Chapter Ten

 

Adam stayed true to his word, no longer hiding our relationship. It was never officially announced, but people were talking.

“Is it true you’re dating Quinn Hamilton?” one reporter asked during a scheduled press conference.

My heart pounded against my chest as Adam turned a soft shade of pink at the podium. “It is true that Ms. Hamilton and I have been exploring some very personal feelings for one another,” he said without hesitation.

Cameras all flashed in my direction, and reporters scrambled to be the next called upon. It was chaos as they yelled out question after question.

“Is that why you brought her with you to the White House?” one asked.

“I brought her to the White House because she is amazing at what she does,” he replied.

Reporters started directing their questions to me. I wasn’t ready. “Do you think this has helped your career?” one reporter asked.

I laughed nervously. “This was a huge risk, but one I’d take again and again if I had to,” I finally answered.

Adam smiled in my direction, his blue eyes lighting up with pride. “That’s all,” he said, and stepped away from the podium.

The press secretary took over, dodging any questions that involved the president’s personal life.

“I’m sorry about that,” Adam said as I followed him from the press room.

My hand slid into his, and I moved closer to him as we walked down the long hallway together. It felt good that everyone knew, and that there was no more worrying about when they’d finally figure it out.

We’d been out on dates, spent time together during events, but since we’d been so close before, no one seemed to really notice, or at least not enough to say something publicly.

“I’m so glad you didn’t deny it, Mr. President,” Michael said, rushing towards us in the hall.

“I am, too,” Adam said, lifting my hand to his lips for a quick kiss.

“No. Sir. You just dodged a huge bullet,” Michael said.

He pushed a book towards Adam, one that was titled “Love on the Campaign Trail, A Prediction of the Next First Lady.”

“What is this?” Adam asked, turning it over to display Sal’s face as the author.

“I told you, it always comes out, one way or another,” I said.

“I read it from front to back before bringing it to you,” Michael said.

“It has nothing derogatory about either of you; in fact, it’s quite flattering. The author is a huge supporter, apparently worked closely with you both on the campaign trail in Minnesota,” Michael added.

“Good. Then no damage control is needed,” Adam said, turning to wink at me. “We have dinner plans,” he added.

Michael let us both know the book would be on the shelves in the morning, probably sold out by noon.

“Should I step down?” I asked, feeling that this could still come back to bite one of us, or both of us, in the ass.

“No. You earned your position here,” Adam stated firmly.

“Yes. I agree,” Michael said quickly.

“Are you certain? Even if only temporarily, until this blows over?” I questioned.

Both men argued that I’d be stepping down for no reason. “You’ve proven yourself, both on the campaign trail and here in the White House,” Adam insisted.

“Yes. And this Sal guy really gives you props for how you worked your ass off for Adam,” Michael added.

“Okay,” I agreed.

The next morning, the book was released and Sal was on every talk show known to man. “Crap,” I growled, switching through the channels.

Adam stepped out of the bathroom, his toothbrush still hanging from his mouth, to see what I was growling about.

“I wanted to scream from the mountain tops that I loved you. It’s good the world knows how important you’ve been to my life,” he said quickly, and then disappeared back into the bathroom.

It wasn’t the first night I’d spent in the White House, in Adam’s personal quarters, but the exit this morning was feeling like a walk of shame.

“Hold your head up high,” Adam encouraged me, giving me a quick kiss before we started our day tackling the latest big news: our love.

The White House staff was gracious, no one offering more than a quick smile, or a nod to show approval, but the reporters were relentless.

Adam decided to schedule a conference, one that would allow only a handful of reporters, and where he and I would tell our story.

It felt awkward at first, like we were on trial as the six reporters lined up in chairs adjacent our seats.

Adam started the conversation off with how we first met, a detail I wanted left out because of my age. “Were there romantic feelings then?” one of the reporters asked, to which Adam laughed.

“I was twenty-four, Quinn was twelve. No, of course not,” he stated firmly.

One of the reporters cornered me with the same question, to which I admitted having a school girl crush on the beautiful, blue-eyed man in the Air Force uniform.

The more we talked, the more relaxed I became, actually enjoying hearing some of Adam’s answers.

I’d never heard that he had feelings for me when he left the military, coming home to find the braces gone and the little girl he’d known gone, grown into a beautiful woman. I’d never heard it, because I’d never asked.

“Why didn’t you pursue something then?” one reporter asked.

“She was in college, and had a life ahead of her that I knew may very well not include me,” he replied, smiling in my direction.

The cameras shut down, the reporters thanked us both for our candidness, and that was it. The whole story was out there. No more secrets.