Jupiter Point Hotshots Box Set

Chapter 5-1

5

Evie’s heart was pounding so fast and furious, she was afraid it might trip over itself. She clenched her fists and dug her fingernails into the heels of her hands. This didn’t have to be a big deal. Everyone was expecting an endorsement. The downtown business owners certainly were. Brad definitely expected it. It was safe to say the entire town considered it a done deal.

Endorsing Brad for state representative was a no-brainer. He’d give the town a higher profile. Everyone would benefit, and he might even do a good job. His family owned the biggest bank in town, so he knew finances. He knew how to schmooze. He loved the spotlight.

She knew he was also a manipulative, cruel slime ball, but no one else knew that.

Just do it, Evie.

She opened her mouth to release the words she’d memorized. Happy to endorse…excited about what this means for Jupiter Point…future is bright…

And then she made the mistake of looking in Sean’s direction. Instead of leaning against the wall, as he had been, he was standing bolt upright, staring at her with eyes that seemed to burn right through her.

Tremors ran down her body, from her scalp to the soles of her feet. Her toes curled inside her sandals and she gripped her sweaty hands together. A strange, surreal sensation took over her body, as if she was floating somewhere overhead. She dragged her gaze away from Sean’s and looked over the heads of the city council members.

The voice that came out of her mouth didn’t even sound like hers. “I regret to say that the Jupiter Point Business Coalition is unable to endorse Brad White for state representative at this time.”

After a stunned moment of silence, a noisy surge of questions assaulted her eardrums. Her vision swam, as if she might faint.

What had she just done? She never made waves. Never, ever. It wasn’t the McGraw way. She should take it back. Right now.

She opened her mouth but that wasn’t what came out.

“I’m sure Brad will do just fine without our endorsement. I have to go now.”

She slipped into the aisle and hurried toward the exit. The red letters blurred. Her face burned as everyone swung in their seats to watch her go.

What was wrong with her? One simple phrase—“I endorse Brad White”—and she couldn’t even spit it out of her mouth.