Blocked

by Jennifer Lane

  Alejandro leaned in and whispered, “Taking it right to us on immigration.”

  “People like Alice Briggs and Jeanie Young, who now have the right to express their love via legal marriage.”

  A few cheers erupted, and I thought of Allison and China.

  “People like Bill Compton, whose medical bills would have bankrupted his family before Democrats insisted on affordable health care.” She placed her hand over her heart. “These are my people. I will fight for their dreams. I care about each and every American, and I will fight for all of us, not just wealthy business owners. I will fight for equality!”

  The applause seemed even louder this time. I typed another quick text:

  Game on.

  Chapter 24

  “I DISAGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR that our military is the first line of attack.” From behind the podium, my mother scanned the audience. Both candidates had responded to a question about education, and it now was her turn to discuss national security. “Diplomacy and negotiation are fine arts that have been lost by war-hungry Republicans. We need to bring back the ability to listen to our neighbors, instead of foisting our agenda upon them.”

  My smile broadened as the applause rained down.

  Dad leaned across Jessica and nudged me. “She sure schooled him on foreign policy.”

  Like you care. I wished he’d stop talking to me. His arm draped across Jessica’s shoulders made me want to barf.

  “Listening is important,” Governor Ramirez said when it was his turn for rebuttal. “For years we’ve listened to terrorists call us infidels. We’ve listened to their deep desire to destroy us. But listening is a two-way street. The only way our enemies listen is through force, through strength. Senator Monroe, the past regime has been all talk, no action, and it sounds like you want more of the same. Terrorists ignore us when we speak loudly but carry a small stick. A tiny stick.”

  When he held up his index fingers an inch apart, I almost laughed along with others in the audience. Who knew Adolf could pull off sexual innuendo on national TV? Standing at the end of the row, Brad gave me a thumbs-up. But I scowled back at him, refusing to succumb to Adolf’s charm. He would likely have none of that charm for me.

  “Next,” the moderator said, “we turn to the pressing problem of climate change. How will you keep America safe from the threats of global warming? Senator Monroe, you’re up first.”

  “Thanks, Molly.” Mom aimed a smile over my shoulder. “And thanks to Dr. James Thompson for his seminal work alerting us all about the dangers we face…” She extended her arm to gesture to the same spot behind me, and I craned my neck to find him sitting a few rows back.

  Yes, thank you, Dr. Thompson, for the house that brought Lucia and me together. It hit me with a thud that Adolf probably wouldn’t let Luz live with me ever again. I swiveled back around to find the governor staring at me with angry eyes. Yikes. I wondered if Mom’s mention of Dr. Thompson had sparked thoughts of our living arrangement for him too.

  “Why is he staring at me?” Jessica whispered.

  “He’s not.” I gulped. “He’s glaring at me.”

  “Why? It’s creepy.”

  I glanced at my sister, feeling guilty for keeping yet another secret from her. But I hadn’t had a moment alone with her all night. She’d been so thrilled to see our absentee father that she’d clung to his side in the green room, and of course the fucker had only fostered her adoration of him. Narcissistic nutsack. Jess had no idea Dad would break her heart once the election ended.

  “He’s staring because he’s a d-bag,” I told my sister as I tuned back in to my mother’s voice.

  “We have a moral imperative to fight climate change!”

  Applause erupted, and I realized I’d missed most of my mother’s response. But I already knew the science she’d likely cited: human pollution was destroying the world. When the moderator invited Adolf to chime in, I braced myself.

  He gave a shitty half-smile, clearly full of sarcasm. “I find it interesting you bring up morals, Senator, when you and your cronies make millions off environmental lobbyists. And you cost our country billions with failed green energy investments. This isn’t about science—it’s about money.”

  He’d definitely slipped a cog. How could this twat have produced a sweetheart like Lucia?

  “Yes, there is climate change, as there has always been. In fact, we’ve seen a cooling trend the past seventeen years. But we are decidedly uncertain about its causes and effects. Methane gas from cows and volcanoes contributes far more to climate change than human carbon monoxide emissions.”

  What a fucking farce! What kind of pea-brain ‘scientists’ did he have on his payroll?

  “The moral imperative here is not to limit American productivity based on unverified, incomplete information. The moral imperative—and the right thing to do for national security—is to break free of the Middle East by utilizing our vast resources…”

  Thank God the moderator cut him off for going over his time. She asked Mom for her rebuttal.

  “More than ninety-seven percent of climatologists believe human activities cause global warming. That, my friends, is called scientific consensus.”

  Hells yeah! My feet jiggled with the desire to jump up and cheer.

  Forty minutes later, Adolf finished the debate with his closing argument. I joined the applause, not because I agreed with a word he’d said, but because I was so damn relieved never to have to listen to his asinine arguments again.

  “Let’s go, Dane,” Grandfather Monroe said as he stood. He was pretty spry for an old guy. “Time to join your mother on stage.”

  Ugh, time to get closer to Adolf. I followed Jessica around to the left, and as I climbed the stairs under the watchful eye of Secret Service, I glanced across the stage. The Ramirez family had also joined their candidate onstage, and Lucia’s alluring smile floored me. She looked so gorgeous that I longed to take her in my arms. But then she turned to hug her father, and I had to look away.

  My mother waved to the crowd as she stood stiffly next to my father, and I stepped between them to wrap her in a hug. “You did so great, Mom.”

  “Really?” She looked up at me, and I noticed worry lines around her eyes. Had those been there before the campaign started? I could only imagine how tired she must feel after word-wrestling with that Nazi. It was probably like a bitter, five-game match with Bridgetown that came right down to the wire.

  The applause continued, competing with some cheesy music they’d piped in, and hundreds of flashes lit up the auditorium like fireworks in a night sky. Steve, my mother’s campaign manager, gestured from the front row of seats for us to stand together to wave to the crowd. I suppressed an eye roll when I ended up next to my father, but I couldn’t hide my disdain when Dad grabbed my right hand.

  “Hold your sister’s hand,” he ordered, pointing to my left.

  One fat, fucktastically happy family. I plastered on a fake smile as I scooped up Jessica’s hand, completing a line of Monroes: Grandfather, Mom, Dad, me, Jess. A glance to my left revealed the Ramirez clan in the same formation. At the end of their line, closest to Jessica, Mateo seemed to be watching us. I nodded at him but he didn’t respond. As Jessica waved at the audience, looking from left to right, I noticed a curious blush on her fair cheeks when she turned my way. I looked again at Mateo and caught his eyes roaming down her body. Oh. Caught ya.

  That was when I remembered I’d promised to introduce Lucia to Jessica, and this was probably our only chance. But I didn’t know how Adolf would respond if I approached his daughter. Screw it. I wasn’t going to live in fear of that man.

  I leaned in toward Jessica’s ear. “I want to introduce you to the enemy.”

  She nodded vigorously. “Sure!”

  I shook my head at her exuberant response. She probably thought I’d meant Mateo. Well, maybe I could introduce her to him as well—at least this crush would be more age-appropriate than her infatuation with the Secret Service ag
ent John.

  When Governor Ramirez turned to his left, pointing and schmoozing with some guy in the audience, I led my sister toward Lucia. It seemed like the camera flashes picked up speed, blinding me for a moment…or was it Lucia’s exquisite face that almost knocked me over? She didn’t typically wear makeup—someone with her luminescence didn’t need it—but I loved how seductive her eyes looked, lined in charcoal. It was like she’d matured into a woman in the hours we’d been apart.

  I fended off the urge to touch her. “Lucia, this is Jessica.”

  “I hear you’re an awesome swimmer!” Lucia grinned as she pumped her hand.

  Jessica blinked, wide-eyed. “You’re tall.”

  “Ugh, these stupid heels.” Her hand flapped toward her feet.

  It’s not the heels making you tall, sweetheart. I smiled and noticed Mateo hovering like a curious hummingbird feigning disinterest. “Teo.” I waved him over. “This is my sister.”

  “Hey.” He shrugged.

  Jess twisted her hands together, her expression grave. “Hey.”

  I glanced at Lucia, whose shoulders shook with suppressed laughter. She’d noticed our siblings crushing on each other, too.

  Alejandro didn’t look so amused as he stepped into our foursome. When his dark eyes met mine, I realized Adolf wasn’t the only one who’d learned about Lucia and me. What the hell had happened in that green room? He looked at me scornfully and spoke in a tight voice. “Lucy, say goodbye to Dane.”

  My heart fluttered with sudden dread that I wouldn’t see her again. My eyes darted to hers, and fear flashed in her expression, too.

  “I’ll see you soon, GD,” she said with a firm nod, then turned toward Allison.

  I exhaled. I would hold her to that promise. China had materialized behind us, and she gestured to the stairs.

  As Secret Service herded us off the stage, I put distance between Dad and myself. We returned to the green room, where I collapsed on the sofa. Way too much drama for one night—I didn’t know how my mother did it. And she and her advisors were still going, huddled around a TV showing debate analysis. At times Steve patted her on the back and at times he shouted at the screen.

  Brad tossed me a bottled water, which I caught one-handed and offered to my sister. She unscrewed the cap as she sat next to me. Dad went to sit on the other side of Jess, but after my warning glare he walked away. Good riddance. I watched him take his cell phone out of his pocket and dial a call. Swear to God, he’d better not call his floozy with my mother in the same room.

  “So, are you going to tell me why that Ramirez guy doesn’t like you?” Jessica asked.

  Only a teenage girl could refer to a man that powerful as “that guy.” I glanced at Mom, but she was engrossed in conversation with Steve. I lowered my voice. “Tell me about you and Mateo first.”

  She sputtered her sip of water. “What’re you talking about?”

  “I saw him checking you out.”

  “He did?” The sofa bounced.

  “And you liked it.”

  That same blush reappeared. “Well, he’s no Johnnie, but…he’s tall, dark, and caliente.” Her eyes took on a far-away gaze.

  “You like his Latino looks?”

  “Sí, señor.”

  “I know what you mean—I like them too.”

  Her eyebrows hit the ceiling. “Are you coming out to me, brother?”

  “Am I…?” After a moment I laughed. “No, I’m not attracted to Mateo.” I shook my head. “I’m attracted to a Latina.” I swallowed as I searched her eyes for judgment. “Lucia.”

  It took a second for the news to sink in. “Whoa…I knew it!”

  “We’re dating. I know it’s crazy.”

  “What…What’d Mom say?”

  “Mom doesn’t know.”

  “What don’t I know?” Mom asked.

  Where the hell had she come from? She tilted her head as she stood over us, and I saw Steve about ten feet behind her, his finger still poised in the air like he’d just been taking to her. Mom untied her scarf and slid it off her neck. “Steve.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Give us a minute.”

  He frowned, but turned to walk back to the TV. Mom sat next to me, letting the back of her head rest on the sofa cushion. “What a long day.” She closed her eyes. “What a long election.”

  “It’s almost over,” I said.

  She sighed. “So, what don’t I know, Dane?”

  I peeked at Jessica, who winced, then back at Mom. “Don’t get upset, okay?”

  “You don’t want me to feel upset,” she echoed, her eyes still closed, “that you’ve fallen for Lucia Ramirez?”

  I bolted upright. “Secret Service told you?”

  Her eyes opened. “No, honey.” She reached up to pat my hair. “A mother just knows these things.” She sat up. “You’ve been avoiding me, and I saw you with her on stage. I saw the way she looks at you.”

  “Are you…mad at me?”

  “No, I’m not angry.” She frowned. “More like concerned. Loving someone is hard enough when you have the same values…” Her gaze flitted over to my father, who stood across the room with his phone tucked to his ear. Watching her look at him, my throat tightened with sadness. She sighed as she turned to me again. “And I’m worried how hard this will be for you both. Her world view is so different from yours.”

  “I know.” My hands curled into fists. “I can’t believe the bullshit her dad spouted tonight.”

  China approached the sofa. “Uh…” She nodded at my mother, then looked at me. “Governor Ramirez wants to talk to you, Dane.”

  Holy shitcakes. I’d thought something like this might happen.

  “He knows, too?” asked Mom.

  I nodded. “Lucia texted me that he found out about us. But I doubt he’s taking it as well as you are.”

  Mom snorted.

  China said, “Want me to tell him no way, José?”

  I looked to my mother, who smiled at me. “This is your decision. You’re an adult now, Mr. Twenty-Years-Old.”

  My stomach twisted as I imagined Adolf’s scowl, but when I pictured Lucia’s soft smile, I knew what I had to do. “I’ll talk to him.” Lucia was worth fighting for. “Let’s do it.”

  As I scooted forward, Jessica grasped my forearm. “Are you sure? He’s kind of loco.”

  “Completamente loco.” I winked at her, then followed China to my castration. I gave my joystick a fond goodbye squeeze in the hallway.

  “Wait here—Frank’s bringing the governor.” China let me into a smaller room with two loveseats and a bucket of iced waters on the coffee table between them. My throat now dry, I lunged for one and had downed half of the bottle by the time the door opened again.

  Though Lucia’s father was a few inches shorter than me, he seemed to fill the space. His gaze was sharp, incisive; his dark suit neat. In a word, he had presence. I could see why he’d beaten a more moderate candidate in the primaries. He just seemed more presidential than that wussy guy.

  His eyes stayed on mine. “Please leave us, Frank.”

  “My pleasure, sir.”

  I took in Frank’s departing smile with interest. They seemed rather chummy.

  He sized me up as he extended his hand. “Adolfo Ramirez.”

  “Dane Monroe.” His handshake was firm, as expected.

  “Your mother did a fine job in the debate.”

  I hadn’t expected him to say something like that. “I agree.”

  “Obviously, it helps…” He paused, appeared uncertain for a moment, then shook his head. “Never mind.”

  “What?”

  He puffed air out his nose. “It helps when the moderator’s on your side.”

  I took a deep breath. “I thought Ms. Martins was fair.”

  “Of course you did.”

  I didn’t appreciate his patronizing tone. “Just how was she biased, then?”

  “One measly question on the economy, tucked in near the end. The economy’s the number-one issu
e for American voters, but she avoided it because she knows it’s a weakness of your mother’s platform.”

  Huh. I hadn’t noticed, but he was right that my mother’s economic plan wasn’t her strongest answer of the night. Was there media bias? I thought about that horrid photo of Lucia in the newspaper and her panicked gasps over the phone. I shook my head to clear that memory. “But the moderator did allow you to start and finish the debate.”

  “Big deal.”

  “It is a big deal, with primacy and recency effects.”

  A crease wizened his forehead.

  “Psychology,” I said. “People remember the first thing and the last thing the best.”

  The corner of his mouth twitched. He reached for a bottle of water and took a swig. Then he gestured to the loveseat across from him. “Take a seat, Dane.”

  I didn’t like him ordering me around, and I felt the words Fuck off on my tongue. But then I thought of Luz and reminded myself to take a deep breath or two. Or ten. Once I sat, he sat across from me.

  He recomposed his stern mask. “I told Lucia it’s over between you two.”

  I recoiled as if he’d punched me. Why hadn’t she shared that with me? My heart rocketed, and my mouth felt dry again. Was she trying to let me down easy? Would she break up with me on the plane ride home?

  “That bothers you?” He studied me.

  I realized my mouth hung open, and I snapped it shut. “Of course it does! You…you have no right.”

  “I most certainly do. She’s my only daughter.”

  “And I’m my mother’s only son.”

  He nodded. “Your mother knows about you and Lucia.”

  “I just told her, and she was much more reasonable than you.”

  “Right.” There was that shitty, sarcastic grin again.

  What exactly was his agenda here? “Why are you talking to me? You told Lucia to end it, and she always obeys Daddy. So why this conversation?”

  “Lucia plans to defy me because she has the wrong idea about you. I need you to help her see reality.”