The Weight of Blood (74)

They took their seats, the king-and-queen voting slips placed in front of them. Maddy gazed around the quieted room, drinking it all in—the decorations, the music, the sparkling dance floor, the twinkling lights. She committed to memorizing each detail of the night, so she could recall it whenever needed. Her eyes fell on Kenny, catching him staring again, and her pulse quickened, cheeks blushing scarlet.

At their table, kids hunched over their papers like an end-of-the-year final.

Oh!

She pulled the blue slip closer. “Um, so, who should we vote for? You know everyone better than I do.”

Kenny chuckled. “Who do we vote for? We vote for ourselves!”

“Huh?”

He tipped his head at the paper. “We’re on here.”

Maddy glanced down at the slip, catching sight of herself, third from the top.

Madison Washington and Kendrick Scott

She couldn’t help thinking how nice their names looked together on a piece of paper as the pencil slipped out of her fingers and the panic melted in.

“Did you do this?” she gasped.

“Ha! I don’t got that much power now.”

She whipped around to the stage, set for the royal court, glittery crowns twinkling on red plush pillows in the bright spotlight. Her lips dried, tongue sticking to the roof of her mouth like a glue trap.

He wants to be on stage, in front of all these people?

“No,” she gasped. “No, tell them . . . tell them we can’t . . . I . . .”

“Hey, hey, hey.” He cupped her face in his hands. “Hey, look at me. Look at me.”

She swallowed, trying to reel herself in and focus on Kendrick’s soft, kind eyes. He rubbed a thumb against her cheek with a small smile.

“There ain’t no one in this room more worthy or deserving than you to be up there.”

Maddy’s heart expanded, stretching against her skin, and she finally exhaled. Had she been holding her breath all this time?

“So we’re voting for us,” he said, offering her a pencil. “Cool?”

Maddy stared at the pencil, the corners of her lips creeping upward. How funny that a simple sharp object had changed the entire course of her life.

“Cool,” she said with a nod, the new word tasting sweet on her lips.

“There you go.” He grinned and filled out his own slip.

Another slow song came on, and Kenny headed for the floor, Maddy following more willingly than before.

“Two dances in one night,” he said, with an impressed nod as he spun her around. “Man, you’re a party animal.”

Maddy giggled, biting her lip.

“Uh-oh. And was that another smile? See, told you, you’re fun.”

“Yes. You did.”

He nestled her against his chest as they swayed, the proximity overwhelming. Was Kenny serious? Did he really want to be with her? But he would be leaving for college soon, and she would be still in her father’s store. And what about Wendy? What would everyone say about him? What would they do to her for taking him away from Wendy?

“Stop it,” Kenny said.

She tipped her head up, frightened. “Huh?”

“Stop all that overthinking,” he scolded. “This is what I want. Don’t you?”

She nodded. There was nothing in the world she wanted more.

“Alright then,” he said. “Everything’s gonna be fine. We’re going to be fine.”

She gazed at him, studying the features in his perfect face, then chuckled. “Are you sure you’re not a psychic like your mama?”

He shook his head with a chuckle. “I’m sorry. Just don’t want you to worry. About anything. You’re safe with me.”

Something unsaid passed between them, a palpable mental intimacy, the connection sizzling in her ear.

Maddy swallowed. “Kendrick?”

“Yeah.”

“Before we go, um, go look at stars . . . can we get some pizza?”

He grinned. “Hell yeah! We’ll get a whole pie and some sodas too.”

Maddy could have burst into a million pieces of light.

But something sharp gnawed at the bottom tip of her spine. At first, she ignored it, but it became louder, wet teeth smacking on bone, demanding to be acknowledged, intuition screaming for attention. It didn’t make sense. How could anything be wrong when Kenny looked at her like she was made of pure gold?

I’m safe with him, she told herself, trying to remain in the moment. You’re just being paranoid. Papa’s not here. No one’s trying to trick you. You’re safe with Kendrick. You’re safe.

She repeated the words over and over. But her skin felt too hot. She needed air. Space. A chance to collect herself.

“I . . . need the ladies’ room.”

“I’ll go with you!” he yelled, then squeezed his eyes shut. “I mean, I’ll stand outside and wait.”

He didn’t want her out of his sight even for a moment. The thought brought a smile to her lips. She was safe. Safe with Kendrick.

Nothing’s going to happen, she thought. Just being silly.

The mic on stage squealed. “Hey, everybody! It’s almost time to crown the king and queen!”

He stole a quick kiss of her temple. “Come on. Let’s sit.”