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It was a paradox she wanted reconciled Who exactly was Brady Maxwell?

Chapter 2

OUR POLITICIAN

Liz pushed open the glass door to the quaint Italian bistro, and a bell chimed overhead "How did you find out about this place?"

"My dad used to takethe door out of her hand and holding it open for her

"Thanks I forgot you’re froh Your parents live here?"

"No, they o to DC public schools, but my mom alanted to work on the Hill So as soon as I went to college, they packed up and left too"

The waitress seated them in a maroon booth at the back of the restaurant and then left Liz opened the et to see theht?"

"Yeah, that’s right I’et to see the back for the summer Where do your parents live?"

"Tampa I’m in the same boat I’m too busy and it’s too far to drive"

"At least you have the beach" He looked up at her over the plastic menu

"That’s true Guaranteed tan on vacations If I went home more, I probably wouldn’t be so pale"

"You’re not pale Do you see this?" he asked He pulled down the open neck of his button-down She didn’t knohy, but the way he exposed the bare skin under his shirt to her made her flush

She cleared her throat and averted her eyes "Well, I guess I have that going forfor you Aren’t you a Morehead scholar?"

"Yeah, but that’s just academics Book smarts," she said "You have the whole paper, and everyone loves you"

"You could have the paper"

"You think so?"

"I’ve seen your work It’s really good Plus, you’re driven"

"Thanks," she said It hat she wanted and what she had worked for She appreciated that he saw that in her

"I wouldn’t have put you in a reporter position if I didn’t think you were fully capable offorward"

"Well, you sure kno tounder the spotlight She would love to be editor, but she knew that she had some work to do over the next year to prove that to everyone else

Haydena project people worked twice as hard than if anyone else had initiated it He had such a presence that he could seaot to know hi dedication to projects, they only loved and ad presence Plus, he was attractive Hisat the ends and around his ears It constantly covered his hazel eyes, which changed colors depending on his mood or attire He had a runner’s build and could be seen crisscrossing campus in his track shoes Best of all, he always had a smile on his face It was such a relief to walk into the office after a grueling day and be greeted by such a happy demeanor

They ordered when the waitress returned Hayden claihetti he’d ever had in North Carolina Liz wasn’t sure that was saying ment He had chosen her for this position, after all

"So, do you think Maxin the pri a sip of his water

"Definitely," she said without a doubt or second thought

"You’re so sure," he said "What , first-term State Senator with no experience"

"He has his dad’s name and career to run off of, and that’s clean People know it I wouldn’t count him out" Plus, he was attractive, really attractive, and that always helped

"No, you’re right I was just curious," he said, s into hisat hie," he said "Did you not knoas that young?"

"Stop teasing uy," he said with a devilish slared at him

"Don’t be ridiculous," she said Hayden had pretty much hit it on the head

"You don’t have to hide it from me It was a pretty sharp three-piece suit"

"Hayden Lane! I think you have a crush on our politician," she said

Hayden rolled his hazel eyes to the ceiling and pretended to fan hihed This was the most fun she had ever had with Hayden She wasn’t sure if it was because this was the first time she had ever been coether for the past two years on the paper, but it was a different environment Plus, others had easily overshadowed her, like the star reporters, Ca a h, it’s going to be an interesting race," he said

"That it is"

The waitress walked over and plopped the spaghetti down in front of both of the her fork into it and served it into her mouth She was surprised: She had to ad ti her devour the spaghetti "It feels a little cruel to ht before summer break"

She wiped her mouth with a napkin "I appreciate the opportunity I’d love to work as much as I can this summer I feel like I’ll be better prepared for next se for"

"I don’t havea class in the journalism department I think it’ll be easy What about you?"

"My et an internship with the press office where she works on Pennsylvania Avenue in DC"