Page 163 of The Illicit Play

Mr. Rogers lets out a disgusted scoff. “He’s nothing but trouble. Look at where she is right now. It’s all his fault.”

My insides knot. Shit, what if he’s right? What if it wasn’t an accident? What if Mac is totally to blame?

Then he’ll go down for that, and it won’t be your problem.

Right now, Teah wants Mac, so help her.

For some bizarre reason, I feel compelled to make that happen. There’s this urgency firing through me that I don’t understand, but I need to wrap this up.

Teah wants to wake up and find Mac by her bedside,so the sooner I can make that happen, the sooner I can go.

Checking my watch, I look at the time and cringe. Shit. I’ve been here for hours. And I still don’t know where Blake is.

Why hasn’t she come back already?

I need to find her… if I can just wrap up this conversation.

“Look, I know you love her and you care deeply about her welfare, but she’s old enough to make her own decisions, and she wants Mac. Denying her access is only going to drive a wedge between you. Surely you can see that.”

“Of course we can.” Her father glares at me. “Why are you standing up for this idiot?”

“I’m not.” I raise my eyebrows. “I’m standing up for Teah. She loves him… and I think it’s genuine. She’s not trying to rebel or break free. She doesn’t have to. You guys have a great relationship. She’s just… in love.”

“Why can’t she still be in love with you?” Mrs. Rogers whines. “I much prefer you.”

My lips twitch and I nod my thanks but get back to the point as quickly as I can.

“I’ve seen families suffer from lies and secrecy. If you don’t let Mac be part of Teah’s life, you’ll be forcing her to go behind your backs. And that’s only going to cause more pain. Things will go better if you accept what she wants.”

They both look sick, swallowing hard before glancing at each other.

“Who knows, maybe she’ll get bored with him theway she got bored of me.” I’m trying to be encouraging, but it sounds horrible when I say it like that.

The truth is, the way she was talking about him, the look on her face… I don’t think she’ll ever get over him.

I don’t remember her ever calling me “the one.”

She loved me. I believe that.

But if I’d proposed my senior year, the way I was planning to? Would she have said yes?

I honestly don’t know.

“Let me go find Mac. Please. She’s hurting and upset. I think having him around will keep her calm. She was gutted when she woke up and found me instead of him. Don’t make her go through that again.”

Her father huffs. “Fine.”

“Colin.” Mrs. Rogers looks up in surprise. “Are you sure?”

“What else are we supposed to do, Nat? I won’t lose my daughter over this.”

I lightly slap his arm, congratulating his decision before hightailing it down the corridor.

I’m scanning for Blake the whole time, and my stomach pinches when I get to the waiting room and can’t see her.

Has she left?

Running out into the parking lot, I spot my Jeep behind the pillar and am relieved to see she must still be here. She’s got my keys, and she wouldn’t have taken off with those.