Page 45 of Anson's Ambition

Heand my mom stood at the front of the room, looking directly at me. “Son, before anyone else says anything,Iwant you to know how proudIam of you for stepping up when this community needed you.Iknow you’ve spent much of your life feeling like you were the outsider because you didn’t form bonds the same way as your brothers, but you’re an asset to not only this family but to every single person who callsHarmonyGrovehome.”

Therewas movement around me, butIcouldn’t think about that when my dad’s gaze was locked on mine.

“And,Kevin,Ifeel like we owe you our gratitude as well,” he continued.Kevinsquirmed beside me. “Untilyou bulldozed your way intoAnson’slife, he couldn’t see that he wasn’t truly living.Hedidn’t know the meaning of downtime, believing he wasn’t really working if he was working from home.Youtaught our son there’s no shame in being selfish sometimes.Andwe truly hope you’ll be able to keep on reminding him of that as his life gets even busier.Asmuch asMayorLangsfordhas a nice ring to it, he’s going to need someone to remind him that, at the end of the day, he’s justAnson, and he’s enough.”

Theworld stopped around me.Myjaw hung slack asIstared at my dad, repeating the words he’d just said.

MayorLangsford.

Theend of the day.

Ilooked atMichael, who was grinning like a damn fool tucked under my brother’s arm.Bothof them were holding champagne flutes.AsIlooked around the room, everyone was holding one, even the boys, although the liquid in theirs was a slightly different color.Mychest tightened as tears welled along my lashes.

WhenIturned toKevin, he smiled broadly and nodded. “Congratulations,Mayor.Youdid it!”

Theroom erupted in applause and cheers asKevinpressed his hands to my face, kissing me deeply.Whenhe pulled away, he whispered, “I’mso proud of you.”

“Iswear, if this is some sort of joke—”Iwasn’t even sure whatI’ddo.First,Iwas going to kick my brothers’ asses for fucking with me.Islumped into the back of the couch, pressing a fist to my chest. “Youassholes just about gave me a heart attack.Yousuck!”

“Wefigured it was only right if your dad was the one to deliver the good news,”Kevinexplained. “Idoubt it was easy for any of us, but we couldn’t give anything away until they got inside.Andthe champagne wasEzra’sidea.Hesnuck it in once we gave him the signal because he said you’d need it.”

Hewasn’t wrong about that.I’dhave been fine if my family hadn’t decided to fuck with me first.Thenagain,Ishould have expected this much.WhenCarsonandEzrareached us,Itook the bottle out of my brother’s hand, tipping it back—social graces be damned.

Soon, the doors would open and the party would begin.Butfirst,Iwanted to revel in this moment, soaking in how much different—better—my life was now than it had been six months ago.

Dadwas right.Ahuge part of that was because of the man sitting next to me.Irolled my head to the side, still stunned thatI’dactually won.”Ilove you,Kevin.Areyou ready to walk out there next to me and tell everyone the results?”

“Aslong asI’mwith you,I’mready for just about anything.”

Whileit was too soon to start planning forever with this man,Iknew that was coming.AndIcouldn’t wait.

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