Page 76 of Wicked Knight
My heart aches, but I push the feeling aside.
This game of secrets is better than nothing, so I’d rather play this game a million times than never see the Scorpion again.
So, next time.
I just hope it will be soon.
Chapter Sixteen
Mackenzie
I walk through the glass door of Lily’s Café and spot Isabelle sitting in the furthest booth. She notices me and waves me over with her excitement brightening her face.
It’s Sunday. Eight days since I was with Dmitri and over two weeks since I last saw Isabelle.
She got back from wherever Kade whisked her off to earlier today.
She messaged me during my English lecture to let me know. She wanted to meet up at the bakery we love on campus, but I suggested we meet here. It’s safer to talk in private and far away from campus—away from Dmitri’s father’s watchful eyes.
I make my way toward, walking into the aroma of roasted coffee beans and the faint hum of chatter mixed with the hiss of the espresso machine.
When I reach her, Isabelle lifts a large mug of caramel latte—my favorite. “Peace offering. I also got triple chocolate chip cookies. Ta-daa.”
I sit opposite her, and she waves her hands over the plate in the center of the table with a stack of delicious-looking cookies.
“Wow, I feel like I’m in heaven.” Usually, I’m on some diet, but not this week. And she doesn’t need to lure me in with peace offerings. I’m glad she’s living it up with Kade.
“Does that mean I’m off the hook for leaving you in the lurch?” Her bright eyes hold mine with anticipation.
I laugh. “Oh, Isabelle, you seriously think I could be mad at you?”
“Yes. I feel terrible. Kade and I just kind of disappeared. You weren’t able to reach me on the phone. All I could manage was a few messages here and there because the signal and Wi-Fi were so bad.”
“Where the hell did you guys go?”
She garbles something—purposely incoherent—then winces. It sounded like she said either Bermuda or Barbados.
I laugh again. It feels good. I spent the week pining again, just like I did last week, wondering when Dmitri and I could be together again. It was weird on Monday when I saw him at football practice and we were strangers again, but I noticed he kept stealing glances at me. I hoped to see him Friday, but that didn’t happen. Now I’m just waiting, but at least I have hope.
“Isabelle, you know I don’t know what on earth you said, right? So, try again. Where did you go?”
“The Bahamas.”
My mouth falls open. “Oh my God, what?”
“I know. It was crazy. We were just having breakfast and talking about traveling. I said I’d love to go to the Bahamas, that it was my dream vacation. The next thing I knew, we were heading to the airport on our way to the Bahamas. Of course, we got in trouble once we got back, but it was so worth it.”
I smile at her, loving this streak of wildness. She’s the Goodie Two-Shoes everyone knows will do everything by the book, so she deserves the chance to live life. In high school, she was the principal’s daughter, so being the Goodie Two-Shoes was almost expected. But then she got to college, hooked up with Kade after wanting to be with him for God knew how long, and he pulled her out of her shell.
“I’m so glad you went.” I reach across the table and tap her knuckles.
“Me too, but Kade and I need to…be more responsible.” She laughs. It sounds light and hearty, happy. True happiness is shining from deep within. I can’t think of anyone who deserves happiness more than her. “I can’t believe he missed football practice for me.”
“Of course, he did. He always puts you first. You’re going to be his wife. I think that’s a good sign of things to come.”
“Me too. Anyway, enough about me. I really am sorry I left you hanging.” She brings her hands together in a clasp.
“Please don’t worry about it. Honestly, you never have to apologize to me.” She doesn’t.Ever. The amount of crazy shit I’ve gotten her into over the years is the stuff you never quite live down. It’s amazing she’s still friends with me.