Page 48 of He Will Come for Me

The brush catches on a tangle as I pull it through my hair. I can’t believe I’m graduating today. The past four years have been interesting. As much as I hated being sent here, I think I really found myself here.

“You ready?” Anna asks as she walks in. A vision in white, her blonde hair pulled up into a high ponytail, and her makeup perfect. I’m going to miss her. She lives near Chicago, close to fourteen hours away from Savannah. This might be the last time I see her.

She pulls out a tube of lipstick and walks toward me. “Here. I got this for you.” She takes the top off, showing the bright red.

“No. Anna.”

She smiles as she walks closer to me.“Trust me. It’s perfect for your skin tone and hair color.”

I stare at the lipstick with uncertainty.Lifting my hands, I give in. “What the hell?”

Anna’s face lights up.“Perfect.”

I let her apply the lipstick, and then she takes it further when she decides to do the rest of my makeup. It’s her dream come true.After she’s done, we put on our graduation gowns and make our way down to the courtyard to meet our families. I’m still not sure if my father will show or not. We pass the headmaster, but he stops us.

“Girls, you’re looking lovely as ever.” His gaze sweeps over us in such a way it makes me feel like I’m naked. “I have snacks in my office if you two would like to join.” He offers.

“No, thanks,” I reply immediately. “We need to get to the courtyard to take pictures.”

His eyes narrow and his mouth curves into a hard smile, but he nods. Anna grabs my hand and pulls me along.

“He is such a creep,” she whispers. I nod in agreement as we make it to the courtyard. There’s so many people, but my gaze is drawn to Phoenix like he’s a beacon that calls out to me.

“Go talk to him.” She pushes me toward him.

“What? No.” I shake my head frantically.

“He’s headed this way.” I try to control my breathing as he gets closer.“Hey Phoenix.”

He nods to her in greeting.“Anna.” Then he turns those eyes in my direction. I swear they’re so crystal blue I can see my reflection in them.“McKenzie, can you go for a walk?” My mouth opens in surprise as I look between him and Anna.

“Sure… sure.” I reply. He links his arm with mine and I swear my knees nearly give out. What. The. Hell. We walk out of the courtyard toward the lacrosse field. I fidget with my gown as I look around, trying to find my father.

“Are your parents here?” I ask, trying to fill the uncomfortable silence.

“My father is.” He doesn’t say anything about his mother, so I leave it.

“What about siblings?” All these years we’ve gone to school together and I don’t even know if he has any brothers or sisters.

“No,” he replies. I don’t know if he means no, he doesn’t have any siblings or if his siblings aren’t here. I don’t ask anymore questions. He stops when we get to the bleachers. I look under them and wonder briefly if he’ll take me under them.

Apparently, he’s done that a few times. I hated hearing about it, but always wanted to be on the receiving end of his attention. Sighing, I turn to him.

“So, did you want to talk about something?” If my father does show up and sees me talking to him, I’ll be in so much trouble.

“Your father doesn’t like me,” he states, like he can read my mind.

“No. He doesn’t like your father either.” There’s no point in hiding it. Anytime there was a parents’ weekend that he actually attended, he and Phoenix’s father always wound up in a screaming match of some kind.I’m shocked they haven’t killed each other yet. “Do you know why?”

I clear my throat and shift from foot to foot. “I’ve learned some things in the years since I’ve been here,” I reply. I used to be so naïve, but I’m not so much anymore.“It seems your father is encroaching on my father’s business.”

Phoenix snorts as he puts his hands in his pockets. “Not in the way you think, though.”

I purse my lips as I wait for him to explain further, but he doesn’t. “What do you mean?”

He runs his hand through his hair. “I mean, when you realize what an awful man your father is. I’ll be there to rescue you. I promise.”

I sit straight up in bed.Holy shit.I touch the place next to me, but come up empty. Phoenix isn’t in bed.

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