Saying goodbye to her was one of the hardest things I’d had to do. I hated to leave her alone to deal with everything that was about to happen with Aunt Denise.
“Maiken, I need you to help Kade and Lacey as much as you can with your brothers and sisters. I’ll be fine. I’ll call every night,” she’d said.
With her pale complexion and the hopelessness that swam in her eyes, I doubted that she would be okay. Yet I would do my part or anything else she asked me to do.
Emma practically skipped into the gym. “I missed school. Is there a game tonight?”
The banners above read Beat Lancaster Christian.
“Yeah, but I’m benched for this game,” I said to my fifteen-year-old sister, not that she was even listening to me. She spotted her friend Dana in the stands and headed in that direction.
Kade strutted over to Coach Dean. He was stoked to be coaching. In fact, he didn’t want to miss the game that night, which was another reason we’d driven back as soon as we could.
Ethan had been quiet since leaving Mom in Georgia. He was about to follow Emma when I clutched his arm. “Dude, what’s wrong?” I’d tried to talk to him earlier, but he’d shrugged me off.
He hunched his shoulders, his brown hair falling forward as he cast his gaze downward. “When are our lives going to be normal? First Dad, now Aunt Denise. Mom looks awful. She’s been crying every night.”
I was glad Mom had sent me back to Ashford without her, only because I knew that if I’d stayed, I would have been feeling down in the dumps like Ethan, especially if I were listening to Mom cry every night.
I guided him away from everyone to a spot at the end of the bleachers where no one was around. “Listen to me. It’s killing me that Mom is in pain, that Aunt Denise may not have long to live. Hell, the pain from Dad’s death hasn’t gone away. But as the oldests, you and me and even Emma have to step up and be there for our family.”
“I get that. I’ve been trying. But we can’t keep moving. We can’t keep leaving friends behind. Mom has been talking about staying in Georgia permanently. I want a girlfriend that I don’t have to say goodbye to at the end of the school year.”
That last line gave me whiplash. “I know. Me too.” I had no words of wisdom or comfort for him. The thought of leaving Quinn felt like a crushing force of pain that gripped my chest like someone had dropped a boulder on me.
Ethan flicked his hair off his forehead. It had turned a lighter shade of brown from the sun in Georgia. “Are you ready to leave Quinn?”
Swallowing what felt like razors, I whispered, “No.”
“You’re in love with her. Aren’t you?” Ethan’s tone was mournful.
I hiked a shoulder. “I don’t know.” I knew I didn’t want to leave her. I knew that she made me feel things that were new and exciting and downright scary at times—in a good way, though. “What I do know, bro—family comes first.” If Mom wanted to settle down in Georgia, then that was what we would do.
He nodded as Liam jogged over to us, dressed in sweats. Actually, the team was all dressed in black Kensington High sweatpants and royal-blue hoodies, which were part of the team’s wardrobe.
“Ethan,” Liam said. “Good to see you.”
Barely smiling, Ethan scaled the bleachers to sit beside Emma.
Liam stabbed a finger at Ethan. “What’s wrong with him?”
Life. “Family thing. He’ll be fine.” At least I hoped he would be. I wasn’t sure I would be, but at that moment, I couldn’t think about what the future held for Ethan or any of us.
Dad would always sit us down just before a move to another military base and say, “I know this is hard on all of you, but I want you to make the best of your new home.” That included school and friends.
“So Tessa’s been waiting for you. She is pissed that you missed the fundraiser on Saturday.”
I rolled my eyes. In a way, I’d been looking forward to selling those discount cards only because Quinn had had a great idea in selling most of them to her grandmother and friends.
I eyed the cheerleaders in the distance. “Did she sell any cards?”
Tessa waved.
“Not one. She didn’t even try according to Brianna, who, by the way, is pissed. But Tessa promised her she would sell all of them when you returned.”
I wasn’t a magic salesman, although maybe Quinn’s offer to sell to her grandmother was still open.
“Brianna and I sold all but two,” Liam bragged. “Actually, most of the other teams did as well.” He hit me on the arm. “So you need to get hot now that you’re back. Do your part for the team.”
“Quinn said your grandmother would buy,” I said.
“About that… Since you weren’t here, Quinn told us to hit up my granny. Anyway, have you talked to my sister?” The concerned inflection in his tone made me zero in on him.
“We’ve swapped texts all weekend, but nothing since yesterday morning before I left Georgia. Why? What’s wrong?”
“Last night, the ankle she bruised while skating the other day—well, she twisted it again.”
“Sprained?” While a sprain wasn’t good, I crossed my fingers that she hadn’t broken it.
He nodded his head of shaggy, brown hair. “Yep. She hopped down off the box she uses to stand on to brush Apple, and her ankle gave out. She’s on crutches.”
Yikes. “Is she going to be able to skate?” I knew she could beat Tessa, but not with a bad ankle.
“Not sure. I got to get back, and Coach wants to talk to you, by the way.” He loped back to the team.
I ambled over to Coach and Kade. “Hey, Coach. Who’s playing point guard tonight?” Since I wasn’t, I was curious who was.
With his focus on the team, he said, “I’m shifting things around a bit. I’m going to see how Chase does in that position.”
I cocked an eyebrow, wondering if I’d heard him correctly.
Coach blew his whistle. “Everyone, on the bench.”
Everyone shuffled off, most welcoming me back. Of course, Chase didn’t say anything to me.
I started to sit with the team on the bleachers, but Coach stopped me. “Stay where you are.”
Okay. I looked at Liam for answers. He shrugged with a cheeky grin that said he knew something I didn’t.
Coach snagged his clipboard off the bench. “Lancaster Christian is going to be tough to beat tonight. So I want all of you giving a hundred and ten percent. Now, Kade will be lead since I won’t be here, and Maiken will assist Kade if need be.”
I reared back.
“Woods, as we discussed earlier, you’ll move to shooting guard.”
I stared at Chase, who, for the first time since I’d met him, wasn’t wearing his emotions on his sleeve. His pimpled face was completely blank.
“Chase,” Coach continued, “you’ll be point guard, which means passing the ball and reading the plays. Malone”—he pointed at a lanky freshman beside Chase—“you’ll take on power forward. Liam, you’re still center, and Miller, small forward. I expect each of you to listen to Kade. We need to start winning more games. Teamwork. Passing. Scoring. Are we clear?”
“Yes, Coach,” the team said in unison.
“Good. Now, Chase, do you want to share the news with Maiken?” It was more of a statement than a question.
Chase jutted out his chin. “You’re the new captain.”
My jaw hit the floor. “Come again?”
Liam repeated the words in more of an excited tone. “You’re the new captain, dude.”
How is that possible? Did Coach pick me? He’d said he had the final say. Regardless, I was the new kid. I was also the one who didn’t deserve the role. I had poor grades, I wasn’t playing well, and I’d displayed unsportsmanlike conduct.
“We had one vote for Liam and twelve votes for you,” Coach added.
I studied Chase. “You voted for me?” I’d been the one who wrote Liam’s name on the ballot.
His shoulders almost touched his ears. “May
be.”
It was obvious to me he didn’t want to announce it to all the guys when in fact Coach had.
Kade cleared his throat. “Maiken, it doesn’t matter. What matters is you have an opportunity to bring this team together and lead.”
“Dude,” Miller piped in, “your speech was off the charts. All of us talked earlier. We want you as our captain. Isn’t that right, Chase?”
Chase sighed. “All right. I admit, Maxwell, that you did light a fire under my ass. I’m in for giving you a chance. But that doesn’t mean you get to tell me what position I’m playing.”
“He’s not going to do that,” Coach said. “But I expect both of you”—he wagged his finger between Chase and me—“to work together, which means no fighting, and that includes yelling or punching each other. Are we all in agreement?” His gaze circled the team.
Nods and yeses zipped around.
“Very well, then. I need a word with Maiken alone. Kade, take over from here.”
Kade grabbed Coach’s clipboard as Coach guided me out of the gym and into the hall. We settled near the glass case where trophies were displayed for championship wins in football, hockey, baseball, and basketball.
Coach opened his stance and folded his arms over his chest. His dark eyes narrowed. “I expect you to pass your chemistry test tomorrow if you want to play Wednesday. However, going forward as captain, you need to set an example, which means outside of school policy, I expect you to maintain a C or higher in all your classes and lead this team, which means perfect behavior on and off the court. Can you do all that?”
I was still trying to wrap my mind around Chase voting for me. “Yes, sir.”
“Alex Baker was a great captain, and I see a lot of him in you. You have the rest of this season and your junior and senior years to really do something great with this team, son.” He poked my chest just above my heart. “Believe in yourself. Believe in others. Put your heart into the game you love. If you do that, your skills will shine brightly enough for scouts to take an interest in you.”
All I could do was smile even though deep down, I was afraid I might not be there next year or the year after. But that was a worry for another day. Right then, I would do all I could to make Coach proud of me, to make the team shine, and to play like I’d never played before.
Momma sang softly to a Frank Sinatra song as she drove me to Shakers. I couldn’t help but sing along with her to a classic, “My Way.”
Momma had a pretty voice, but I couldn’t carry a tune. Still, it was fun to belt out a song together in the car. On occasion, she would listen to my type of music like 5 Seconds of Summer.
She bounced over a bump, and the car jarred me forward, causing my phone to topple to my lap.
“The town needs to fix those potholes,” she complained, more to herself than me. Then she lowered the radio. “I don’t want you out too late. You need to rest your ankle.”
Luck wasn’t on my side. My sore ankle, which I thought I’d originally sprained while practicing at the rink, was now officially wrapped in a bandage and swollen. The night before when I’d been brushing Apple, I’d missed one of the steps on the two-step box I used and twisted my ankle.
The universe was definitely giving me a sign. It was saying, “Don’t skate against Tessa because you won’t win.” I probably wouldn’t if my ankle didn’t at least heal a little by Sunday. I’d skated on a sore ankle before, but not a sprained one, and I didn’t think six days was long enough for the swelling to go down, particularly if I kept walking on it.
Nevertheless, I was bummed. I’d had a second practice session the day before at the rink. My jumps were good, but not perfect yet. My spins were on point, and I’d felt like I could conquer anything.
Momma kept her eyes on the road. “Are you canceling the competition?”
I gave her a sidelong glance. Her small gold loop earring shimmered from the lights of an oncoming car in the other lane. “I’ll talk to Brianna.” I suspected it would be hard to change the date. It wasn’t like the rink was free anytime, especially this time of year when hockey games galore were scheduled.
The large neon sign for Shakers twinkled in the distance as we approached the new hamburger place on the outskirts of downtown Ashford.
Maiken had texted me to meet him there. The team had won against Lancaster Christian, so most of the guys wanted to celebrate. I was sure I would see the cheerleaders, which meant Tessa would be there too.
Momma slowly navigated the parking lot, which had cars parked four rows deep. “Wow, busy place tonight.”
For a Monday, I would agree. Then again, the restaurant was new and a prime hangout spot for the high school kids.
She pulled up to the main entrance. “Do you need help?”
“No, ma’am. I got this.” Maybe. I was using crutches on the doctor’s orders, but maneuvering out of the passenger seat before I could stand up on crutches would be a challenge.
Taking a deep breath, I climbed out and set both feet on the concrete.
Here goes nothing.
I used the door as my anchor to push me upright. When I did, I swallowed down the pain. Yep, I wouldn’t be able to skate anytime soon. I hobbled on my right foot as I clumsily grabbed the crutches.
Just as I did, large hands came into view from behind me. I was hoping it was Maiken, but when I tossed a look over my shoulder, I found Chase.
He snatched the crutches out of the car. “Let me help you.”
“Thank you, Chase,” Momma said. “You’re a peach.”
I giggled for nothing more than to forget the throbbing in my ankle, although the words peach and Chase didn’t exactly go together. He was a gentleman, nonetheless, helping me get situated with my crutches.
“I got her, Mrs. Thompson. She’s in good hands.”
Momma regarded me for some sign that I agreed.
“I’ll get a ride home with Liam,” I said before hobbling away so Chase could close the car door.
Once the taillights on Momma’s car faded, I began my trek into the restaurant.
“Surely you’re not going to compete with that injury,” Chase said as he stayed by my side, seemingly afraid I would fall at any minute.
I might just face-plant before I even got to the entrance because of the awkwardness of using crutches. “Not sure.”
“I’m rooting for you, Quinn.” His tone was sweet and believable.
Stopping, I leaned on my crutches. “Why? She’s your sister.” If I were in his shoes, I would cheer for my own blood despite how I felt. Or at least I wouldn’t brag that I wanted my sibling’s enemy to win.
His dark eyes searched my face. “She also needs to stop bullying you.”
“And you think skating is going to do the trick?” Brianna thought so. But I was curious what Chase thought.
He harrumphed. “I don’t. Whether you win or lose, Tessa will always be Tessa.”
“She made a deal,” I mumbled as if trying to convince myself that Tessa wouldn’t break our deal.
He feathered his fingers through his unruly brown hair. “Deals can be broken.”
My underarms were beginning to hurt. “Do you have a better idea?”
He smirked as if he had the perfect plan. “I know my sister. She will pounce on anyone who fears her. So show her you’re not afraid of her. The more you stand up to her, the more she’ll move on to someone else or something else.”
That settled it. I couldn’t back out despite my injury.
I inched closer to the entrance. “Do you thrive on fear?” I had to ask since he had his own feud with Maiken, although neither of them backed down from one another.
“You mean with Maxwell?”
One of the glass doors opened, and Maiken strutted out. His features were tight, hard, and wary. “What’s going on?”
Chase lifted his chin. “Just having a friendly conversation.”
A muscle jumped in Maiken’s jaw. “Is that so? You’re not trying to move in on my girl?”
Chase rolled his eyes. “If I wanted to, I would have already. Nice chatting, Quinn. Remember what I said.” Then he brushed past Maiken, bumping his shoulder.
When Chase was gone, Maiken’s attitude shifted from macho jealousy to tender and caring. “Should I carry you?”
I shied away. “Not this time.” Although if I weren’t walking into a room full of kids whom I suspected had their phones primed to take pictures, I would’ve done all I could to jump into Maiken’s arms.
Maiken held open the door. “What were you and Chase talking about?”
I felt special that two boys liked me, but I didn’t like all the tension and fighting when they were in the same space together. I wanted everyone to get along. I wanted everyone to be nice to one another. But I knew that was an impossible feat when emotions were involved, not to mention raging hormones, which were partially responsible for driving our actions. I’d overheard Daddy saying that to Momma the other night.
“His sister,” I said as the warm air from inside breezed over me.
The restaurant was buzzing with loud voices and the clanking of dishes and silverware. I was surprised anyone could hear anything.
Maiken rested a hand on my lower back. “We’re at the booth in the corner.”
I was hopping around tables when, lo and behold, Tessa jumped up from a chair. She had a smirk the size of Rhode Island on her face. “I guess you can’t compete.” Her inky-black eyes were full of happiness. “That means I win.”
Anger, hot and sticky, made me glare hard at my enemy. “Who says I can’t compete?”
She tipped her head to the side, all smug and witchy. “You’re going to skate in six days?”
The people at the tables in the near vicinity ceased all conversation.
No time like the present to take Chase’s advice. But as I opened my mouth, I couldn’t think of a comeback. “Sit down, Tessa.” My tone was firm.
She puffed out her cheeks. “So are you forfeiting? You know if you do, I win.”
A vision of me butting her head with mine flashed before me. Maybe if I did something like that, I would knock some niceness into her. A girl could dream.
My Heart to Hold: A Maxwell Family Saga - Book Two Page 7