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Liz felt the crowd draw closer to hie of their seat to hear hirew up here in the Triangle My mom worked as a professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill My father, as you well know, sat as a United States Congressman for many years and now serves you all as a Senator I know the people here, because I went to school here, I played ball here, I o off to college and leave town just like many of you did And I saw friendships fade with distance My own best friend, Chris, moved to New York City, and I hed with hioing off to the big city,all the people I loved behind So I decided to cut that out of my plans and focus on what I had always loved--and that was the people of North Carolina"

Liz hadn’t even realized that a huge s voice She dropped her set taken in by soreed with, and held the recorder out farther

"I knew after living here my entire life that there was too much to do to leave my community for solad I stayed, because if I had left, I wouldn’t have been here when my mom found out that she had breast cancer, or to seeeat an entire steak while eren’t looking one night" The crowd burst into laughter and glanced around the roo back in on the Senator

"I want to take that saht for what you believe in That is why, as of today, I a my intention to run for the United States House of Representatives in my home district"

Liz’s mouth dropped open, and the crowd of reporters cla to be the first to ask the Senator a question She had been expecting a conference on a bill that had recently passed, North Carolina taxes, or really anything but this It was practically unheard-of for a one-term State Senator to run for the House They usually bided their ti the ranks before throwing their hat into the race Brady had his dad’s nah?

For soreed with him on so it off There was so about him that fired up a crowd and lit up a room He had been all but bred for this moment, but you couldn’t fake that charm and ease before the cameras She knew firsthand, because she turned into a blabbering idiot with a camera in her face She was already beyond ready to see how this election would play out

A barrage of questions was thrown at the Senator as he s bulbs Liz h her body for the upcoet started here in North Carolina I’d be happy to take a few questions, though I don’t havethe line of microphones

"Senator Maxwell!" a few reporters called They threw their hands in the air as more raised their recorders and volleyed for his attention

"How about Mr Tanner," Senator Maxwell said He pointed out a short, balding e on his shirt

"Senator Maxwell, you’ve had tremendous luck in your previous elections What prompted this decision when you’ve barely won the last two elections?"

"Barely won is still winning, George," Senator Maxwell said with a smirk "But on a more serious note--I chose this race not forwith any selfish motivation I knohat is needed to help the people here succeed and what they need in their daily lives This is a fight worth fighting, and I intend to give it ht into how you plan on beating the incumbent representative?" a tall librarian type butted in

"We haven’t talked strategy just yet, Sheila, but I think North Carolina can do better than what he’s offering, and I’ man in a faded button-doith his shirtsleeves rolled up to his elbows chimed in next "Senator Maxwell, your past opponents have already brought up the fact that your youth contributes to the ie of your inexperience What do you have to say to that?"

The Senator chuckled softly into theback up at the crowd of reporters "I’entlemen The Constitution of the United States says that a member of the House of Representatives must be at least twenty-five years old If the Founders of our great country believed that a twenty-five-year-old could get the job done, why don’t my opponents?"

"But don’t you think it will be a hindrance to your can?" someone shouted over the crowd

The Senator shook his head He had clearly been prepped for this question "Not at all I know North Carolina I’ve seen my own father work for the people and my mother work for the people, and noant to How about we take oneout at the crowd

Liz shot her hand up in the air, pushing past another reporter in her haste She wanted this question She wanted to prove herself to Hayden and to herself

"You there" Brady pointed into the audience "An unfao I’d be happy to take a question froood to see them in the house"

Oh my God Liz stared up at Senator Maxwell and saw that he was pointing right at her

"Uh," she hesitated on her beginning Why was she blanking on the questions she had planned to ask hi there with the opportunity she was losing it all

She locked eyes with Brady across the rooh her body She cleared her throat uncoether She was a reporter, after all, and this was her job He was handsohtened considerably and aze head-on She wouldn’t back down froh you consistently voted to cut education funding in the naet Yet you’ve also voted to allow so corporate taxes on their various business ventures Can you please comment on how this helps better the lives of all North Carolinians, which you’ve repeatedly stated is your pri this race?"

Everyone in the roo for his response Questions froht and fluffy Politicians chose thee reporters weren’t supposed to ask a question that hit that close to ho her from all sides

Had she really thrown his entire speech back in his face? Staring into those eyes, she felt a jolt of electricity course through her body It was as if they were the only two people in the rooaze like a pro and watched as he changed his appraisal of her