Dancing With the Devil by Katie Davis Page A

weighed so little that when she twisted it away from him, he got knocked in the shin with the gear wheel. “You can look, but you better not touch,” she said.
    Charlie grimaced and rubbed his leg. “I hear that’s your motto, Mackenzie.”
    Frankie got on her bike and adjusted her helmet. “C’mon, Mac, let’s go.”
    Mac gestured for Frankie to wait. “What’s that supposed to mean, Charlie?”
    He strolled toward his bike, still unable to tear his eyes away from the RoadCap. “When you tease a guy, it’s just not fair, Skater.”
    â€œHey, you want to touch an RC, find another, because you’re not getting your hands on mine,” Mackenzie said.
    Charlie laughed, but there was nothing nice in it. “Yep, that’s exactly what I heard. When a guy can’t get his hands on yours, he has to find another.” His cackle was swallowed up in the darkness as he rode away.
    Mackenzie stood in the same spot, her eyes darting about, trying to follow her ricocheting thoughts. “What’s he talking about, Frankie?” But she knew. And even though she thought she’d moved on, it still hurt, knowing Grady was seeing someone else.

Chapter Ten
    Frankie had her hand on Mac’s arm. They stood straddling their bikes outside the Douglases’ house. Stan kept pulling the curtains back every few seconds, and it gave Mackenzie the impression that the house was winking at her.
    â€œAre you sure you’re going to be all right, Mac?”
    She nodded and wheeled her bicycle into the garage. Frankie wasn’t convinced, though, and followed her. In slow motion, Mac locked the RC to the workbench in the back next to the extra fridge. “Do you think what Charlie was saying is true? Maybe it’s not, you know? Maybe he was just being his usual jerk self.”
    â€œMackenzie, you knew Grady would go out with someone else at some point, right?”
    â€œI guess,” Mac said. “But I wasn’t thinking that far ahead.” But Mac knew that wasn’t true. She hadn’t wanted to face it, as usual.
    â€œMaybe it’s not true,” Frankie offered.
    â€œWhatever. I don’t care,” Mac lied. She turned off the garage light and pulled the door shut. They crossed the grass to the concrete steps just outside the kitchen. They could see Stan through the window, trying to peer out into the darkness.
    The door opened, and a rectangle of light hit the side yard where they stood talking. Both girls squinted. “Hi, Mr. Douglas,” Frankie said before turning and giving Mac a quick hug. “We leave in two weeks. On our trusty steeds. To make our escape … just focus on that,” she whispered.
    â€œI’d think you’d have more bounce in your step now that you have your precious bike,” Stan said, as Mac brushed past him and into the kitchen. “And by the way, thanks so much. After a hard day at work, I do like to have my dinner waiting, you know.”
    â€œSo tell your wife.”
    â€œMy wife is working late, so it’s up to you.” Mac barely heard him as he blathered on about how they were a family, and a family is supposed to be a partnership, and partners need to do the dance together. When one leads, the other follows, and if …
    â€œAre you talking about that stupid dance again?” Mac interrupted, miserable thoughts of Grady scattering.
    â€œAw, honey, you’re not jealous, are you?” Stan asked. He reached out to stroke her cheek, but Mackenzie’s head snapped back like a rubber band pulled too tight.
    â€œDo. Not. Touch. Me.” she said through clenched teeth. “Ever.”
    â€œI just don’t know what your problem is, Mackenzie.”
    â€œ You are my problem.”
    â€œAnd I can be a bigger one, unless you’ve changed your mind about going on this trip of yours?” He folded his arms and turned his back on her. “If you