Page 21 of Rise of the Melody
“Hey boys,” Mayor MacCray said with a big laugh, then wagged a pointed finger at Teague. “You almost had me.” The Stevens guy who’d been with him in New York trailed behind him like a lost mutt. He had a long face and overgrown hair in need of a wash and cut. His jeans and old T-shirt were also ill-fitting, making him such a strange contrast to the mayor.
“Next time!” Teague promised his uncle.
“Never, kid.”
I swallowed hard and stood my ground as the mayor turned his smiling face to me. I watched as the smile completely slid away and he dropped Teague’s hand. When they were within five feet of me, the power coming off Mayor MacCray and Stevens heated my skin like the sun on a hot, cloudless summer day.
Teague beamed. “Uncle Bryant and Stevens, this is Letty.”
“I know who she is.” The mayor’s smile remained, but he eyed me hard as if I shouldn’t be there when he was the one who’d ordered it. Stevens glowered openly.
“You know each other?” Sweet Teague never stopped being cheerful, despite the iciness between his uncle and me.
“We met,” I said, eyeing the two men back.
“Awesome.” Teague kept grinning and was about to say something to me when his uncle cut him off.
“Where is Clare?”
“She says she got a stomach thing, but I think it was really her anxiety. And Shani had to help her stepdad with an emergency at the vet clinic.”
“I see. Teague and Chrys, why don’t you go grab us all some waters.” He wiped a drip of sweat from his brow.
“Yes, sir.” Teague said. As they jogged away, Bryant stepped closer to me. Stevens was one step behind him, crossing his arms like a grumpy shadow that needed to shave.
“I don’t know what game you think you’re playing but stay away from my nephew.”
Indignation and hurt filled me. Was this guy serious? He thought I sought out his nephew?
“I’m not playing any game. He came up to me, out of nowhere, and asked me to do this competition. I didn’t know who he was.”
In my peripheral I saw Aunt Lorna and CooShee making their way over.
“Right,” Stevens said and huffed a fake laugh.
“Teague is like a son to me,” the mayor said. “I took him in when his parents and my wife and son disappeared. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll keep to yourself and focus on your task.”
He acted as if my parents hadn’t also disappeared. Like I had something to do with it. I lifted my chin to face him.
“I didn’t do anything wrong. I’m here like you told me to be, and I’m ready to get this thing over with and get back to my life.”
“Good. We’ll meet in the morning for information.” He peered down at my wrist. “And a stronger cuff. Your voice makes me nauseated. Until then, you need to go.” Stevens nodded and I wanted to punch them both.
I gritted my teeth. I’d felt out of place plenty of times in my life. I’d felt misunderstood. But this—the way they were treating me—I’d never felt this kind of unfairness and bitterness from anyone. It was gross and frustrating and everything in me wanted to prove myself.
Teague and Chrys jogged back over with five cartons of boxed water. I absently took one as Teague chugged his in several gulps. Aunt Lorna had stopped and was watching from a few steps away, her face pinched with worry.
“Letty was just saying she needed to go,” the mayor told his nephew.
“Really?” Teague wiped his brow with the back of his hand. Sweat lined his hair, making it curl against his skin. “Can I get your number so we can hang while you’re here?”
My stomach flipped in excitement and then sank as I saw the warning in the mayor’s eyes. This was going to hurt.
“I’m sorry but I have to get going,” I said. “Maybe I’ll see you guys around.”
Watching Teague’s face fall made me hate Bryant MacCray even more.
“Yeah, okay. Wicked. See you around.”
