Jameson
Our “honeymoon” only lasted another day, and then we returned to Washington. When my term was over, I’d make it up to Georgie. I’d throw her a proper wedding and whisk her away to the most exotic and secluded island. But for now, this one night and one day were it. She was instantly in love with the house, already mentally filling it with furniture and family. I pictured everything she described perfectly and knew that I made the right choice when I picked this property.
I worked on Air Force One during our return flight, preparing to meet with Sean and DeWayne to tell them about my decision. They weren’t going to be happy; in fact, they probably were going to kill me. Especially once I told them Georgie and I were married. When we arrived at the White House, the media was there to greet us with their usual shutter snaps and flashing bulbs. This was one aspect of the job I would not miss. I hated constantly being in the press, but everything that I did was news, good or bad.
We waved and smiled secretly, relishing in the fact we knew something they didn’t. When they shouted questions at us, we just ignored them. They would know soon enough. I wasn’t worried about the American people being angry with us for eloping; I was more worried about my parents.
I left Georgie in the private residence. Her schedule wasn’t as hectic as mine, and since I’d fired Maxwell Edison, I think she was content not to be constantly absorbed in policy. She left me with a lingering kiss, one that said our honeymoon might have ended but we were still newlyweds celebrating.
“Good luck,” she said with a cheeky wink.
I rolled my eyes and then walked slowly toward the West Wing, thinking about what I was going to tell DeWayne and Sean. We weren’t meeting in the Oval Office; I didn’t want to break this news to them sitting behind that desk with the presidential seal mocking us. Instead, we were meeting in the president’s dining room, just off the corridor that led to the Oval Office. I would feed them their favorites, we’d bullshit, and then I’d break the news.
Sean and DeWayne arrived together, joking and smiling. My nerves got the better of me at that moment; I wondered if they would still joke and smile after I shared my news.
“Don’t you look happy and well-rested,” DeWayne said, shaking my hand firmly and offering me a friendly smile.
“No, he looks like he’s been well-fucked,” Sean added, oblivious to the crassness of his statement. “Where did you take Georgie on this top-secret rendezvous we all heard about? No one knew where you were.”
“I took her to the property I purchased in New Hampshire. I sold the Beacon Hill townhouse.”
They both seemed surprised that I would part with the townhouse in Boston. And then I upped the shock value. “It was sort of our honeymoon.”
“Seriously? Congratulations, man!” I didn’t think DeWayne would have a problem with the elopement, and I was right. He looked ecstatic as he reached out and shook my hand; then, after a moment, he enveloped me in a strong bear hug. “That’s amazing news! Avon is going to be pissed there wasn’t a wedding, but we’re both happy for you.”
“Thank you, I appreciate that,” I said just as our food arrived. Thankful for the distraction, I watched as my friends were served and began digging into their meals. Sean was unusually quiet, which troubled me.
“Sean, you haven’t said a word. Say something,” I asked gently.
“Congratulations, Mr. President,” he spat out angrily, slamming his fork down on the table, before getting up and leaving.
That was the first time I had truly experienced Sean’s anger, and I wondered if he’d ever be able to forgive me. There were a few moments of tense silence between DeWayne and myself. He picked at the food on his plate, and I just stared at mine.
“He’ll come around,” DeWayne finally said.
“No, he won’t.”
“Just give some time, and he will.”
“I think I ruined our friendship.”
“By eloping? He shouldn’t be angry about that.”
“He should be; he has the right to be, but there’s more.” I took a sip of my water, wishing it was something so much stronger. “I’m not going to run for re-election.”
“What the fuck!” DeWayne’s outburst was expected, but on top of Sean’s sudden departure, I suddenly felt like a giant asshole.
“After everything we went through to get you elected, you’re not going to run again?” DeWayne asked incredulously.
I shook my head. “No. Look at what it’s almost cost me. Is it worth it to be the leader of the greatest nation on Earth, when the media constantly bombards Georgie? When I’ve got Russia trying to buy their way into my administration and topple it from the inside?”
“But look at all the good that you’ve done,” DeWayne reminded me. He was right. I’d accomplished so much in such a short amount of time; in part, because of my own ambition, but I sacrificed even more to make those things happen.
“And I suspect that if you run, you’ll continue my policies.”
“Fuck no, I will not run for president again. If God wanted me to be president, then I would have won the primary. If you’re done, then I’m done.” By the time he finished speaking, he sounded almost relieved.
“Then that makes my life a little easier.” DeWayne looked up at me with a confused expression on his face. “Elias is going to run as an Independent. I plan on endorsing him.”
“You are just full of surprises.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t talk with you sooner. I told Georgie that I wasn’t going to run when we were in the hospital in Finland, but she made me promise to think about it for a while.”
“But you obviously talked to Elias Garcia about this a while ago?”
“After we got back. I was so messed up over everything. I didn’t know who to turn to about this.”
DeWayne sat back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. This bit of news annoyed him; he didn’t mind that I decided not to run and eloped, but he cared that I discussed this with Elias first.
“All I can do is apologize to you, DeWayne. Our friendship is important to me,” I told him sincerely.
“I’ll get over it eventually, but you’re going to have to do some serious groveling with Sean.”
He was right. Sean was already angry with me for eloping, for not being able to stand with me on my wedding day, but how would he react once I told him that I wasn’t going to run again? I couldn’t imagine him getting any angrier. I worked for hours after DeWayne and I finished lunch, distracting myself from the conversation that I needed to have with Sean. But it was there in the back of my mind, gnawing at me until I couldn’t concentrate any longer, so I abandoned my work and set off to find him.
It didn’t take me long to find him; Sean was partial to the theater in the East Wing and was often there, watching old films. Today, he sat in the darkened theater alone, watching All the President’s Men. A movie about a presidential scandal seemed almost entirely too apropos.
“I knew I’d find you here,” I said, walking to the front of the theater where Sean was sitting.
“It’s my favorite place in the entire White House,” he commented.
“I know. You get more use out of it than I do.”
“I like to come here and think. Playing a movie and letting my mind wander helps me sort through all the political bullshit.”
“Yet you’re watching a movie about one of the biggest political scandals ever.”
“It makes what you’ve put me through look like a piece of cake.”
I chuckled nervously. “I guess I deserve that.”
“I understand that you and Georgie wanted to get married privately, on your own terms. You want to do every fucking thing on your own terms, but I’m hurt, man. We’re best friends. We’ve seen each other through some of the worst shit imaginable. I never thought I’d be excluded from your wedding day.”
“I know, Sean. And I know that there isn’t a damn thing that I could say to make up for taking that away from you. But I hope you’ll forgive me anyway.”
Sean’s jaw clenched with tension. He still hadn’t looked at me, which made it easier for him to hold his anger.
“I have something else to tell you,” I murmured. It was now or never.
“Is Georgie pregnant again, too?”
“No, she’s not.” Although I dared to hope that she might soon be. “I’m not going to seek re-election.”
Sean looked at me now, his blue eyes blazing. “What did you say?”
“This is it. One term. I’m done.”
“Is that what you really want, James?”
I was confused. I was waiting for Sean to sock me in the face with even more fury, but it never came. Instead, he looked concerned.
“Yes, it is. I’ve been thinking about it for months.”
“I can’t say I’m surprised you’re going to give this all up because honestly, I’m not. Your heart hasn’t been in this for a while. I see you struggling, day in and day out. You’ve been pulled in so many directions. If that trip to Africa and the Middle East happened in the beginning, you wouldn’t have given up on it so easily. You would have ignored all the distractions and made the deals. Something in you changed.”
“I hate what this has done to Georgie and to our relationship. She’s everything to me, and this presidency has put her through hell. I’ve put her through hell. And I almost lost her again.”
“Dude, stop being a pussy. You didn’t almost lose her. Miscarriages happen all the time.”
“Well, it felt like I was fucking losing her, okay? God, you’re such an asshole sometimes.”
“You deserve it! You eloped without me.”
“That’s the whole point of eloping. No one is supposed to know.”
“You’re the president. You can’t take a shit without the whole world knowing.”
I laughed heartily. “Does this mean that you forgive me?”
Sean shook his head. “No, it doesn’t. But you’re my best friend, and I’ll support whatever you decide and whatever you do.”
I extended my hand out toward him, and he gripped it tightly. “Thank you.”
“Go home to your wife,” he said with finality, dismissing me from the theater, and I was more than happy to listen.