Page 70 of Enzo

I stretch the elastic band as far as it will go then release one end. I think about Molly and wonder how she's handling this since I left Chicago.

Matteo pushes off the desk. “We’ll deal with it.”

I look up at him. “Easy enough for you to say.”

“It will die down ... eventually, I promise.”

“Hasn’t yet,” I counter.

“It would have, if it had just been about the masked ball. Problem is, it’s about the Knights. That might take a little longer. Try to chill.”

He leaves, just as my phone vibrates.

I pick it up.

My heart almost leaps out of my chest.

It's from Molly.

She’s exactly who I thought she was—kind, caring and innocent.

I read her message.

Molly : I saw the Aurora Knight story. Are you okay?

I stare at her message for the longest time. Eventually I reply:

Enzo: I’m trying to be

She replies instantly:

Molly : I wish I had a time machine

I start to type something then delete it. Then wait a few seconds and start typing again, but I delete it again.

And then I leave it.

Chapter 19

MOLLY

I’m curled up on my couch staring at Enzo’s mask hanging on my wall.

My cereal bowl is half finished. I didn’t have the energy to cook, and now I discover I don’t even have the energy to eat.

I read up more on the Aurora Knight story. I’ve been poring over old news archives, and now I understand exactly why the Knights don’t want this news to resurface. I now understand the effect all of this has had on Enzo.

I was responsible for that, but now, by a strange twist of fate, I’m connected to him through a project.

I can’t do it.

I need to get out of it because I can’t be around him anymore. He’s uncomfortable around me. I’m sure it’s because each time he looks at me he’s reminded of what I caused.

I try to write the email to Penelope again:

Dear Miss Grech,

I think there may have been a misunderstanding about what I'm supposed to contribute. I'm a kindergarten teacher. I don't know anything about property development, planning or construction. I don’t know anything about architecture and I’m not qualified to advise on this project.