagan was aware of the big wolf secret. I was sure of that. He and Aric were talking in thinly veiled code.

“I see,” Reagan said, glancing at me. “And you’re friends with Ms. … I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name.”

“It’s Zoe Lake,” Brittany supplied, fixing Aric with a hard look. “Are you two back together? I thought you broke up.”

Aric ignored her. “Zoe is my girlfriend,” Aric said. “She graduates in the spring. Dad agreed to let me work out of the office here so I could be close to her.”

Reagan guffawed. “Your father let you base your future decisions on a girl?”

I didn’t like his tone.

“My father doesn’t make my decisions for me,” Aric countered. “I told him what I was planning on doing, and he suggested that the Midland office would be a good fit. It’s worked out well so far.”

Reagan looked me up and down again; this time his eyes were predatory. I took an involuntary step back, smacking into Aric’s broad chest. He moved his hand from my neck and slipped it around my waist, shifting from warden to boyfriend in a split second.

“Well, you must be something very special to entice young Mr. Winters,” Reagan said.

“She is,” Aric said, his tone cool. “I was actually just stopping by because I was looking for her. I don’t want to take up any more of your time. It looks like you have a line of people waiting for you. I got off work early and wanted to treat my girl to a nice dinner, and that’s where we should be going now before it gets too late.”

Brittany’s eyes narrowed. “I can’t believe you two are together. Aric, you could do so much better.”

I noticed Will watching us from a few feet away. His eyes were suspicious, but he wisely chose to keep his distance.

“Well, believe it,” Aric said. “I can’t believe you’re still pretending you’re in a relationship with that lowlife.”

I’m usually the blunt one, so Aric calling Will out in front of the governor was a surprise.

“We’re in love,” Brittany said, straightening her cardigan. “Will is going places.”

“Oh, he’s going places,” Aric agreed. “You might not want to go to those places with him, though. Just a suggestion.”

Brittany frowned. I doubted Will had filled her in on what had happened in the spring, so she was working from a disadvantage. That had never stopped her from voicing her opinion before. This probably wasn’t going to be the exception. “You’re just jealous,” she said. “You wish you could be half the man Will is.”

“Yeah, that’s exactly what I was thinking,” Aric deadpanned, turning his attention back to Reagan. “I hope your day goes well. I’ll be sure to tell my father I ran into you.”

Reagan smiled. This time, I was sure it was fake. “I’m sure you will. Tell him I said hello.”

“No problem.”

Aric kept his arm around my waist as he started to direct me away from the tent. When Kelsey made a move to walk over to the registration table, he reached over and snagged her by the back of her shirt. “Why don’t you come with us?”

“I was going to register to vote,” she complained.

“You can do that at the Secretary of State,” Aric said. “Why don’t you do it then?”

“Why?”

Aric scowled. “Just … come on.”

Kelsey and I followed Aric as he led us away from the busy lawn and in the direction of the UC. Once he was satisfied we were alone and out of earshot from any eavesdroppers, he turned on us.

“What are you two doing here?”

“What are you doing here?” I countered. “Why aren’t you at work?”

“I got off early,” Aric said. “I only have to work half days on Fridays. That’s why we agreed to naked Fridays this summer when you told me your schedule.”

“I thought that was a joke.”

“It’s not,” Aric said, his face serious.

“What’s the deal with you and Reagan?” Kelsey asked. “Is it because your father is a Democrat and he’s a Republican?”

“My father is an independent,” Aric replied. “He just caucuses with the Democrats. And, no, that’s not why I don’t like him.”

“He’s a wolf, isn’t he?”

Aric glanced around again. “Yes. How did you know?”

“I didn’t know at first,” I said. “There was just something … odd … about him. I think Will being his intern was also a clue.”

Aric ran his hand over the back of his neck, shifting his attention to the tent again before focusing back on us. “Yeah, that’s weird.”

“How do you think it happened?”

“Well, Reagan isn’t just running for governor,” Aric said. “He’s also running for a leadership position on the council.”

“What council?” Kelsey was confused.

“The wolf council,” I said. “They’ve got a separate form of government.”

“There’s a wolf council?” Kelsey looked intrigued. “Does everyone shift and howl at the moon?”

Aric ran his tongue over his teeth, irritation bubbling up. “Are you trying to be cute?”

“I don’t know,” Kelsey said. “Is it working?”

“No.”

I reached over, putting my hand on Aric’s arm to calm him. “What has you so worked up?”

“Reagan has been smearing my father every chance he gets,” Aric said. “He’s doing it on the state level, and in more private circles, too.”

“Why?”

“Because my father is the one standing in his way on the council,” Aric replied. “And, since he caucuses with the Democrats, he’s given them the majority in the state senate. From where Reagan is standing, my dad is an obstacle.”

“Why is your father so opposed to him being on the council?” I asked.

“Well, he’s got this whole ‘new direction’ thing he’s proposing,” Aric said. “He wants to make sure all of the wolf lines are pure, so he wants to institute plural marriage.”

Eww, gross. “Like he wants you guys to be Mormons?”

Aric barked out a laugh, running his hand over the back of my head. “Essentially, yes. He wants male wolves to have multiple wives, and he only wants them to take wolf wives.”

“That is sick,” Kelsey said, glaring at Reagan with overt distaste. “And to think, I thought he was the family-values candidate.”

I narrowed my eyes as I regarded Aric. “You don’t want multiple … women, do you?”

“Trust me, honey, you’re more than I can handle,” he said. “In fact, there are times I think half of you is enough to kill me. Reagan’s ideas are antiquated, and there is only a small faction of our group who believes as he does.”

“So, why is he running on that platform?”

“He’s playing to a really small base,” Aric replied. “No one knows what his ultimate goals are.”

“Why did you play nice with him in public if he’s talking bad about your dad?” I pressed.

“That’s just what you do in politics,” Aric said. “I think my dad is going to be interested in hearing that he was here – and that he was trying to recruit voters.”

“I think it’s more interesting that Will is an intern for him,” I said. “That can’t be a coincidence.”

“I wonder if Brittany knows that Will is backing the candidate who wants multiple wives,” Kelsey mused.

Hmm. Now that she brought it up, I couldn’t wait to hit Brittany with that next time I saw her. Aric must have read my mind, because he was almost immediately shaking his head. “You can’t talk to her about wolf politics.”

“I know.”

“I mean it.”

“I know.”

Aric sighed, pulling me in for a quick hug. “I about had a heart attack when I saw you standing there with him. I don’t trust him.”

“How did you even find us?” I asked, tilting my head up so I could see his face.

“I went to the house,” Aric said. “Paris told me.”

“I should have listened to her when she suggested staying home and playing euchre,” I said. “It would have been a better afternoon.”

“I don’t know,” Kelsey said. “You did get the whole security detail worked up when you told them the Democrats were planning a jihad.”

Aric cocked an eyebrow, glancing down at me. “You didn’t?”

I shrugged. “I was bored.”

Aric rubbed his hand over my back, glancing between Kelsey and me. “How about we go back to the house and pick up Paris, and I take you all out to dinner?”

“Really?” Kelsey looked intrigued.

“How about we go to the Mexican place and have dinner and drinks? Then we can go back to your place and have … dessert.”

I smirked. “You’re such a smooth talker.”

Aric dropped a brief kiss on my lips. “We’re totally instituting naked Fridays starting next week,” he said. “I wasn’t joking about that.”

“Deal.”

I glanced over at Kelsey. “Are you ready to go?”

She lifted her finger, pointing. “Look who else has been sucked in by the governor.”

I peered around Aric’s broad body, frowning when I caught sight of Kate. She was standing next to Brittany, and fawning all over Reagan.

“I shouldn’t be surprised,” I said. “She said she was coming.”

“She just doesn’t know he’s a pervert,” Kelsey said. “Hey! Maybe she can be Will’s second wife?”

“Ah, the thought of her and Brittany setting up a sex schedule does make me happy.”

Aric linked his fingers with mine before reaching over to flick Kelsey above her left ear. “Let’s go. I’m starving. There’s nothing left for us here – and I don’t want you to come up with any more disturbing multiple-wives scenarios. They’re going to give me nightmares.”

I risked one more glance over my shoulder, watching Kate and Will chat amiably, and pushed down the uncomfortable feeling creeping over me. It didn’t mean anything. It was a coincidence.

So, how come I didn’t totally believe it?

I woke up the next morning wrapped in Aric’s arms, our legs tangled together. I took the opportunity to study him in the morning light. He really was more beautiful than any one man had the right to be. His jaw was strong and angular, his face peaceful in sleep, and his morning stubble gave him the hint of danger that I’d grown so fond of.

“If your mind works any harder, it’s going to wake the whole house.” Aric shifted next to me, opening one eye sleepily as he regarded me. “What’s on your mind, baby?”

“I was just thinking,” I admitted, resting myself on an elbow as I leaned forward to run my other hand over his chest.

“What were you thinking? And, I’m just going to warn you, if you make a multiple husbands joke, I’m going to spank you. I don’t like to share.”

The threat of a spanking didn’t have the negative connotation in my mind that I was sure he initially envisioned. I shifted closer to him, resting my chin on his bare chest. “That’s not what I was thinking,” I scoffed.

Aric’s fingers were making lazy circles on my back. “Tell me what you were thinking.”

“I was thinking that you’ve been really great about spending the night here a few times a week,” I replied honestly. “You didn’t have to be, and yet you are. It means a lot to me. I’m … lucky.”

Aric’s chest hitched with a barely contained chuckle. “So, you’re thinking deep thoughts this morning? And here I thought you were just debating what position we should do it in.”

“They weren’t all that deep,” I countered, suddenly feeling self-conscious. I moved my gaze away from his, fighting the burn climbing my cheeks.

Aric reached over, capturing my chin with his hand and turning my face back so he could gaze into my eyes. “I shouldn’t have teased you. The deep thoughts were nice. I like them.”

“Oh, cripes,” I muttered. “I can practically see your ego growing.”

Aric shifted onto his side, keeping me pressed against his long body as he pulled me closer. His ego wasn’t the only thing growing this morning.

“I think we’re both lucky,” he said, his brown eyes serious. “Things were bad last year. They were really bad. There were times I didn’t think we’d get back here.”

“You said you had faith,” I protested.

“I did. I still had doubts, too. As much as I love you, you do have a mind of your own. I was scared that you’d never let me back in.”

“Oh, don’t get all sappy,” I warned. “I can’t take it when you get all sappy.”

“I’m not getting sappy,” Aric said. “I’m just … okay, maybe I’m getting a little sappy. I’m happy right now, and I hope you are, too.”

“I’m happy,” I said. “I haven’t been this happy … ever.”

“Even though Blake is your professor again, and I told you that the governor wants to force me to take multiple wives?”

“Meh. Don’t sweat the small stuff, honey.”

Aric smiled. “I don’t suppose, since we missed naked Friday, that we can make up for it with naked Saturday?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “You might have to convince me.”

“Done.”

TWO HOURS
later, we finally left the room so we could forage for food.

“I don’t see why we just can’t go out for breakfast.” Aric is hungry for two things in the morning. I’d already handled one of those needs, and now he was complaining about the other.

“I don’t want to shower and get all cleaned up,” I said. Although, to be fair, a big breakfast did sound good after our morning workout.

“I don’t care if you get cleaned up,” Aric said. “I figured we could go to breakfast and then spend the day getting filthy again at my apartment.”

That did sound tempting. “What if I have a counter proposal?”

“I can already tell I’m not going to like this,” Aric grumbled.

“What if we have breakfast here, and then we get cleaned up and run some errands?”

“I’m still waiting for how this benefits me.”

“After the errands, I thought you could buy me lunch, and then we could go back to your apartment for the night,” I said. “We can watch a horror movie, and I’ll climb into your lap and let you protect me.”

Aric considered the offer. “What errands are we running?”

“I just need to run down to Meijer,” I said. “I need a few things. Plus, I figured we could get some food and I would cook you an awesome dinner. Maybe even a steak?”

“Okay,” Aric said almost immediately. “Once we get back to the apartment, though, clothes are banned.”

“I’m not sure I can cook without at least a robe to protect me from splatter,” I said. “Other than that, I agree to your terms.” I stuck out my hand for him to shake.

Aric grabbed it, pulling me forward so he could cover my mouth with his. “You drive a hard bargain.”

“Oh, please,” I scoffed. “I had you at steak.”

“And naked,” Aric said. “If we had an endless supply of steak and no clothes, I would be a happy man.”

“You’re sick.”

I pulled up short when I entered the kitchen. Heather and Kate, still in their pajamas, were sitting at the small table eating bowls of cereal. They weren’t alone. Mark, his shoulder-length hair mussed from a night of … something … was enjoying breakfast with them.

“Mark.”

Mark glanced up, surprised. “Zoe. Oh, um, hey Aric.”

Aric’s arm was around my waist, his chest pressed into my back, as he regarded Mark. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m having breakfast,” Mark replied, trying to keep his face neutral. “I … um … I met Heather at the political rally yesterday, and we kind of hit it off.”

Karen’s face was red. “I didn’t realize you knew each other.”

Well, this would be fun. “We lived in the dorms together,” I said carefully, leading Aric over to the kitchen cabinets. “We used to hang out.”

“Used to?”

“We just haven’t seen each other as much,” I said. “You know how those things go.” I pushed a bowl into Aric’s hands. “You want Fruity Pebbles?”

Aric scowled. “Is that my only choice?”

I shot him a saucy smile and pulled a box of granola out of the cupboard. It just happened to be his favorite brand. “I got a box of your healthy crap, too.”

Aric smiled. “And I thought you didn’t love me.” He gave me a quick kiss and then moved over to the refrigerator. “So, how are things, Mark?” Aric’s tone was light, but I knew he was ready to spring into action if he thought Mark was a threat.

“Pretty boring,” Mark replied. “Just school work.”

“No … extra-curricular activities?” Aric asked.

“Not anymore,” Mark said. “I decided to lighten my load after last spring.”

“That’s good,” Aric said, pouring milk into his bowl, and then mine, before returning the jug to the refrigerator. “I think you were spreading yourself too thin.”

Instead of settling at the table, Aric opted to lean against the counter and eat on his feet. I rolled my eyes and moved to the open spot between Mark and Kate. “So, Kate, I saw you at the rally yesterday. You seemed to be having a good time.”

“I didn’t see you there,” Kate said.

“We were leaving when I saw you,” I said. “Aric took Paris, Kelsey and I out to dinner.”

“Oh, well, that sounds like fun,” Kate said. “Oh, by the way, I met your old roommate. I think her name was Brittany. She really doesn’t like you.”

Mark stilled at the table. “Brittany?”

Kate was clueless. “Yeah. Do you know her?”

“We went to high school together.” Mark shifted a worried gaze to me. “What was she doing at the rally?”

“She was there with Will,” I said. “He’s an intern for Reagan.”

Mark frowned. “Why?”

“Governor Reagan is a great man,” Kate said. “He’s done great things for this state. I can’t wait to see what he’ll do with a second term.”

Kate was really starting to bug me. “What great things has he done for the state?” I challenged.

Kate seemed surprised by the question. “Well, you know, things.”

“What things?” Aric asked.

Kate’s smile when she regarded Aric was small and flirty. “He’s trying to eradicate unions, and he wants to outlaw gay marriage.”

Aric took a bite of his cereal, his face unreadable. “And why are you for those things?” Aric asked after he swallowed.

“Are you for them?”

Aric shrugged. “We run a lumber company,” he said. “Our workers are union. It’s a mixed bag. They’re not all good, and they’re not all bad. And, as for gay marriage, I’m of the opinion that what doesn’t hurt me doesn’t affect me. I’m not gay. I don’t care if gay people want to be married.”

“Well, I … .”

“Your father is Senator Winters, right?” Heather broke in.

“How did you know that?” I asked.

“Someone at the rally yesterday mentioned that Senator Winters’ son was there,” Heather said. “It just clicked for me right now.”

Kate was enraptured. “It must be so exciting to be the son of a senator. You were talking about it at the party, but we got interrupted.”

“It’s not,” Aric said. “He’s just a regular father.”

Who also happened to be a werewolf, I added silently.

“But you’re in the thick of things,” Kate said. “I can’t believe that’s not exciting to you.”

“It’s never been exciting to me,” Aric said. “My father is many things. A senator is only one of them, and it’s the least important thing he does in my book. He’s also a good provider, and a great sounding board. He’s also a bad poker player, and poor loser when it comes to playing pool.”

“Of course,” Kate said hurriedly, glancing at me for support. “Aren’t you excited his father is a senator? What’s he like?”

“I’ve never met him,” I said, finishing off my bowl of cereal.

“Really? How come?” I knew what she was hoping. She thought Aric was ashamed to introduce me to his parents. She had no way of knowing that other things had conspired to keep us apart – and one of those things was my own uncertainty.

“It’s just never timed out right,” I said. “It’s not a big deal.”

Kate shifted her gaze to Aric. “How come you never introduced her to your father?”

“Because he’s always in Lansing and I’m always here,” Aric said. “I barely see the man twice a year these days.”

“But … you had the whole summer,” Kate pressed, clearly convinced there was something bigger going on here. There was. She just didn’t understand what it was.

“I was with Zoe all summer,” Aric said. “We were up at her home.”

“But, you’re going to introduce her to your father, right?” I think Kate wanted him to say no.

“I’m going to introduce her to my father,” Aric agreed. “I’m thinking Christmas.”

I suddenly felt like I had something lodged in my throat. I think it was my tongue. “Christmas?”

Aric smirked. “My mom is insisting. You’ll have a good time.”

Crap.

Luckily for me, the sound of someone shuffling on the overhead landing caught my attention. I slid a look in Mark’s direction. “You know Paris lives here, too, right?”

Mark froze. “No.”

Heather’s face screwed up in confusion. “Why would Paris care?”

I leaned back in my chair, exchanging an amused look with Aric before fixating on Mark. “Should I tell her, or do you want to?”