I adjusted the heater in my direction. “Maiken and I did it yesterday.”
Her neck snapped in my direction. “Oh, hell no. You can’t tell me this while I’m driving.”
I pointed at the road. “Pay attention. Black ice, remember.”
She huffed as she traveled super slow down the two-lane country road. “Tell me everything.” She sounded more excited than I did at the moment.
We’d promised each other we would tell the other when we stepped into womanhood. She hadn’t yet. She and Liam had never taken that step.
I let out a contented sigh. “It was tense and beautiful and unexpected.” The boy I fell in love with, who had the bluest eyes on the planet, made my heart sing even more than ever before. I felt as though we had sealed our relationship forever.
She adjusted the hat on her head, glancing at me. “You do look different.”
I rolled my eyes. “Please.” I pulled down the visor to check myself in the tiny mirror just the same. “I don’t see anything different. You’re full of it.”
She snorted then laughed. “We’re growing up, Quinn. I’m not sure if I’m happy about that or not.”
I closed the visor. “I know what you mean.” I thought of Daddy and the farm. I was seriously considering not applying to any college. “I think I might take a year off after high school.”
Again, her gaze rounded to me. “What?”
I stabbed a finger at the windshield. “Road, please.”
“You’re going to give up your dream of being a doctor?”
“I might change my major to teaching actually.” I hadn’t had a chance to share that with her yet.
She pumped the brakes, slowing to a stop way before the stop sign. “You would make a great teacher.”
“Thank you, bestie. But with Daddy’s health, I have to stay and help. I can take classes at the community college at night.”
“What about your brothers? Surely Liam isn’t going to drop out. Please tell me he isn’t. He’s got a great gig with his scholarship, a once-in-a-lifetime gig for that matter.”
“He’s not,” I said. “He wanted to, but Carter and I convinced him not to. Besides, Trevor, Noah, and Dustin are helping for the short term, especially since we’re selling Christmas trees now.”
With the coast clear of any cars, Celia turned right. “I can help too. My mom only needs me in the wee hours of the morning. I’ll help at the farm store after school.”
It was humbling that friends were rallying to help us. Momma was going to talk to a couple of Daddy’s friends from church too. She wanted to find someone who could be on the farm during the day, helping Carter, since Trevor, Noah, and Dustin had school. Coach Dean had offered to help as well.
The snow continued to fall as we slowly made our way to school.
“Okay,” Celia said. “Since we’re on the topic of growing up and college and stuff, what about the prom? Are you going to go? I found out from Elise, who’s on the prom committee, that the theme is the Roaring Twenties.”
“I hadn’t thought about the prom.” Given my luck with parties and dances, I wasn’t sure I wanted to attend. However, it was my senior year.
“Maiken will have a prom to go to at the academy. So you’ll have two.”
“You know parties, dances, and proms are bad for me and Maiken.”
She tittered. “What could go wrong? Come on. It’s our last hoorah in high school. We’ve got to go. And it will be cool to pick out an outfit for the Roaring Twenties.”
“Let’s get through the next couple of months.” I wanted to wait to plan things after my dad came home.
The roads were much clearer in town as Celia zipped through the side streets of Ashford. “Fair enough. Now, one more thing. I heard from Elise that Trevor’s girlfriend, Claire, has it out for you.”
My neck swiveled in her direction so fast I got whiplash. “Come again? That’s nonsense.”
“Sure, but put yourself in her shoes. You have been spending a lot of time with Trevor since you’re tutoring him, and then he gets a job on your farm. How would you feel?”
Oh my God. I wondered if Maiken thought the same thing. When he’d walked into the hospital, I’d been snuggled up to Trevor, crying. I’d also been bragging about how Trevor was a hero.
“What’s wrong? It looks like you’ve seen a ghost. Please tell me you and Trevor—”
“Hell no,” I said in a rush as my blood coagulated. “Maiken probably thinks the same.” I definitely had to talk to Maiken, although he’d given me no indication he was jealous.
Why would he be? Your dad just had a heart attack. You were distraught, and Maiken wasn’t the type to lash out in dire situations.
“After your tryst with Maiken yesterday, I doubt he thinks anything of the sort.”
She had a point. Maiken had shown me nothing but love, love, and more love. And if I knew Maiken, he would’ve broached the subject of Trevor and how he didn’t like him touching me or around me if it bothered him. I’d seen firsthand how he had dealt with Chase Stevens when Chase was interested in me. Not only that, he’d been cordial to Trevor when he’d met him. I decided not to bother Maiken about Trevor. He and I were in a great place, and I wanted to keep that momentum going.
The school loomed in the distance.
“Well, be on the lookout in case Claire confronts you.”
I shrugged. “She can, but I’m not interested in Trevor.”
I didn’t need any more drama in my life. I knew that was a tall order since high school wasn’t over with yet.
I sighed as I walked into the gym. Life wasn’t spinning out of control as it had been since the start of summer. Christmas came and went in a blur, as did school leading up to the holidays.
Daddy was on the mend, thank the Lord. Each day that passed, he got better and better. However, his mood was a different story. He barely smiled, and he seemed depressed. He tried to help Carter and me, but Momma threatened to tie him up if he so much as lifted a finger to do anything around the farm. Carter and I did the same—Carter more so than me. My brother was a lot like Daddy, not taking crap from anyone.
The farm was in good hands with my brother. He was staunch in his drive to make sure the farm was a well-oiled machine. He and I settled into a routine, much like Daddy and I had before his heart attack. We also had plenty of help. Trevor was in a groove and fitting in well with Carter, plus he was a hard worker. Apparently, he needed the money. He didn’t go into detail as to why, even though I’d tried to probe a little.
Trevor’s business wasn’t mine, and I had my own things to do. Noah and Dustin were also pitching in when they could, and Coach Dean had the basketball team working at the farm one morning a week.
“It’s good for your soul,” Coach Dean had told them one morning before they’d gotten started. “Plus, it builds character and teaches you what it means to work together as a team.”
I would never forget when Maiken had played for Coach, and the team had gotten up at the crack of dawn to clean out the horse stalls. Maiken hadn’t complained, but Chase Stevens sure had.
Regardless, it was nice to have help. I didn’t have to bust my butt as hard, so I could dedicate more time to my schoolwork or to making sure Daddy didn’t try to strap on his boots and gloves to lend a hand.
Shoes squeaked along the hardwood as Noah, Trevor, and the team played a practice game. Coach Dean was watching them intently with a scowl. He hadn’t been thrilled with their performance so far that season. They had played half of their scheduled games, and the team’s stats were five wins and eight losses.
On the other hand, Maiken was having a great season. He’d been instrumental in helping the team win thirteen games with only one loss.
Coach Dean blew his whistle. “Take five. Then we’ll finish up with some defensive plays.”
The team scattered to grab water and towels.
The cheerleaders were huddled on the far end, and Tessa was speaking animatedly with her hands. Al
l the girls were listening to her intently except for Claire. Trevor’s girl zeroed in on me then on Trevor. I was surprised she hadn’t lashed out at me since Celia had warned me weeks ago.
Trevor had suggested that we use my kitchen as a place for tutoring, which made sense. He and I worked, and then I tutored him. Sometimes Momma would invite Trevor to stay for dinner. Daddy often insisted he did. Trevor and Daddy had bonded, and Daddy couldn’t stop thanking him for saving his life.
I started to climb the bleachers to join my BFF, when Coach Dean called my name. “Quinn, a moment.” He ambled across the court, swiping a hand over his bald head. “I just want to say thank you for helping Trevor. He’s all caught up on his classes, and his grades are good.”
“My pleasure. He’s a nice guy and seems to want to do well.” I hadn’t gotten that creepy vibe since the first day I’d met Trevor. In my opinion, he was looking for attention. I knew little of his home life except that he and his dad lived with Sloane and her mom.
Whatever Sloane had been warning me about when it came to Trevor hadn’t been there. If he and Sloane didn’t get along, I wouldn’t know. Trevor never mentioned Sloane or talked about her or his family with me.
“He’s had a tough road,” Coach said in a low voice.
I raised an eyebrow. “Is he okay?”
He briefly glanced over his shoulder. “I think working on the farm has steered him in the right direction.”
“Well, Daddy adores him.”
“I hear. Your father respects Trevor. So, Liam made it back to school?”
“He did.” Liam had wanted to stay home and help, but the family wouldn’t let him, although we’d had to get Coach Dean to talk to him to convince him to go back to school.
“Good. That boy is going places. Anyway, let your dad know I’ll be by later.” He blew his whistle as he returned to the team.
Trevor grinned at me, drinking from a water bottle.
I smiled then climbed up to sit next to Celia.
“Claire is glaring at you,” Celia said.
I set my backpack down on the bench beside me. “I don’t know why she’s jealous. It’s not like Trevor and I are chummy chummy.”
“Seriously.” She closed her laptop. “Anyone can see he likes you.”
“Okay. But I don’t like him as boyfriend material. And I don’t hang out with him.”
“But he does work on your farm, girl.”
“Let’s talk about something else, like college. Any offer letters come in yet?”
Celia and I had filled out applications right after Thanksgiving. The deadline had been January first with a decision expected no later than April first. Since we were only in late January, I didn’t expect to hear anything, but Celia had submitted her applications a week before me.
“Nothing yet from Emerson College or BU.” As a communications major, those were her top two choices.
“Me either. I just talked to Mrs. Flowers. She said BU and Boston College usually send out letters between mid-February to mid-March.” I’d decided to switch my major to teaching and had applied to both of those schools. I had many other options for great colleges and universities around the country, but I wanted to stay local. In case my parents needed me, I would be close by.
“What about Maiken?” she asked.
Shrugging, I watched the players set up under the basket while Coach Dean explained a defensive play. “A scout from Boston College is interested in him. I’m not sure where that stands since he froze on court that day we were at the game.” Daddy’s heart attack had taken up much of my brain space, so thoughts of college weren’t high on my list. Not to mention, whenever we had a chance to see each other, nothing but him and me mattered. “I still can’t believe we’re so close to graduation and how our lives have changed.”
“You mean sex,” she whispered, waggling her eyebrows.
“Well, that’s for sure. Maiken and I can’t get enough of each other when he’s home. But it’s not just that. We’re getting older. Our lives are about to change. It’s kind of scary to step into the unknown—meeting new people, experiencing new things, building a future.”
“It sounds like you’re writing your valedictorian speech.”
“I’ve been working on it.” My grades had gotten so much better, thanks in part to sleeping more, working less, and tutoring Trevor. While he’d been doing his exercises or reading, I’d had a chance to do my own homework. “How’s your project coming for the school’s blog?”
She’d been busy covering the sports games and seemed to be in her element. Not only was she good at writing for the school blog and covering high school sports, but she really seemed to love it. She was a natural in front of the camera too.
“I’m almost done. I’ve interviewed each basketball player. When you came in, I was working on Trevor’s story.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Coach just told me he’s had a tough road. Has he mentioned anything to you?”
We both watched the team run through plays.
She chewed on her bottom lip. “His mom passed away last year from a heart attack.”
I gaped. “For real?” Now it made sense how he’d jumped into action when we found Daddy on the floor of the barn.
“Yeah. I asked him how he knew CPR. He told me he learned not long after he’d lost his mom.”
I eyed Trevor, who was going in for a layup. “I didn’t know.”
“He said he doesn’t like to talk about it. He does want to be a paramedic if basketball doesn’t pan out for him. Anyway, students will read all about the Kensington basketball players when the story goes live on the blog next week.”
“I’m still curious why Sloane hates Trevor. He’s a nice guy.”
“Maybe because he’s disrupted her life. Him and his dad anyway. Sloane and her mom were moving. Then they weren’t, and all of a sudden, she has a stepbrother. I can get behind that. I wouldn’t be happy to have complete strangers living in my house.” Celia nudged me. “Here comes trouble.”
“Double trouble,” I mumbled.
Claire and Tessa glided over like they were above anyone else. That was Tessa’s MO. I didn’t know much about Claire except for the snarls and glares she shot my way anytime we would run into each other in the hall or cafeteria.
Tessa tossed her inky-black hair over her shoulder. “Quinn, please tell me Dustin doesn’t have to work on the farm anymore.”
I deadpanned. “I don’t have any say in what he does.”
Claire cocked her hip. “You should tell Trevor too.”
I checked on Trevor to see if he’d heard her, but he was running toward the basket at the other end of the court.
“You two sound jealous,” Celia said. “Maybe you both should consider working on the farm. You know, with the pigs.”
Tessa feigned a laugh as her pink-painted lips twisted. “For all we know, Celia, you were responsible for the running of the pigs that first day of school.”
We still didn’t know who the culprit was, and frankly, that whole incident was in the past. With Daddy’s health, we’d all but forgotten about it. Daddy didn’t need the stress anyway.
“Yeah, like, why would I do that?” Celia asked. “You’re the one capable, Tessa. You would do anything to cause trouble for Quinn.”
Claire twirled strands of her brown hair around her finger and glanced over her shoulder at Trevor, I suspected. “Whoever it was had to be strong and have the means to transport pigs.”
Celia and I exchanged a perplexing look.
“Do you know who that person is, Claire?” I got the impression she did.
Surely Trevor hadn’t pulled the prank, or maybe that was the reason Sloane had warned me about him. Still, Trevor wasn’t the only strong boy in school. Noah came to mind as I watched him go in for a layup. He had the muscles too.
Claire’s brow lifted. “Of course not. I’ve never been on your farm or any farm.”
Trevor had, though, the night of my party.
&nbs
p; Tessa lowered her gaze to her white Nikes as though she knew something. Maybe Celia was right. Maybe Tessa had a hand in the prank or knew the guilty party.
“Tessa, do you know something about the pigs?” I asked. Not that I could do anything to that person other than give him or her a piece of my mind. I didn’t want to rehash the ordeal since it would raise Daddy’s blood pressure.
“You’re smoking dope,” Tessa exclaimed. “You know I hate pigs.”
“You do know something,” Celia chimed in, studying her.
Tessa’s mouth dropped, and she shook her head. “Why would you think that?” Her voice had an edge to it, not bitchy, but scared.
I was ready to fly down the bleachers and pummel her. “Unbelievable. You know, I can hear it in your tone. Who was it?”
She huffed. “There’s nothing you can do now.”
Motherpucker.
“Who?” My tone echoed around the gym.
The team stopped playing, and Coach Dean glanced at us.
I ran down the bleachers. “Who, Tessa? Who brought the pigs to school?”
Claire slid to Tessa’s side as though she could protect her friend.
Noah rushed over along with Trevor. Even Coach Dean came closer.
I stuck my hands on my hips so I wouldn’t punch her.
Tears pooled in her eyes. “It was my idea.” She looked at Noah.
He raised his hands. “I didn’t want to do it.”
My head spun. Noah was one of the good guys, or so I’d thought. “You’ve got to be kidding. Does Maiken know?”
Coach Dean’s features hardened. “Team, practice is over. Noah, Tessa, I want you two to have a seat.”
Claire threw herself at a tired-looking Trevor. He caught her as he gave me a sad smile.
The team didn’t want to leave. Drama was about to unfold, and high schoolers salivated for drama.
Coach pointed at the exit. “Hit the showers, or else all of you will be doing fifty laps around the track tomorrow.”
Trevor, along with the rest of the team, obeyed, and Claire followed her boyfriend out.
Noah planted his butt on the bottom bleacher, fear swimming in his gray eyes.
My Heart to Keep: A Maxwell Family Saga - Book Four Page 16