Page 27

27

Phoenix

P hoenix.”

“Phoenix?”

“Earth to Phoenix.”

I look up from my notebook to find Kat and Martin staring at me expectantly. “Sorry, what?” I reply, shooting them an apologetic look.

It’s been hard to concentrate since the attack at the bar. Even with my entourage blending in with hoodies around the library, it feels like someone sinister is watching my every move. I’ve felt that sensation ever since Raven told me what happened. Even here with my friends in the campus library, something feels off.

Kat’s eyes narrow as she sits back in her seat, appraising me. “Is everything okay? You’ve been spacy the last few days.”

I nod, giving her a tight smile. “I’m fine. I just haven’t been sleeping well.”

She doesn’t believe me. I can see it in her eyes, but she drops it, letting me keep my secrets for now. I’m sure she’ll ask again when it’s just the two of us, but with Martin here, she’s giving me some breathing room.

“See, babe, all’s good,” Martin tells her, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “That boyfriend of hers has probably been keeping her up late,” he adds with a wink.

Kat rolls her eyes, batting him away playfully. They started dating shortly after I introduced them one day when Kat and I bumped into Martin at lunch. They hit it off immediately, and now, between classes, the three of us hang out in the library. It was awkward at first after Martin and I met the way we did, but Kat is smitten, and he seems equally enchanted by my friend. I’m glad they’re happy and that he hasn’t made things weird since I turned him down.

I try not to cringe as I shake my head. The feeling of being watched starts to grow, and I turn my head, finding Archie posted in his seat, watching everyone around us. There's no one else there, nothing amiss. I shake off the feeling and dive back into my work, pretending that nothing is wrong. Since the attack, I haven’t been able to relax, but with finals fast approaching, I need to try.

Taking a deep breath, I launch myself back into my work, ignoring the sinking feeling in my gut. After a while, Kat and I head to class, saying goodbye to Martin. As soon as he’s out of earshot, Kat tugs on my arm. “Hey, what’s going on?”

I can’t tell her the truth without putting the guys—and Kat—in danger but I know she’s not going to drop it when she can see something is going on. I sigh, opting to tell her the only bit of truth that I can. “I’m on edge lately because of something that happened the other night.”

She stares at me, waiting for me to elaborate.

“The other night, my sister got jumped leaving work,” I tell her, leaving out that it was a group of men who jumped her and that they’re likely part of a larger group who are looking to start a war between their MC and my Dad's. “It’s messing with my head.”

Kat’s jaw drops. “Holy shit. Is she okay?”

I nod. “Yeah, she’s fine. A little banged up, but she’s tough. Honestly, the guy who jumped her is probably in worse shape.”

Kat shakes her head. “Damn, no wonder you’re so spacy today. You sure you want to be here? Do you need to go be with your sister?”

It’s not that I don’t want to be with her, but Raven insisted that she was fine and told me if I fussed over her, it would drive her crazy. She insisted I go on like nothing happened but told Tweak and the prospects that if anything happened to me on their watch, she’d castrate them.

I know she’s right. I can’t let what happened drive me into hiding, not when I’m so close to the end of the semester. If I give up now, the last few months will have been a waste. Another couple of weeks, and I’ll have a break; I can worry then.

I shake my head. “It’s okay. She doesn’t like it when people hover, and she knows the end of the semester is close. She said I need to worry about that right now.”

Kat nods as we continue walking. I cast a side glance at my entourage, who are following inconspicuously. My nerves immediately start to relax. Since we left the library, the feeling I had before has lessened. I no longer feel like I’m under a microscope which is a huge relief. The only way I could feel safer right now was if Mason was here, but Dad pulled him for a job and sent Tweak to back up the prospects for my watch duty. Mason tried to argue his way out of it, but Dad was insistent.

Kat loops an arm through mine as I finish sending Mason and Raven a quick text, letting them know things are still all good here. “You know what we need?” she says, pulling me along to our next class.

“What?”

“A night out. Something fun and chill to let loose a bit, especially after what happened to your sister. You need something fun to take your mind off it.”

I tilt my head. “Like what?”

She smiles at me. “How about a double date? You and your man and me and Martin.”

I bite my lip. Would Mason go for that? Is that something we should be doing right now with everything going on?

As if sensing my hesitation, Kat grabs my hand. “Come on, it’ll be fun. At least think about it.”

“Okay, I’ll think about it.”

Kat lets out an excited squeal. “Good. I’ll tell Martin.”

A chuckle spills from my lips as I shake my head. “I didn’t agree to anything yet.”

She waves me off. “Oh, you know you will. It’ll be fun, and you know you could use it,” she says confidently.

I can’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. “I’ll think about it,” I reply, giving her side a little pinch. Maybe she’s right. So far, it doesn’t seem like I’m on Dom’s radar. Maybe it would be alright to do something like that. A double date is something normal people do, and I could use a dose of that in my life.

It would give me an excuse to dress up for Mason, too. A smile starts to curl on my lips. Maybe Kat’s idea isn’t so bad after all.