Quinn wasn’t going to be happy. She’d been talking about going to Boston, the Cape, the beach, aquariums, science museums, and the list went on. “We need to do everything and have fun before the school year starts,” she’d said.
I knew she was worried about going off to college or, more importantly, that she and I would not be going to the same college. It was a huge possibility. Her dream was to attend a medical school in North Carolina. Mine was to play basketball for UCLA or Ohio State. Yet if I didn’t sharpen my court skills, then I wouldn’t be going anywhere.
The music grew louder the closer we got to the barn.
“I’ll tell her tonight.” I had to. I was leaving in two days, and tomorrow I had to get my gear ready. “Jessica Bento, huh? I thought you swore off girls.” He’d gotten his heart hurt when we’d moved to Massachusetts two years ago and he’d had to leave his last girlfriend behind.
“It’s time for me to get back in the saddle, bro. You know, hormones and all.”
I laughed. “The hand isn’t cutting it anymore?”
He busted out laughing. “Not at all. Besides, have you seen Jessica’s legs?”
Ethan and I preferred lithe, long legs rather than ogling girls’ tits. “Can’t say I have. She’s a cheerleader, right? Pretty blonde?”
“A hot cheerleader, dude. And her legs go on forever, if you know what I mean.”
“Please tell me you’re using a condom,” I said.
“Says my brother, who hasn’t lost his virginity yet. Of course.”
It was sad that my younger brother had lost his before me. “I told you—Quinn’s not ready.” We’d come close many times, but each time, she’d gotten cold feet. To be honest, I had too. I wished Dad were alive so we could talk about girls, sex, and life.
But thoughts of sex went out the window when Ethan and I approached the barn, which was bursting with kids. Many were dancing, several were holding red cups, and some were lingering around talking or watching others.
Quinn bounced out like she was high on life, her butterscotch hair flowing in silky waves behind her.
I lost the ability to speak as my gaze swept over my girl. Her sparkly low-cut tank top did a number on my libido. But her long, tanned legs were even more heart-throbbing.
Before I could say hi or come out of my lustful stupor, she grabbed my hand and tugged me out of the fray and around the side of the barn. When I inhaled her sweet berry shampoo, my brain went fuzzy, and my body reacted in a heated bliss.
All the talk about long legs, sex, and girls made me want to do things to Quinn I’d dreamed about at night or thought about in the shower. I’d even imagined doing those things as I kissed her endlessly. We were well aware of our sexual desire for one another, and if we didn’t do something soon, I just might combust.
She pushed me against the barn, biting her lower lip.
“What are you doing?” My voice cracked.
Quinn was usually shy and wasn’t aggressive at all when it came to taking advantage of me.
She giggled, pressing her gorgeous body against mine.
My arms went around her waist as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Then my hands roamed freely up and down her back, butt, and everywhere.
She moaned as she crashed her mouth to mine, her tongue begging for entrance.
Who was I to say no? But I detected a hint of alcohol on her. “Quinn?”
“Hush,” she said in a breathy tone before her tongue snaked into my mouth.
“Have you been drinking?”
She peppered kisses along my neck. “A little.”
“Whoa! Since when do you drink?”
Flattening her hands on my chest, she pushed and rolled her eyes. “I had two shots. We’re seniors. It’s time to let loose, Maiken. I’m not drunk. And I’m not about to do anything stupid. I’m not Marcus.” She slurred most of the words.
I froze, not at the mention of my brother but because of her snippy attitude. I was finding that drunk people did and said stupid things.
She pouted. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”
“It’s not about Marcus. I’m shocked you even tried liquor. What’s gotten into you?” I had no idea if she was the same shy girl I’d met two years ago. Actually, that wasn’t true. She wasn’t. She had come out of her shell in the last year or so, and I hadn’t complained until now.
She slipped her hand in between us and latched onto my belt. “Don’t be a party pooper.”
I arched a brow. “Me? You were the one worried about Marcus drinking.”
She slid her hand down to my very hard erection. “Ooh. What’s this?”
Every muscle in my body tensed.
Her big amber eyes popped. “You’re hard.” She squeezed my dick, a move she’d done a few times during our make-out sessions.
My eyes rolled back in my head. “Quinn.”
“Hush.” She proceeded to unbuckle my belt.
My brain said to stop her, but my body protested. “What are you doing?”
Her tongue darted out to wet her lips. Her attention was completely absorbed in unbuttoning my jeans.
Get her to stop. This isn’t the place for sex. Plus, she’s not herself.
She unzipped my jeans, and before I could take a breath, her small hand was inside my underwear.
Holy hell.
She started to crouch down.
“Quinn,” my voice squeaked.
“Let me,” she moaned, a sound that drove me insane.
Reluctantly, I grabbed her shoulders. “I want you more than anything, but not like this.”
She continued to plow forward.
“Quinn,” I said again. “Someone is going to see us.” I was a terrible boyfriend for not pushing her harder to stop. All I could think about was her father catching us in the act.
She stroked.
Oh my word. “Quinn.” My tone was more forceful, even though the feeling of her hand on me was out of this world, and something she hadn’t been brave enough to do before.
I could hear a rustling of sorts somewhere nearby, and my stomach fell to the ground. “Your dad,” I managed to say, even though I didn’t want her to stop. But if she didn’t, I was going to do something that would be extremely embarrassing.
I pictured our first time in other positions and in a quiet spot where no one was around. Not in the middle of a party with Carter nearby or a slew of high school kids who loved taking videos and pictures.
She flew back as if I’d lit a match to her skin. “Where?” Her head swiveled in all directions.
I rushed toward the darkness of the farm where no lights existed. I wasn’t trying to run from her, but I needed to compose myself and make sure that whatever I’d heard wasn’t her father lurking nearby. Then again, if it were him, he would definitely not lurk. He would pounce with an ax to my knees.
“Where are you going?” she called out.
“I need a minute. Go back to the party. I’ll meet you inside.”
She giggled. “I don’t see my dad.”
“What’s going on?” Carter asked just as I disappeared into the darkness. “Who are you talking to?”
“I thought Daddy was out here,” she said.
I kept walking across the farm, trying to get my heart to calm down and my libido under control.
And I thought I had to worry about Marcus.
Carter folded his arms over his chest as though he were some big, bad dude about to scare off a heard of boys. “Where’s your boyfriend, sis?”
I loved my brother, but I didn’t miss him ruining my life around boys. When Maiken and I first met, Carter had been a thorn in my side. He hated Maiken being near me.
Still, I couldn’t let him smell the alcohol. That would be a huge disaster. “Maiken went up to his car to get something.” Liar, liar, pants on fire.
Carter looked up at the parking lot. “I don’t see him anywhere.”
“Go back to Brianna.” I hoped I wasn’t slurring. The t
wo shots had done a number on me. I was suddenly regretting succumbing to Celia’s peer pressure, and Jack’s too.
“Well, ladies, why don’t you start this party by having a drink with me?” Jack had asked after setting up his equipment. “Alcohol gets me in a good mood to play music.”
I’d been hesitant at first, but when I thought of Marcus and the potential disaster that might happen, I decided one drink wouldn’t hurt. As soon as the liquor seeped into my veins, a warm feeling blanketed me, and suddenly I was buzzing. After the second shot, I hadn’t cared about Marcus or anything. I felt energized, powerful, and brave.
“Sis.” Carter’s voice cut through my reverie. “Are you okay?”
Blinking, I focused on his hard features. “I’m fine. Stop playing Dad. I don’t need you to babysit me. Either go back to sucking face with Brianna or leave.”
He held up his hands, his amber eyes studying me like I was a lab specimen. “It seems you’ve changed drastically since I’ve been away at college.”
He had no idea. Heat crawled up my neck and pinched my cheeks. If he knew what I had been doing a minute or two ago, he would literally shoot Maiken even though I was the hussy, a term my granny liked to use to define fast women who threw themselves at men. Yeah, I got the first-place award for that one tonight.
I giggled, thinking about Maiken’s penis.
Carter arched a brow. “What’s so funny?”
I’d forgotten he was standing a few feet away.
Lifting my chin, I lost my smile. “You,” I lied. “Carter, I’m not a little girl anymore.” I am woman. Hear me roar. “I don’t need a big brother watching out for me.”
Note to self: Maybe I should drink more alcohol.
His lips curled at the edges. “You’re right.”
I cocked my head. “I am?”
“I only came down with Brianna because Mom asked me to. But you’re a senior. You should have a good time.”
I figuratively scratched my head. “Are you my brother?”
He full-on laughed, a sound I hadn’t heard from him in ages. Carter had always been a cranky teenager. “Quinn, I’m not home for the summer to babysit you. Actually, I don’t want to be here. Brianna and I can be doing other things.”
I could too if he hadn’t interrupted Maiken and me.
He stabbed his thumb behind him. “I’m going to find Brianna. Have a good time.” He strutted a way, running his hand through his short brown hair.
I didn’t move for a moment, stymied by his words, and when he went into the barn, I scanned the area as far as I could see for Maiken or my dad.
Whoa! My dad. I shivered at the thought that he could’ve caught us.
Celia came running out of the barn like a tornado on steroids, looking like she’d stolen the red cup in her hand. “Quinn, I’ve been looking all over for you. The party is rocking.” Then she slyly glanced around before thrusting the cup at me. “Here.”
I took the cup, sniffing as the aroma of alcohol floated out. “There’s enough liquor in here to burn my nose hairs.”
She giggled then snorted. “So drink. I added a bit of soda to cut it some.”
I shook my head. “I can’t. If I have any more, and I might make a bigger fool of myself.” Or scare Maiken away for good. Oh, and puke.
She jutted out her chin, her defiant stance daring me not to drink. “You promised.”
I puffed out my cheeks. I wasn’t one to break my promises. “One more.” With my luck, I would probably make a jerk out of myself. Oh wait, I already had with Maiken. “To our senior year.” I lifted up the cup and chugged like an expert drinker.
Celia watched me, grinning.
I scrunched my nose, holding my breath as I drank the burning fluid. I swore if someone lit a match right then, I would burst into flames.
When I was done, I shivered violently. I knew then that I would pay dearly for this little stunt later.
“Good girl.” Then she giggled and snorted. “Let’s dance.”
“I should go find Maiken.”
“He’s inside,” she said. “He’s talking to Liam by the food table.”
He must’ve backtracked and gone into the barn on the other side.
She hooked her arm in mine as we walked inside. “I love this song.”
“Teeth” by 5 Seconds of Summer was blaring from the speakers while bodies bounced up and down, dancing to their hearts’ content.
Dizziness encroached as I searched for Maiken among the hundred or more heads. Yeah, forty had turned into fifty, then sixty, and so on. Daddy hadn’t been down to break it up yet. But I figured he would at some point with how many kids were packed into the barn like sardines. At least there hadn’t been any outbursts of tempers or fists flying, which was a good thing.
Suddenly, the music stopped.
Kids protested.
In the distance, Jack, who was up on a platform, set his headphones on a table and began examining why the music had died. “Sorry, folks,” he said into the microphone. “Just a minor difficulty.”
I wiped the sweat off my brow with my hand, listing to one side as I searched for Maiken. I really shouldn’t have had that last drink.
“Fuck off,” someone to my right screamed in a high-pitched voice.
The hairs on my arm stood upright as Celia and I exchanged a wide-eyed look.
I knew that voice. I zeroed in on—of all people—Sloane Price. What is she doing at my party? I didn’t invite her.
As if Celia knew what I was thinking, she said, “Marcus.”
Growling, I pushed through the crowd. People had no problem carving a path for me like I was the queen at this party.
Sloane, with her short white hair and big brown eyes, was facing off against Holly Camara. Holly was the same height as Sloane, with long brown hair and blue eyes. Where Sloane had the weight, Holly had the muscle. The girl was in shape since she danced and did cheerleading.
“I was talking to Marcus.” Holly snarled at Sloane. “He’s not yours anymore.”
I grabbed Sloane’s arm and spun her to face me. “I didn’t invite you.”
She’d broken up with Marcus recently and was moving out of town.
Marcus stood behind the girls, watching intently with a smug grin as though he were enjoying being the proud peacock.
Sloane twisted her pink-painted lips, pinning her brown gaze on me. “Marcus invited me.”
I sneered at the younger Maxwell brother. “He was invited out of pity.”
Marcus didn’t react, which only infuriated me more.
Tessa Stevens, my former archenemy and head cheerleader, came to her teammate’s rescue. “Holly, she’s not worth it. She’s moving anyways. Marcus will be free soon.”
Holly shrugged off Tessa, wanting nothing more than to deck Sloane.
Oh, hell no.
“This is my party,” I said to Sloane. “Marcus had no right to invite you. So leave now.”
Sloane’s nostrils flared as she got in my face, practically touching my nose with hers “Or what, Quinn? You’re too much of a coward to punch me.”
She did not just say that. I didn’t even think. My fist was flying in one second flat. The crack of my knuckles hitting her jaw sounded like joy and felt like agony as the pain zipped up my arm.
As if my punch were the gun that went off to start a road race, shouts and catcalls ensued.
“Fight. Fight. Fight,” the crowd chanted.
Sloane returned the gesture, only she hit my mouth and not my nose.
Stars danced in my vision as blood seeped into my mouth. The metallic taste burst on my tongue and woke me up.
But before I could react, Celia jumped on Sloane’s back and grabbed handfuls of my enemy’s hair. “You can’t hit my best friend.”
“Get off me,” Sloane shrieked, throwing Celia to the ground.
As if in slow motion, my BFF fell backward, her head colliding with the barn floor.
Holly dove at Sloane, who fell into me, and I we
nt down hard on my butt.
Liam ran up. “Ladies, enough!”
Maiken emerged from the crowd. “Quinn, are you okay?”
I crawled over to Celia on my hands and knees. Any pain I had was muted when I saw her unconscious. “Celia!” I tapped on her face, but she didn’t move. “Celia? Celia?” Tears burned my eyes, acid scorched my throat, and I had the urge to throw up.
Liam joined me on the floor, feeling for a pulse. “Maiken, call an ambulance. Dustin, get my dad. He’s up at the house.”
Tears poured out as I tapped Celia’s face again. “Hey, wake up.”
Hands landed on the sides of my arms. “Quinn,” Marcus said.
I popped to my feet. This was all his fault. He’d invited Sloane. He attracted trouble. I reached out to push him, but I listed to one side, and my knees buckled.
Maiken, who was on my other side, caught me. “I got her, bro.” He ushered me outside, passing the watching and judging eyes. Some people even had their phones out, recording what was happening.
Great. Not the way I wanted my party to be remembered.
“Does she have a pulse?” I managed to say before I ran to the edge of the barn. I didn’t have a chance to bend over before the puke came out in a projectile stream. My head spun like I was on a fast-moving merry-go-round.
Maiken rubbed my back. “Let it all out.”
“Go away, please.” The words stammered out before I puked again.
“Party is over,” Daddy’s voice roared. He sounded like a lion about to attack.
I was in deep trouble.
Quinn puked her guts out, and the scent of alcohol flowed in my direction.
Mr. Thompson was wrangling kids out of the barn. “Carter, go up to the top of the back driveway and guide the ambulance down here.”
Mrs. Thompson ran down, her head turning in every direction. “Quinn?”
I waved at Mrs. Thompson. “Over here.”
Quinn’s mom dodged the kids leaving and rushed to Quinn’s side. “You’ve been drinking?” Her tone was full of disappointment and shock.
My Heart to Keep: A Maxwell Family Saga - Book Four Page 2