Page 119 of Manic

Me: You know I can’t. I’m stuck at this event. We can talk tomorrow.

I hated sending the message, but my father would scold me if I left. I was to remain by their side all night, but Noah knew how important this event was, and so his persistence to meet up threw me off. He immediately read my message, and I stared at my phone, waiting for his next text to appear.

I worried my lip between my teeth before distancing myself from my parents. They paid no attention as I slowly backed away, too engaged with their conversation with some hot-shot lawyer.

Noah: No, it needs to be tonight. They won’t even notice you’re gone. Just meet me at our park. I’ll be quick.

Ouch. Okay.

Noah had a habit of blurting his honesty, sometimes. I didn’t fault him for it, he was just up front with his words. Still, I ground my teeth even though a harsh truth sat within them.

My parents wouldn’t notice if I left, would they? Not if they were distracted. Honestly, I wondered how long it would take before they messaged me about my whereabouts. My cheeks flushed, but my resolve finally wavered.

Me: This better be important. I’ll meet you in thirty.

They didn’t notice me leaving. No one did.

Not as I slipped into the foyer, out of the too-large doors past the security, and down the mansion stairs. I ran my hands along my arms, warding off the chill as the valet retrieved my parent’s driver. It was dark, the stars fully blazing into the night sky. Lamp posts lined the gravel driveway, fading into the trees on either side. Our driver parked near the stairs.

“Where to?” Henry asked once I slid in and shut the door.

He was in his fifties—in his last few days as our personal driver before being replaced with a younger man who had no interest in retiring any time soon. Though Henry had been our driver for the past eight years, it was time for him to spend his remaining days alongside his own family.

I knew his time was coming, but still, my heart ached to see him go. In some ways, he parented me more than my father ever did. He’d be missed.

“Um… the park near Fraser. I’ll show you when we get there.”

His gray brows jumped in the rearview mirror. “You sure?”

“Yes,” I breathed, offering a sweet smile. “I told Noah I’d meet him there. Is that okay?”

Henry chuckled, shaking his head as he eased the car forward. The tires crunched against the gravel. “Do your parents know?”

“Yes,” I lied sheepishly.

If Henry suspected it, he said nothing. He knew I saw Noah any chance I got, often taking me to the casino during Noah’s lunch hour or to date nights when Noah couldn’t pick me up.

After twenty-five minutes of winding down the highway, we finally arrived at the park. I could see Noah’s lean frame in the distance, silhouetted against the moon and the river’s reflection. Even from a distance, I could tell his brown hair was neatly swept back.

My heart thumped, my stomach dipping in anticipation for whatever Noah wanted to talk to me about. Hopefully, it wasn’t anything serious. I sighed, finding the courage to exit the car. Once I shut the door, the hiss of Henry’s window graced my ears.

“Wait,” Henry called out, his voice gruff and weathered.

I turned, catching a slight pinch to his brow as I approached.

“Listen,” he said. “I don’t like dropping a pretty girl off at a park so late at night.”

“It’s not⁠—”

“Don’t argue,” he grumbled, then dug into his coat. He pulled out a silver pocket knife with a cream-colored handle the length of my hand. “Take this, would you? Give it back when I see you next. Is he dropping you off?”

“Seriously?” I groaned, my face flushing.

A knife? Was this what it was like to have someone care about you—to be overprotective? It was… kind of nice. Frowning, I reluctantly took the knife as Henry patiently waited for my reply to his question.

“Yes,” I answered, “he’s dropping me off. I’ll text you when I get back to our estate. Happy now?”

His peppered mustache lopsided, his eyes crinkling from his hidden smile. Then he pointed to the metal button on the side of the knife. “One click opens it. I’m headed back to the mansion. Call if you need me.”