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“I don’t care what you do, just stay away from my daughter.”
My blood runs cold and my eyes snap to Mackenzie. “Daughter? Wait. Dean Stoll is your father?” I’m trying to piece this together but it’s not making sense. But your last name is West.”
“Yes, Mackenzie West-Stoll.” She speaks softly and her eyes drop from mine.
I’m in shock. She’s been lying to me this whole time. She knew the history I have with the Dean, and she still played along like she knew nothing. She steps up in front of her father and puts her hand on my arm. “Mark, can we talk?”
I’m still looking back and forth between the two of them and now the resemblance is so clear. Why didn’t I see this earlier?
I shake my head. “I gotta go.” I turn and walk as fast as I can. The anger radiating from me makes the crowd part like the Red Sea, and I find myself standing outside the venue in no time flat.
MACKENZIE
“Mark! Wait, please talk to me!”
I hear Mackenzie calling me the minute I step outside. She must have followed me right through the crowd. I take a breath and try to calm my racing heart right now. I feel her stop beside me, but I don’t look at her. Instead, I stare out over the front lawn that showcases the North Pole Polar Bears stadium across the way. It’s lit up in the red and white colors of our school.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was afraid.” She whispers.
“Bullshit, Mackenzie. What were you afraid of? I’ve never given you any reason to be fearful of me. So, I know it’s not me.” I turn towards her. “No, you were afraid of whatdaddywould say if he found out you were with me. You listened to every bad word your father said about me and decided to hide us instead of standing up for me.” It dawns on me. She’s using a different name so as to not be associated with him on campus. I huff out a laugh. “This is all about the job, isn’t it? You didn’t want anyone knowing Daddy got you the job. Am I right? You couldn’t risk people thinking you were handed the position, yet you were willing to risk mine?”
She just watches me, tears forming in her eyes.
“You don’t know me at all.” I go to walk down the steps, but she pulls me by my arm.
“I do, though! I do know you, Mark.”
“Yeah? What do you know? Youshouldknow you can tell me anything. Youshouldknow I’d never question your job placement because I know your work ethic.”
“I do know that. I also know you’re sweet and funny. You love to tease and always leave someone with a smile. You love Jameson as if he’s your own. You watch out for Summer and make sure Dash is smiling if he’s grouchy. You help others because you want them to succeed and not for anything you’ll get out of it.”
“What else do you know?” She studies me. I’m pushing her but I need to know where she’s at. I know I’m ready to go all in, even after this mess tonight. But if she can’t come clean, right now, I have to walk away.
“I know that you make me feel things I’ve never felt before. You make me feel safe, happy and fun. Sexy. Your lines are ridiculous, but you helped me to have fun again, to enjoy the day to day. I think about you all the time.” She steps right into my space. “And I want more.”
I let out a breath I was holding, glad to hear her say she wants more. “I clearly feel the same. You’ve got me dressed up in this stupid costume. I did it for you. I’ll do anything for you. You have to know that about me. And youshouldknow I don’t give a shit who your father is because I want to be the one taking care of you.”
She gives me the sweetest smile. “I do know that. And I think whatever happened three years ago, you were honestly trying to ease a situation that was heavily misconstrued. I wish everyone could just communicate and clear it up.”
“Mackenzie? What are you still doing here?” I hear her father’s voice come from the entrance of the hall.
She grabs my hand and turns us both to face him and his wife that is standing by his side. “Dad. Mom. I want you to officially meet my boyfriend. Mark McCall.”
I look at her and she’s smiling at me. But I’m not fooled. It’s what a cheerleader does. Smile in the wake of a disaster. Smile in the wake of a dropped stunt. Smile in the wake of her overprotective dad meeting the man she’s sneaking around with. The man who her father thinks is a homewrecker trying to hit on his wife.
MARK
“Dean Stoll. With all due respect you have me pegged all wrong.”
I see Mackenzie’s hesitancy as she stands in front of her father with me. But maybe she’ll think twice once she hears what I have to say.
“Do I? I see that you’re a playboy, even going as far as hitting on a woman who could be your mother. Your name runs through the mouths of all the women at this University like water runs from a tap. You are the last man I’d pick for my daughter.”
“That’s too bad, sir, as I was the one who rescued your wife. I would hope if your daughter was in a precarious position, someone would come to her side, as well. You don’t even know what happened, but you jumped to conclusions and then wouldn’t let anyone speak to enlighten you.”
“Mr. McCall, you are out of line.”
