“Yes,” he answered. “If it’s with you.”

My lips curled, and I felt strangely excited. A baby?

“You?” he hinted.

I inhaled a long, deep breath. “I think so.” And then I looked at him, nodding as realization hit. “Yeah. I’d love to have one or two.”

He leaned down and kissed me, his teasing lips making me promises for later that I couldn’t wait for.

“Do you think we can balance it all?” I spoke against his lips. “Our careers, the campaign, children…”

He let out a sigh and stood back upright. “All we can do is try,” he stated. “But we don’t break our commitment. Family, fortune, future,” he dictated. “None of it means anything without him or you.”

I tightened my arm around him, not giving a damn that I needed him so much. I’d gotten very good at being weak, and I wasn’t ashamed of it.

But in truth, I knew it wasn’t weak to need people. To need love and connection.

You’re only strong if you can stand on your own, right?

Nope.

The truth was, you’re happier when you’re needed and stronger when you’re loved.

I could survive without Tyler, but why would I want to? Ever?

Nothing could replace him or erase him.

Except…

I opened my mouth, narrowing my eyes. “I forgot to ask.” I looked at him with amused curiosity. “Which political party do you belong to?”

He broke out in a laugh, his chest shaking as he looked down at me.

“How is it that you don’t know that?” he exclaimed. “You researched me online.”

I shrugged. “I went to your website and social media, nosing around, but that was it.”

Although we’d had discussions about his platform, and I’d accompanied him here and there, I realized it was the one thing that never came up.

He shook his head and stared at the camera.

“So?” I hinted.

“So what?”

I instantly hooded my eyes, unamused. “Which political party are you a member of, Tyler?”

“Does it matter?” he played.

“It might,” I shot back.

But he just turned and wrapped me in his arms, bending me backward with the force of his kiss. I squealed under his lips and then let my eyes roll back, my head feeling dizzy, as his tongue entered my mouth.

“Ew.” I heard Christian’s complaint from across the room.

And then Jay. “All right,” he chastised. “I’m getting the child out of here.”

Tyler didn’t break the kiss as he shot out his hand, waving goodbye to them, while I tried not to giggle.

He definitely knew how to shut me up.