That was another reason she hadn’t been ready to take the plunge.
I stepped closer to her. “So we’re good?”
She stuck out her tongue at me, her shyness bleeding through the redness in her cheeks. “Yes.”
I heaved a sigh, even though it was going to be excruciatingly difficult to say goodbye to her.
My sweaty skin trapped pieces of my hair to my neck and forehead. The weather for late August was disgustingly humid. We didn’t have air conditioning, so the nights had been unbearable. Momma and I had found ourselves on the front porch, lying on one of two swings, which both had comfy cushions and pillows, hoping to catch a cool breeze on most nights, but none came. Daddy and my brothers didn’t seem to mind and slept through the heat.
I was ready for ten feet of snow and subzero temperatures. The heat coupled with Maiken leaving for Greenridge had me irritated and antsy beyond belief.
He’d been gone for four long days, and I couldn’t stop crying. I couldn’t sleep, and I couldn’t even eat. Celia had tried to cheer me up, but nothing was working. It hadn’t even helped when Daddy lifted my punishment.
Things around me were changing, and I didn’t like it one bit. I’d lost my boyfriend to a private school. Liam had left for NC State the day before, and Carter was returning to Boston in a matter of minutes. Then I would be the only one at home.
Momma had cried last night and again that morning when Liam hugged her before getting into the car with Daddy. I even cried as we waved when they drove away.
“I’m not sure I’ll survive when you leave next year,” Momma had said. “I’m losing all my babies. The house feels empty already.”
I rocked on the porch swing, staring out at Carter’s beat-up truck, wondering what Maiken was doing at that moment. His classes had started the day before, and he hardly had time for much with schoolwork and practice.
The screen door creaked open. “Quinn.” Momma still sounded sad. “Why don’t you help me with dinner?”
Blinking, I tore my gaze away from the chipped red paint of Carter’s truck and regarded Momma. “I’m not hungry.”
She wiped her hands on her apron, giving me a pitiful look. “Have you called Maiken?”
“We texted.” No amount of texts or phone calls would erase the pain I felt or the loneliness setting in. “Momma, what if I never see him again? What if Maiken doesn’t want to go out with me anymore? What if he finds another girlfriend there?”
She smoothed a hand over her dark-brown hair as she sat on the edge of the swing next to me. “Oh, honey. If the love between you two is strong, then no one can break that bond, not even another girl.”
“It hurts too much. Sometimes I can’t breathe.”
She rubbed my leg. “He’s your first love, and those are the most painful, but they’re also very special. Why don’t you call Celia and invite her to spend the night? It will help to take your mind off Maiken.”
Sniffling, I pulled away. “I might just take Apple out.” My horse always seemed to put me in better spirits.
Momma curled strands of my hair behind my ear. “I think that’s a good idea.”
Carter came out with a suitcase in one hand and his phone in the other. “I’m leaving now. See you then.”
Momma rose. “Why so soon?” Her voice was even sadder than before.
Carter set his suitcase down on the wooden planks of the porch. “Brianna and I want to get a head start before traffic picks up for the Cape.”
My mom kissed Carter on the cheek then gave him a hug. “You be careful. I want you to text me that you made it safely. Understood?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She breezed back into the house.
“Still brooding?” Carter asked. He was decked out in shorts, flip-flops, and a Boston University T-shirt, looking tanned, relaxed, and eager to see his girl.
I stuck him with my middle finger as a bucketload of jealousy soured my stomach. He was going to see his girlfriend and have a great time at the Cape while I was stuck at home with chores and loneliness.
Jeez, Quinn. Pity much?
“My advice, for what it’s worth—play the field, sis. Date. Have fun.”
I rolled my eyes. “You don’t understand love, do you? And having fun? You saw how that went down at my party.” Plus, I couldn’t date. Maiken and I hadn’t broken up, although it felt like we had.
Carter stalked closer before resting his butt on the railing. “I’m not saying get shit-faced. You can go to a party without getting drunk. Besides, aren’t you still set on making valedictorian?”
I knitted my eyebrows. “Of course. What does that have to do with Maiken or having fun?”
“Between doing my job and Liam’s on the farm and studying, you won’t have time to see any boys, let alone Maiken if he were here.”
“You’re just a bag of fun. Not.” Although he had a point. Until Daddy hired someone to help out, it was little ole me and Daddy. Momma would help, but she had her hands full with the farm store.
“If you need anything, Quinn, call me. You hear me? I’ll be there for you.” Sincerity threaded through every word.
I snorted. “You’ve never been there for me before unless you were scaring away boys. So what changed? Are you looking for a reason to not go back to school?” He’d told me he was thinking of quitting.
“Not at all. In fact, I’ve decided to give it one more year before I make my decision on whether or not to continue.”
“My advice is to get your degree.”
He hiked a shoulder. “I gotta run. Brianna is waiting.” He closed the distance between us and kissed me on the forehead. “Be good.”
I laughed. “Maybe I won’t this year.”
“It’s your funeral.” He chuckled as he headed to his truck.
I envied my brother. I wanted to pack a bag and drive up to Greenridge.
Carter beeped the horn and waved as he drove off.
My phone rang beside me, and Celia’s name lit up the screen.
“Want to spend the night?” I rushed out. Loneliness was setting in like a bad virus, seeping into every vein, making me feel ill and sad.
“Look out at the top of your driveway,” Celia said.
I squealed as she drove slowly down and parked in the spot Carter had just vacated. I hung up, vaulted off the swing, and ran down the porch steps.
Celia had barely gotten out of her car before I threw myself at her. She smelled of the beach and coconuts.
“Were you tanning?” I asked.
Her arms went around me. “I was earlier.”
I held on to her like she was my lifeline. In a lot of ways, she was. I only had Celia now.
“Quinn, you’re hurting me.” She giggled. “I’m not leaving you.”
My body vibrated. I was on the brink of bawling for, like, the millionth time since Maiken had left.
Celia leaned against her car, looking as pretty as ever with tanned skin, cute red-painted toes, flowers on top of her flip-flops, and her hair up in a bun. Big hoop earrings complemented the beach vibe she was exuding. “It’s time for you to stop pining over Maiken. Tessa’s having a pool party tonight. It’s her end-of-summer bash. Let’s convince your mom to let you go.”