My Heart to Keep: A Maxwell Family Saga - Book Four

by Alexander, S. B.

  Tessa huffed as she sat next to him, pouting.

  I crossed my arms over my chest, wanting nothing more than to scream at them. They had no idea what they’d put my dad through. He’d had to pay to have cameras installed, which weren’t cheap. He’d worried constantly about someone pulling another prank using our animals. Not only that, the stress hadn’t helped his health.

  Coach Dean settled in front of them. “Talk.”

  “I told them not to do it,” Noah said. “But Dustin wouldn’t listen.”

  “Shut up,” Tessa said to Noah.

  “Dustin?” Shock rode my tone. I hadn’t seen that one coming.

  Come to think of it, he had been close by when the pigs ran down the hall. Tessa had too. And Noah had been late that day.

  “It was Tessa’s idea,” Noah said.

  Coach Dean pinched his chin with his fingers. “Here’s what’s going to happen. Noah, you’re benched for three games. I should bench you for the rest of the season, but I’m not going to. Principal Sanders will have a say in the rest of your penance. Ms. Stevens, since you were the mastermind behind the prank, I’m going to recommend you be suspended for a week.”

  Tessa straightened, fear washing over her. “You can’t do that. I’ve got exams, and this won’t look good for me.”

  “You should’ve thought about that before you took my pigs,” I said.

  “I’ll speak to Dustin,” Coach said. “He’ll have to answer to the principal as well. Now I can’t order you, Ms. Stevens, to apologize to the Thompson family, but I can order you, Noah. If you want to play for me next year and for the rest of this season, you’ll get over to the Thompson farm and speak to Quinn’s parents. Is that clear?”

  “Yes, sir,” he said to Coach while giving me puppy-dog eyes.

  “Is that why you and Dustin were quick to help out at the farm?” I asked. Carter had told me Dustin and Noah didn’t want to get paid. Noah had pulled extra shifts outside of the one he’d done with the basketball team.

  He nodded.

  Coach wagged his finger at Noah then Tessa. “I’ll see both of you in the principal’s office in the morning.” He harrumphed as he shook his head and left the gym.

  Celia came down from the bleachers. “What a shocker. This is front-page news for sure. Tessa Stevens, the girl who hates pigs, the same girl who put on a show that morning, blaming Quinn for the prank.”

  Tessa popped up. “You are not going to put that in the school’s blog.”

  “I most certainly am,” Celia said, oozing confidence and excitement.

  Tessa stomped her foot before she ran out.

  Noah rose. “Quinn, I’m so, so sorry.” He sounded sincere.

  “Tell that to my dad,” I said, spinning on my heel to leave.

  I wasn’t as mad as I’d been the day the prank happened. I was more annoyed. Even though it was water under the bridge, they did owe my parents an apology.

  I was about ten feet from the door when Maiken walked in.

  My jaw bounced on the floor as Tessa, Noah, Dustin, and pigs flew out of my mind.

  What is Maiken doing here?

  Maiken grinned at me, but it never reached his gorgeous blue eyes. “Surprise.”

  It took me a second to get my brain to fire. Then I was rushing up to him. “What happened?”

  “I messed up my back.”

  I slapped a hand over my mouth. “How?” Oh my God! He’d been doing so well and had worked so hard to get back in tip-top shape for basketball.

  “I got knocked down in the game a couple of nights ago. Mom made me an appointment with my doctor in Ashford. I need to get back to the academy tonight, though.”

  I threw my arms around him. “I’m so sorry. Did the doctor say what’s wrong?”

  His hands slid around my waist as he pecked me on my lips. “I’m waiting on him to call with the results of the MRI I had earlier. He suspects it’s just muscle spasms. I think it is too, but I want to be sure it’s not one of my discs. I can’t be out. There’s a scout from Gonzaga coming to my game next week, and the scout from Boston College is returning to watch me as well. Actually, he wants to chat with me.”

  My heart fluttered at the idea that he could get a scholarship to BC. That would mean he and I could be together, at least in the same city. BC and BU weren’t that far apart. What didn’t sit well with me was Gonzaga. That school was located on the opposite side of the country.

  My pulse was all over the place as I walked into Coach Green’s office. We’d just tacked another win under our belt, leaving us with only one loss the entire season. We had six games left to play, and we were primed to head to the state playoffs.

  I’d missed three of our last five games because of my back. I’d been fortunate that I hadn’t slipped a disc, but the muscle spasms had kept me from playing.

  Mr. Patrick, the scout from BC was relaxed in a chair in front of Coach’s desk while Coach said, “I have the fishing trip set up for July if you’re interested.”

  Coach was a big fisherman and preferred ocean fishing mostly. When he retired, he wanted to move to a sleepy town on the Gulf Coast of Florida and do nothing but fish. His office was even drenched with pictures of big fish he’d caught.

  Coach waved at the seat next to Mr. Patrick. “Sit, Maiken.”

  I shook Mr. Patrick’s hand before I sat down. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

  I hadn’t had a chance to meet the man before now. However, Coach had pointed him out in the stands before our game earlier.

  Mr. Patrick rose, smoothing a hand over his red tie. “You were good out there tonight, Maiken.”

  My rapid pulse came down a notch. “Thank you, sir.”

  Once we were both seated, Mr. Patrick turned his body slightly toward me. “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

  I had no idea how the conversation would go, but Coach had given me a heads-up that Mr. Patrick would ask about life beyond college.

  I straightened my spine. “I would love to play for the NBA one day.”

  “What if you couldn’t?” Mr. Patrick asked.

  I’d pondered that very question a million times. “I’ve thought about the military and maybe one day coaching at the high school level.” I flicked a quick look at Coach.

  He had a proud expression.

  “The college certainly offers several different majors, like teaching, if that’s what you had in mind.”

  I hadn’t considered teaching, but if I wanted to coach, a teaching degree would be a good first step. And how cool would that be for Quinn and me to teach at the same school?

  I grinned at Mr. Patrick. “It might be.” Dad had always said to make sure I planned for life after the NBA.

  “There’s no need for you to decide on a major right now. Maiken, the sports director, coach, and I are very pleased with what we’ve seen on your tapes. I’m extremely happy with what I saw out on that court tonight. Your skills have improved greatly since I watched you play back in October at the scrimmage game. And Coach Green here”—he tipped his head at his friend—“has done a great job molding you. Your three-point shots are effortless. It’s evident you’re a natural for the game.”

  “I can’t take all the credit, Richard,” Coach said as he leaned back in his chair. “Coach Dean at Kensington has done a fine job as well.”

  “My dad has too, sir. Well, before he passed away, that is.”

  A veil of sorrow flashed in Mr. Patrick’s eyes. “He sure has, son. And an upstanding student too. Your grades show that. I only have one last question for you. On behalf of Boston College, we would like to extend an offer for you to play starting next year. But before you decide, we would also like to invite you to take a tour of the campus and check out the facilities.”

  I was ready to burst with glee and shout to the world that I’d done it. I had achieved something that I thought would never be possible given Dad’s death, moving, my aunt dying of breast cancer, my family’s struggles, and my accident. I didn’t
have to see the campus to give him my answer. While BC wasn’t my first choice, there were so many good things about the school, the basketball program, the proximity to home, and to Quinn if she decided to attend a school in Boston. Mom would definitely be happy and proud.

  I grinned from ear to ear. “I would love to visit the campus.”

  Mr. Patrick rose. “Glad to hear it. I’ll be in touch with a date and time. I’ll let Coach Green know as well. I need to get on the road.”

  “Before you head out,” Coach Green said, “I need to talk to you about another matter. It will only take a minute.”

  That was my cue to leave, and I couldn’t wait to run back to the dorm and tell Ethan and my other siblings. I also couldn’t wait to call Mom and share the great news with Quinn, who was waiting for me in my dorm room.

  After Mr. Patrick and I shook hands and I thanked him profusely, I hustled out of there. I jogged through the sports complex at breakneck speed. I felt as though a ten-ton weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I was about to play for a Division I school.

  I burst through the doors and out into the cool night air. I ran all the way to my dorm then took the stairs two at a time, huffing and puffing.

  When I burst into my dorm room, Quinn jumped up from her spot on my bed. Before she could say a word, I tackled her to the bed—gently, of course.

  “BC wants me to play ball for them.”

  She squealed. “Oh my God! That’s fantastic.”

  I was over the moon. I couldn’t contain myself or control my hands or lips. I devoured all of her—her lips, her tongue, and everything I could get my hands and mouth on.

  She giggled as we kissed like we hadn’t seen each other in years. Ever since we’d started having sex, I couldn’t get enough of her. Each time was better and better, and man, Kade had been so spot-on. Being in love with a person heightened the senses to the max. Quinn gave me a high like no other. When I was with her, I felt like I could fly. Our future was shaping up to be fantastic. I had my girl. I had an offer to play ball, and I would be close to my family. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

  I nibbled on her ear. “I love you, Quinn Thompson. You have made my life complete.”

  Her answer wasn’t what I was expecting, but I wasn’t complaining when she removed her top. “Noah and Ethan know to stay away.”

  Noah and Quinn had come up together for the game, which surprised me since she’d been mad at him for the part he’d played in the pig prank.

  “He was sincere and very apologetic to Daddy,” she’d told me. “And everyone deserves a second chance, even Tessa.” According to Quinn, Tessa had even apologized to her parents.

  I laughed. “You’ve been planning this?”

  She pulled her bottom lip in between in her teeth. “Yep.”

  Man, she was gorgeous. Rosy cheeks, plump lips, and a body that was all mine. Hell, she was all mine, and one day she would be my wife.

  But first we had to finish high school.

  I couldn’t believe we were in April, and our senior prom was next week. I debated whether I wanted to go. Maiken had bagged his prom at the academy. He wasn’t interested in attending any proms.

  “Homecoming was enough for me,” he’d said.

  I couldn’t blame him. That had been the night Sloane had hit him with her car, the same night Marcus had too much to drink, and the same darn night that I’d almost knocked out Sloane’s teeth.

  I hadn’t planned on going to my senior prom either. I had my valedictorian speech to finish. It wasn’t anywhere near ready, and with exams coming up next month, I wanted to be ahead of the curve. The last I’d checked with Mrs. Flowers, I was still in the number-one spot, and barring any unforeseen hiccups, like failing a test, the prestigious award was mine to lose.

  Still, Celia had convinced me to go to prom.

  “Come on,” she’d begged. “You’ll regret not going. And I don’t have a date.”

  Maybe I would look back and wonder why I didn’t go. Besides, I couldn’t let my best friend down.

  I was almost at Celia’s car when Trevor caught up to me. “Quinn.”

  I pivoted on my heel. “Hey, I’m in a hurry.” Celia and I had shopping on our agenda for that afternoon.

  He pushed his unruly blond hair out of his eyes and was about to say something when Claire ran up, sporting a sneer.

  She dug her claws into Trevor’s arm, a clear sign for me to back off. “You were supposed to meet me at your car.” She pouted at Trevor.

  He ignored her and asked me, “Is Maiken going to the prom with you?”

  I studied him, wondering where he was going with his question.

  Claire didn’t wonder at all. “You are not taking her.” Her tone was nasty and full of disgust.

  I clenched my teeth. “I have a name.”

  She let go of Trevor. “You know, Quinn, I’m not holding back anymore. You are not so special.” She waved her hand up and down my body. “You have no meat on your bones. Your breasts are flat. You look and smell like one of your pigs. And you dress like you just walked out of a thrift store.”

  I laughed, even though I was seething inside, even though my hands began to tremble around the straps of my backpack.

  She bared her teeth. “Stay the fuck away from my boyfriend.”

  Trevor swung out his arm in front of Claire. “Seriously, Claire, how many times have I told you? Quinn and I are friends.”

  “You want to screw her.” Claire’s voice went up in pitch. “Maybe you already did.” She skirted around Trevor and got in my face. “We only have a few weeks left of school, but I can make your life a living hell, which I should’ve done long before now.”

  And the claws finally come out.

  I opened my arms. “Do whatever you want. I don’t have time for your jealousy.”

  Between Claire’s sneers and glares in the hall and Tessa giving me the middle finger anytime I saw her, I was done with the petty drama. Tessa deserved her one-week suspension. Noah deserved being benched by Coach Dean along with a one-day suspension, and Dustin had received a one-day suspension as well for the part he’d played.

  Claire stuck out her chin. “Go near Trevor again, and you’ll see what I’m made of.”

  Celia drove up and beeped the horn.

  That was my cue to get out of Dodge. One thing I wouldn’t miss about high school was the mean girls. I had no idea what college would be like, but I hoped I didn’t have to deal with the Claires and Tessas of the world.

  Trevor said something to Claire that I couldn’t quite hear.

  I ignored them and opened the passenger door of Celia’s car.

  “Quinn,” Trevor said.

  “Really?” Claire whined.

  “Babe, back the fuck off. I am not asking Quinn to the prom.”

  She closed her mouth, pursing her red lips.

  Trevor blew out a breath, seemingly frustrated. “I heard Maiken got into BC. Coach Dean told me Gonzaga made him an offer too. Which one did he decide on?”

  “Let’s go,” Celia said. “We need to get there before the flapper dresses are picked through.”

  I quickly bent my head down. “One sec.” Then I said to Trevor, “He accepted BC’s offer last week.” Maiken didn’t want to move to Washington, and he wanted to play for a school that was part of the ACC conference.

  “Cool. I’ve been considering BC when I graduate next year. Noah is even talking about playing for BC too. I’ll catch Maiken when he comes home.”

  Claire glared daggers at me.

  I was tempted to hug Trevor to say thank you for keeping Claire off me, but that would only give Claire more ammunition to make my life hell, and I didn’t need the hassle. When it came to bullies, I’d been there, done that, and had gotten the T-shirt.

  Instead, I slid into the passenger seat. “Oh, and Trevor, my mom’s making your favorite for dinner tonight.”

  His green eyes lit up. “Roast beef? I’ll be there.”

  Claire’s n
ostrils flared, as she turned ten shades of red.

  I shut the door. “Let’s get out of here.”

  Celia sped out of the school lot. “What was all that about?”

  “You were right. Claire wants my head on a platter.”

  “She better get hot, then. School is almost finished.”

  I shrugged. “Whatever. I think I’m immune to bullies anyway. I hope there aren’t any at BC.”

  I’d gotten accepted to BU and BC, and I had decided on BC for two reasons. Maiken was going to BC, which was one big reason. And I also liked the atmosphere of the college. I hadn’t received any scholarships, but I did qualify for financial aid, which was okay by me. My parents would help where they could, but I honestly didn’t want to take a dime from them. It was time I did things on my own.

  “I’m sure you’ll have a Tessa or Claire at BC, but nothing like high school.” Celia had gotten accepted to Emerson, which was eight miles from BC. So we would be close and could hang out and do things together.

  I watched the houses in Ashford tick by. “I’m counting the days until graduation.”

  Celia slowed to a stop. “Forty-four days.”

  Forty-four days until Kensington High was in my rearview mirror. Forty-four days until I said goodbye to my high school years, which had been good, bad, and ugly.

  Music pounded from the speakers as the band played “Rollercoaster” by the Jonas Brothers. I stood near the bar, people watching. It was fascinating to see kids let loose and grope and dance.

  The Cave was the venue of choice for our senior prom, the same club managed by Kade Maxwell, Maiken’s cousin. Kade didn’t looked thrilled to be working that night. He’d been trying to keep law and order, but some of the kids were getting a bit rowdy near the bar.

  I ignored them. I suspected they’d been drinking. I’d seen a few boys take out flasks from their suit jackets. Our prom wasn’t the normal setup of previous proms. We didn’t have a punch bowl on a table. We actually had bartenders behind the bar, serving soda, water, and virgin drinks like piña coladas and strawberry daiquiris. However, Kade had removed all the liquor bottles that were normally displayed on a shelf behind the bar.