Page 71 of Devious Knight
“Catch you later, Izzy.”
“Later.”
He dips his head and I do the same.
When he leaves I feel slightly better. My mind also clears just enough to come up with a few more ideas I might be able to work with.
Soon it’s time to leave for class, then the day wears on and, too quickly, it’s time to head to Kade’s.
The nerves return the moment I reach his apartment. Like the other day the custodian lets me in and I start to clean.
I clean and I wait and I wonder.
Time moves slower than a snail but eventually eight o’clock comes with no sign of him. Luck was on my side.
I rush out of his apartment and head to mine. I’m going straight to bed when I get in.
I take the stairs two at a time and rush down the corridor but I stop midstride when I find Mackenzie sitting on the doorstep looking like someone died.
She’s got beauty patches under puffy eyes, her hair is up in what I think is supposed to be a messy bun but looks more like a mangled cat, and she’s wearing a prisoner jumpsuit—something she wouldn’t usually be caught dead in. Not even in the hallway where there’s no risk of people seeing her.
“Mackenzie.” When I approach her she lifts her head. “Are you okay?”
“No. My father really did it,” she blurts in a raspy, tear-filled voice, then she stands and brings her hands to her cheeks.
“What did he do?”
“He signed the marriage contract. By the end of the semester I’ll be officially engaged to Levi. He wants us to start dating.”
My mouth falls open and my heart sinks for her, knowing the impact of this news. “I’m so sorry.”
“My life is practically over. I can’t believe I couldn’t figure something out.”
“You can’t worry about that now.”
“If I had my own money I wouldn’t be in this mess, but my trust fund doesn’t come in until I’m twenty-five. By then it will all be too late.”
“Oh, Mackenzie.”
“I’m sorry. I know you’re going through your own stuff and my shit is the last thing you need to hear.”
“Don’t even say that. I’m your friend. I’ll always be here for you when you need me.”
“Thank you.” A tear slides down her cheek and she wipes it away. “I don’t know what to do. How could my parents do this to me? They want me to give up my dreams for the increased wealth they’ll get if I marry Levi. As if we don’t have enough money.”
She’s right. God knows how much money and assets her parents own. It’s disgusting that they would do this to her and wreck her dreams. And I thought I had problems.
It’s things like this that remind me how easy-going my father is with me. He may have raised hell when we spoke about what I did to Kade’s bike and insisted that we needed evidence that Kade had destroyed my sculpture, but at least he understood me. He shouted for a good five minutes but by the end of the call we were sharing our usual I-love-yous and sending virtual hugs.
“What do you need me to do?” I rub her shoulder.
“I don’t know.” Her shoulders drop, then she shakes her head at herself.
“Well. It’s Friday night. You can sleep over if you want and we could order Chinese or pizza and have a chick flick fest.” I offer her a sympathetic smile. “I haven’t watched Pride and Prejudice this year yet.”
I was ready for bed but Mackenzie needs me. I know her; she wouldn’t be here otherwise. Having her around might be good for me, too, to keep Kade off my mind.
“Maybe, um…” Her voice trails off, then the spark of an idea enters her eyes. “I know. How about we go out? I think I need to get off campus. We can go to a club.”