Rumor Has It by Cheris Hodges Page A

said.
    â€œExcuse me? Get out of my way, Nic. I need to talk to Robert.”
    â€œHe doesn’t want to talk to you and you’re not a part of our campaign anymore.”
    â€œDo you guys really want to make me an enemy?” she asked with her hands on her hips.
    Nic laughed. “Please, you’re a social media stalker. No one is afraid of you. I’ve dealt with and dismissed more than a few of your kind.”
    â€œMy kind? Are you serious right now?”
    â€œVery. Now, kindly leave before I call the police to have you escorted from the property.”
    â€œYou son of a bitch!” she exclaimed. “I promise I’m going to make you regret this!”
    Nic grinned diabolically. “You’re making threats in a room full of witnesses. Good PR, if I say so myself.”
    Liza turned and stormed out. She couldn’t contain her anger as she climbed into her car. She banged her hand against the steering wheel and cursed. The litany of profanity that flowed from her lips would’ve made a sailor and a barber blush. Pulling out of the parking lot, she sped out onto Central Avenue and was promptly pulled over.
    â€œCan this day get any worse?” she muttered as the cop walked up to her window.

    Jackson’s smile belied his muddled thoughts and there was just one woman to blame. Liza Palmer. He couldn’t get the taste of her lips out of his mind and he caught himself more than once licking his bottom lip.
    â€œJackson!” Teresa said, breaking into his thoughts. “Channel Three is here. Where’s your head this morning?”
    If only she knew. “I’m good. Let’s get this interview taken care of and then talk to the drivers and volunteers.”
    Teresa raised her right eyebrow at him, giving him a “we’ll talk later” look. Heading over to the cameras, Jackson got his game on point. He told the reporter that getting voters to the polls wasn’t about him winning or losing; it was about the process. A person shouldn’t have to skip voting because he or she didn’t have a car. “Everyone has a right to make his or her voice heard on Election Day, no matter whom they support.”
    The red light on the camera went off and Jackson shook hands with the reporter, then sprinted over to the group of volunteers who’d been helping him all day. They greeted him with applause and a bottle of water.
    â€œYou were great over there,” Natalie said. “The camera loves you and you always know the right things to say.”
    â€œSlow down, Nat,” he said. “I’m just telling the truth.”
    â€œSomething that most people don’t do and wouldn’t know if it bit them on the a—”
    â€œLet’s keep calm, everyone,” Teresa said. “We need to focus our energy on getting people out to vote.”
    The crowd cheered. Jackson was about to follow the volunteers to the tent that was set up on the edge of the park when Teresa stopped him.
    â€œWhat’s going on with you today?” she asked.
    â€œNothing. Well, that’s not exactly true. This morning, I had a visitor.”
    â€œOh Lord,” she said as she wiped her face nervously. “Is it a pregnant ex? Someone with a video of you taking a bribe?”
    â€œNo. It was Liza Palmer.”
    â€œRobert’s best friend?”
    Jackson nodded. Teresa rolled her eyes. “What did she want?”
    Jackson sighed and then recounted most of what he and Liza had discussed. Leaving out the part about the kisses and how she turned his blood to lava with her tongue.
    â€œI don’t buy that for a hot second. Tell me why she would all of a sudden want to help you? By all accounts they have been friends since undergrad. This is a trick. We have a debate in two weeks and now she wants to bring him down? Please!”
    â€œShe had pictures,” he said.
    â€œPhotoshop, anyone?” Teresa shook her head.