CHAPTER 18 #2
“Of course, it’s okay. That’s what I was hoping for,” India said.
Maisie’s eyes flitted to her laptop then, where she had half the screen showing the election results that weren’t in yet.
The other half showed a news site with a video playing, and India’s eyes went wide when she saw it because it was a campaign commercial for Colter that she hadn’t seen.
Admittedly, India didn’t watch a lot of TV, and she hadn’t paid any attention to her brother’s campaign, forgetting he was even running until she met Maisie.
There was no sound, but several pictures of Colter with his parents, his two dogs, and then one of him with their mother, his father, and India appeared before fading into his campaign logo and slogan.
“India?” Maisie asked her. “Why were you just in Colter Stone’s campaign ad? That was you, right? I’m not just imagining that I saw you in his ad? I’ve never seen that one. It must be new. How–” Maisie stopped and shook her head. “I must be seeing things.”
India sat back in her chair, sighed, and said, “You’re not seeing things.”
Maisie turned back to her and said, “Well, I know you’re not dating him, since you told me you’re gay, so…”
“God, gross. And no, I’d never date anyone like him.”
“It was a picture with his parents.”
“Yes,” India said with a nod.
Maisie didn’t say anything for a minute, and India knew she was waiting for her to offer an explanation, but she didn’t know how to explain it without messing things up between them.
When it appeared that she would have no choice, because Maisie wasn’t speaking first, India cleared her throat, looked Maisie in the eye, and bit her lower lip.
“He’s my brother.”
“Who’s your brother?” Maisie asked, obviously knowing the answer but not being able to process it yet.
“Colter. He’s my half-brother. My mom is his mom.”
“You’re his… He’s your…”
“Yes,” she said.
“You’re related to him?”
“Yes,” she repeated.
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because you clearly hated him when we first met, and I worried you’d hold him against me. I’m not like him, Maisie. I tried to convince him to–”
“Make that deal?” Maisie shot up from her chair. “That was your idea, wasn’t it? You were the advisor he mentioned.”
“I am not that fool’s advisor. I just met him for lunch and asked him to consider giving this place historical status. I suggested you might quit if he did that, but I didn’t tell him to threaten you or–”
“You thought I’d quit if I got what I wanted?” Maisie asked softly.
“I was trying to make it a win-win, Maisie. You wanted this place to be protected.”
“I want to win the race, too, India.”
“I know that now. When we first met, though, I thought it was more about the bookstore. We’d had one conversation, you and me.” India stood. “I’m sorry. I know I should have told you about him, and I was going to, after the election. I didn’t exactly expect to meet you and for us to start dating.”
“But we are dating, and I didn’t know your brother was my opponent.”
“I know. And I’m sorry. For what it’s worth, I can’t stand him. I can’t even say that I love him because he’s my blood. I don’t know that I do. I promise you that I’m not like him.”
“I don’t think you’re like him.”
“You don’t like rich people, Maisie.”
“I don’t like rich assholes,” Maisie corrected. “I like you, though.”
“Do you still?”
Maisie sat back down and said, “Yes, but…”
“But you don’t want this anymore?” India asked when Maisie didn’t finish her sentence.
“You should’ve told me. I would’ve understood. Why couldn’t you just tell me, India?”
“I thought you wouldn’t want to see me anymore, and I didn’t want that.
You’re the first woman, aside from my ex, whom I’ve cared about in any way other than friendship in a very long time.
I couldn’t even give Finley what I’ve wanted to give you, Maisie.
It seems silly, I’m sure, but I showed up to that soccer game feeling like an absolute idiot in my heels, eating really bad popcorn, watching a game I don’t understand, and sitting on cold bleachers that made my back hurt.
It’s easy for some people, but easy for me is an amazing glass of wine and my jacuzzi or a night at the opera or the ballet or in an art museum, taking in the work.
For some reason, I met you, and I wanted to actually try to give you things I’d never even offered the woman I’d been with for years, and I worried that when I’d finally gotten to the point where I wanted that, you would push me away because my brother is Colter fucking Stone.
” India moved around the table. “But today is your day; it’s not about me or what I want.
It’s not even about us, or whatever we could be; it’s about you and this election.
So, I’m going to get out of your way and let you handle this.
You should not have to deal with me or my mistakes right now.
” She motioned to the table Maisie was sitting behind.
“I will be rooting for you, okay? I’ll be watching the results come in, and I’ll be rooting for you. ”
Then, India turned and left the store.