The Phoenix Campaign (Grace Colton Book 2) by Heidi Joy Tretheway Page A

expect me to write a speech when we’ve been doing this all afternoon?”
    Sasha shrugs. “I wondered the same thing. How do you expect to do the prep that only you can do, if you don’t let go of some of the responsibilities others can do for you? The habits that got you this far in politics aren’t going to keep you going if you want to be vice president.”
    I grind my teeth to bite back a curse. “I’m not the Bionic Woman. I need sleep. I need … food.” My stomach rumbles with hunger to confirm this.
    “Call Trey and have him grab you a sandwich. I want to see the speech in my inbox by midnight, or else I’m going to sic our writers on it. Got it?”
    “You can’t.” I want to dig in my heels, but I feel Sasha rapidly tipping me, pulling me across the line whether I like it or not.
    “I can and I have. I’ve got a writer on standby for midnight. That’s when I’m going to pull the trigger. Either we’re going to polish and review, or we’re going to write it for you outright. You’ve got two days until this speech and four days until the debate. We’re not going to waste them.”

    ***

    “Grace?” Trey’s voice is hesitant and his hand rests lightly on my shoulder. My head snaps up and my neck screams with a painful twinge.
    “What are you doing here?” I blink, my eyes gritty with sleep.
    Trey takes in the screensaver moving across my monitor, the papers strewn across my desk. “That’s what I came to ask you. I saw the light on. It’s late.”
    I slam my index finger on the space bar of my keyboard and look at the time. Quarter ’til ten. “Shit. I almost slept through my deadline.”
    “What deadline?”
    “Sasha wants the speech by midnight.” My breath catches in my throat. “And I—I don’t think this is good enough.”
    I point to the words on the monitor and Trey reads over my shoulder. “Baby girl, I’m sure this is fine. Great, really. The fact that you’re still doing it for me is amazing.”
    “But it’s not going to change anything,” I say. “It’s all the safe stuff. All the legislation we’ve already proposed.” I read him a few lines, and then more lines, gaining momentum as I scroll to the following page.
    He looks uncomfortable.
    “See? I knew you’d hate it.”
    Trey shakes his head. “It’s not that.” He moves to open the door that’s ajar between my inner office and our main office, his domain. “Joel? It’s going to be a little longer.”
    “Joel’s here?” I scoop my hair off my shoulders and pull it around the side of my neck. “God, Trey, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize—”
    Trey flicks his hand, shooing away my objection. “Don’t worry, OK? I just saw the light on and I was worried about you. We were just going to eat.”
    The mention of dinner sets my stomach off again, a growl Trey hears. “Go. Go eat. I still have time to finish and fix it. If I can.”
    Joel hovers at the door between the offices. “It’s OK, Trey. If you need to take a rain check and take care of things, I understand.”
    He shrinks back from the doorway but I stop him. “Wait.”
    I beckon him in. “I’m sorry to slow you guys down. I’m just having some last-minute doubts about this.” I turn to Trey. “You guys go eat. I’ll get it done.”
    Trey and Joel exchange a look and I see strength in their connection. It’s the kind of look I want from Jared, wherever he is in America right now. Longing churns in my gut. I need him to tell me it’ll be OK.
    “It’ll be OK.” This, from Trey. My wan smile telegraphs thanks. “You want to try it on us?”
    “I already derailed your plans. You go.”
    “Congresswoman Colton, I’d be happy to listen.” Joel’s voice is quiet but calm.
    “Try us.” Trey sits on my loveseat and Joel joins him. He motions for me to speak.
    And so I do. I stand behind my desk and read off the monitor as if it’s my teleprompter. I talk through my proposed legislation and when I get to the end of the words I typed,