Dancing With the Devil Read Online Free

looked up at Mac and added, “Now finish your dinner.”
    â€œI’m done. I have homework to do.” Mackenzie cleared her place and went to her room.
    As she finished the conclusion on her English paper, she heard her phone buzzing, and dug it out of her bag. She smiled when she saw the number. “Hi, Grady.”
    â€œHey, Mackenz.”
    â€œWhen’d you get back from the meet?”
    â€œJust now. We won. Tight competition, though. I wish you could’ve been there.”
    â€œMe too,” Mac said, looking in the mirror. She flipped her hair over and brushed it from underneath. “Who was there?”
    â€œYou know. The usual swim fans,” Grady said. “You want to go somewhere?”
    Mac stopped brushing and stood, flipping her hair back like a girl in a shampoo commercial. “Like where?”
    â€œWhy don’t I pick you up, and we can go to the dam? Take the boat out for a little moonlight row?”
    â€œSure.” She looked in the mirror, turned sideways, and decided to leave her shirt untucked. “Lily’s going to bed, so don’t honk or anything. Just wait at the corner, okay?”
    â€œAwesome. I can’t wait to see you,” he said. His voice was low, like he was telling her a secret.
    Mac’s face burned.
    â€œI’ll be there in five.” They hung up, and after swishing some minty mouthwash, Mac sat at her vanity and slicked cherry gloss over her lips. Without warning, her door opened wide and banged against the wall. She saw her sister’s reflection in the mirror.
    â€œI’ve told you a million times, Lily. Knock before you come in here.”
    She came in and leaned against Mac’s arm and rested her head on her shoulder. “Kenzie, why can’t I be just like you?” They looked at each other in the mirror.
    Mac scrunched up her nose at her sister’s reflection. Lily scrunched up her nose at Mac’s reflection. Mackenzie stuck out her tongue. Lily did the same. Mac crossed her eyes. Lily tried to copy her but just looked up.
    â€œI’m sorry I was mean, Brat.” Mac put her arm around Lily’s waist. “But believe me, you don’t want my life. Yours is waaaay better. You have a big sister. I don’t. And you have a mama who loves you.”
    â€œMama loves you too, Kenzie.”
    â€œWhatever. Anyway, I don’t remember much about that old dress anyway. Wouldn’t you want a brand new style?”
    â€œWell, Daddy said no matter what, we will buy one that fits a princess!”
    â€œYou mean ‘fit for a princess,’ Lil.” Mackenzie stood up and steered her sister out of her room. “Want to know a secret?” she whispered as she clicked the door shut behind them.
    Lily said, “You’re not allowed to tell secrets, Kenzie.”
    â€œWell, I haven’t told you yet, SillyLily. But don’t tell anyone, okay? I’m going to go out, but that’s our secret, okay?”
    Lily nodded with much more energy than necessary and followed Mac as she headed toward the front door. As she stopped to put her jacket on, Mackenzie could hear her father lecturing Barb in the kitchen.
    â€œI’m her father. I know what’s best for her.” Barb replied, but Mac couldn’t hear what she said. “It’s not as though you’re her real mother; you can’t love her like I do.”
    Same old, same old.
    Then he flicked on the radio because God forbid they had an actual conversation.
    Lily was tugging on the bottom of her jacket. Mac walked to the front door and opened it, Lily still attached. “But, Kenzie, will you come with me to find a dress just like yours so I can be like you?”
    The whole dance thing was her dad’s idea of showing off at the club, and just the thought of it ticked Mac off so much that she was snapping at Lily. Before she could stop herself, she removed her sister’s hand from her jacket