His hand claws into my arm some more, but more from desperation than anything else.
“Stay away from my daughter.”
His voice is breaking with emotion as I free my arm from his grip.
I adjust my tie while giving him a curious sideways glance, wanting to say so much but choosing to say nothing for now.
It’ll all come to a head when it’s time. I can save everything I have to say until then, and hopefully so will Krystal.
I catch up with Mike, the other candidate, who directs me to an empty office I can use for the rest of the day.
“If you’ve brought your formalwear, it’s easier to change here and freshen up between the dinner and the ball,” he recommends with a wink, “…Not unusual for us to sleep the night off on the couches in there either if you know what I mean,” he adds with a hearty chuckle.
I grimace a smile, dreading this whole dinner thing already and feeling like I need to speak with Krystal more than anyone else in the whole town right now.
Bidding my fellow candidate goodbye, for now, I make for the phone, figuring I can get ahold of someone to patch me through to the Mayor’s house seeing as how I was in such a rush I forgot to program her home phone into my cell.
But today’s just one of those days, and before I can even get a line to the switchboard, I’m interrupted yet again.
The phone creaks in my hand as I hang it up.
Its Jules, the event planner.
“Sorry, Mr. Silverthorn,” he says quietly, closing the door behind him after looking out again to make sure we really are alone.
“It’s just…” he starts to say before looking at his feet.
“What is it?” I ask with strained patience. I’ve had enough games for one morning and I don’t think I feel like waiting until dinner or the damned ball before I get to see my Krystal again.
“It’s Mayor Newland, Sir. He’s made me change the seating arrangements. But I haven’t told you that,” he adds quickly, flushing a deep red color.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“He hasn’t said so directly, but I don’t think his daughter will be attending either the dinner or the ball,” he says gravely, gnawing his lip and picking at the edge of his folder.
“Thanks for letting me know, Jules. I’ll keep it to myself,” I assure him as he disappears as quickly and quietly as he appeared.
Puffing air out of my cheeks, I loosen my tie. It feels like I can’t get enough air suddenly.
Thinking about Krystal, her dad, and how he seems dead set on keeping her away from me is one thing. But having to keep up the charade of running for Mayor, something I’ve put literally no effort into so far, is something else.
I can’t do both, it seems. I can’t sit here all day, looking for hands to shake and people to impress when I know Krystal’s out there somewhere, all alone.
Without me to watch over her.
To give her what I know she so desperately needs.
Thinking about her though, imagining her in the outfit I had made for her. I feel my breathing come a little faster but easier when it’s because of her.
The memory of her curves in my mind brings a smile to my face as I snap up the office phone again, already feeling better as I ask the switchboard for Mayor Newland’s home number.
“Um, Mayor Newland’s in his office, Sir,” The receptionist chirps, “Putting you through-”
I manage to catch her before she does, explaining I want his home phone number.
“I can try the number for you, one moment,” she clips and I’m on hold for all of ten seconds.
“I’m sorry, Sir. There’s no answer, Mayor Newland is in his office though.”
I stifle a growl before asking as politely as I can for the number. “In case I need to call him at home later,” I explain.
The phone clicks and I can hear her shifting in her seat. “It’s not council policy to give out the home numbers of staff, Sir. I can put you through to Mayor Newland, maybe he can give you his numb-”
I slam the phone down, smelling a small town’s sudden conspiracy to keep me from seeing Krystal.
I could be imagining it, but I’ve been around the block enough times, and in much bigger circles than small town Mayors to know when the knives are out.
The decision’s easy. If Krystal won’t come to me and I can’t reach her, then I’ll go to her.
Simple.
It’s early in the day still, I can see her and explain a few things, like how much I fucking want her, and then maybe stow her away at my place until I can make a brief appearance at the stupid dinner and ball before heading home and claiming her properly.