“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.