A car door slammed a moment before Emma sidled up to me. She flipped the tail of her ponytail over her shoulder and let it drape down her chest. Her light-brown hair was off-the-charts long, and she’d grown at least two inches since school let out. Before long, she would be as tall as Maiken. She was already approaching Ethan’s height, which was about two or three inches shorter than Maiken, who was six foot two. Marcus and Jasper weren’t far behind either.
“This place is pretty lit,” she cooed as the sun glinted in her big brown eyes and sparkles of her makeup glistened.
I hated to agree with her. I didn’t want to see Maiken leave Kensington or Ashford or me, but as excited as Emma was about attending a rich private school, I was afraid Maiken would jump on board with her and the rest of his siblings. I’d learned on the way up that he was considering the move, something he hadn’t mentioned to me, not even in a text, which was adding to my fear, nerves, and brooding.
No one in the car had revealed which way Maiken was leaning. Their mom didn’t even know. Or maybe his family was afraid to tell me, although I hadn’t asked. I was too frightened of the answer.
As I took in the beautiful campus, which reminded me of a place fit for a king and his court, I had a feeling Maiken would follow his brothers and sister.
I was ready to bawl and beg him not to leave. Actually, I’d cried for two weeks straight after he left me standing in the hospital with my mouth hanging open and a hole in my heart. Even though we had kept in contact with one another, I felt as though we were growing apart.
“I don’t like you drinking. It’s not something I’m going to deal with.” His words had been on repeat in my head.
“Give him space,” Momma had said when I’d cried in her arms the other night.
Momma and Daddy were still beyond livid at what I’d done, and I was still grounded until further notice.
The only good news was that Celia was doing well and was out of the hospital. The doctor had mentioned that she might not remember much, but she did. She’d told me every detail of that night, including jumping on Sloane’s back. Since then, though, she was taking it easy. We hadn’t done much of anything. I couldn’t even have Celia over to hang so she could help take away my misery over Maiken.
Emma slipped her hand in mine. “My brother loves you, you know?”
I squeezed her hand. “Thank you for that.” Her words were like a balm to my somewhat broken heart. But I would rather hear the sentiment from Maiken. I’d thought many times since Maiken left for camp that he didn’t love me anymore. “He hated seeing me tipsy.”
She giggled. “You mean flat-out drunk.” She laughed again. “You shocked all of us. Good Girl Quinn did something no one ever expected.”
“I’m not sure I’ll do that again either. My dad would keep me locked up forever.” I wasn’t kidding. I inhaled the scent of fresh-cut grass. “You’re excited about going here, huh?” It was time to change the subject. I would rather not talk about the hell I was going through or think about how Celia could’ve died from her head injury.
Emma glanced around. Her happy expression and the gleam in her eyes said it all. “They have a great volleyball program. But it’s more than that. My family hasn’t settled since our dad died. I hate leaving my mom and my little brother and sisters, but I think us older kids could use a place like this.”
I captured my trembling bottom lip in between my teeth. “Maiken included?” I knew her answer. I just had to hear her say it.
“Yeah. Sorry, Quinn. I believe he needs a school like this more than any of us. He’s bottled up all his feelings over Dad’s death, and he’s put everyone but himself first. If he wants to play ball and focus, this is the place for him to get his shit together.”
She sounded older than her seventeen years. Or maybe I was still a little girl who wanted to be in love and not have anything change in my life. I knew the Maxwells had moved constantly when their dad had been in the military. But for a hometown girl like me, who didn’t travel or move around, I would not want to be away from my family or my boyfriend.
But you will when you go off to college. Even that was going to be difficult for me.
I didn’t want to cry, but I had a feeling I would be bawling before the day was out. “Is Maiken as excited?” I wasn’t sure if she’d talked to her brother about the school.
Emma let go of my hand and gave me a sidelong look. “Even if he decides to attend with us, that doesn’t mean he’s breaking up with you.”
I shuddered at the thought, although I wasn’t exactly certain we were boyfriend and girlfriend. “I won’t see him, though. We’re supposed to spend our senior year together at the same school.” And fall in love harder and deeper, and have sex for the first time, and kiss, and make out, and not come up for air until we’re heading off to college.
The boys and Christine ambled over.
Jasper, who I hardly knew or spoke to, was now a high schooler. At fifteen, he was tall for his age and resembled Maiken. They both had sandy-blond hair and similar features—strong jaw, nose, lips, and a soft gaze—except Jasper’s eyes were brown rather than blue. “Maybe you should transfer here with us.” Even his voice was similar to Maiken’s.
Suddenly, I wanted to throw my arms around him. He had a gentle way about him, unlike Marcus. “My parents wouldn’t allow that.” Besides, with Carter and Liam in college, I was the only one there to help my parents on the farm.
Christine dumped her keys in her purse then smoothed a hand down her crisp cotton slacks. “Let’s head in. Coach Green said he would meet us in the main building.”
Marcus started for the entrance of the castle-looking building. “This place looks like something out of Harry Potter.” His voice kicked up a notch, and his swagger screamed excitement.
Color me surprised. Marcus was usually brooding or had a pout on his handsome face.
The Maxwell clan was happy. Even Ethan had a pep in his step as he and Jasper talked about dorms and living on campus.
The world around me seemed light, airy, and gleeful, while I was the one sulking. Not to mention, I felt like a school of piranhas was nipping and biting inside me as my nerves crept up over thoughts of seeing Maiken.
Would he be as happy as his siblings? Would he be happy to see me?
We wound our way down a tree-lined path to the gray stone building with pointed peaks and towers jutting up into the sky. The closer we got to the massive portico, the more my heart pounded in my ears. With the mountains and dense landscape surrounding the property, I felt like I was entering Hogwarts.
The double wooden doors opened as we approached, and an average-looking man with salt-and-pepper hair greeted us. “You must be Christine.” The older gentleman extended his hand.
Christine exchanged a handshake with the man. “Coach Green?”
“Please, call me Robert.” He gave her a warm smile, or maybe he was smitten with her. After all, she was a beautiful lady. Her dirty-blond hair was swept up in a chignon, and a light dusting of makeup accentuated her small nose, big brown eyes, and full lips. “Let’s go inside.” He waved his hand to the open door.
The Maxwell kids went in first.
I lingered behind, suddenly feeling like I was intruding.