Page 71 of My Heart to Keep
I started to climb the bleachers to join my BFF, when Coach Dean called my name. “Quinn, a moment.” He ambled across the court, swiping a hand over his bald head. “I just want to say thank you for helping Trevor. He’s all caught up on his classes, and his grades are good.”
“My pleasure. He’s a nice guy and seems to want to do well.” I hadn’t gotten that creepy vibe since the first day I’d met Trevor. In my opinion, he was looking for attention. I knew little of his home life except that he and his dad lived with Sloane and her mom.
Whatever Sloane had been warning me about when it came to Trevor hadn’t been there. If he and Sloane didn’t get along, I wouldn’t know. Trevor never mentioned Sloane or talked about her or his family with me.
“He’s had a tough road,” Coach said in a low voice.
I raised an eyebrow. “Is he okay?”
He briefly glanced over his shoulder. “I think working on the farm has steered him in the right direction.”
“Well, Daddy adores him.”
“I hear. Your father respects Trevor. So, Liam made it back to school?”
“He did.” Liam had wanted to stay home and help, but the family wouldn’t let him, although we’d had to get Coach Dean to talk to him to convince him to go back to school.
“Good. That boy is going places. Anyway, let your dad know I’ll be by later.” He blew his whistle as he returned to the team.
Trevor grinned at me, drinking from a water bottle.
I smiled then climbed up to sit next to Celia.
“Claire is glaring at you,” Celia said.
I set my backpack down on the bench beside me. “I don’t know why she’s jealous. It’s not like Trevor and I are chummy chummy.”
“Seriously.” She closed her laptop. “Anyone can see he likes you.”
“Okay. But I don’t like him as boyfriend material. And I don’t hang out with him.”
“But he does work on your farm, girl.”
“Let’s talk about something else, like college. Any offer letters come in yet?”
Celia and I had filled out applications right after Thanksgiving. The deadline had been January first with a decision expected no later than April first. Since we were only in late January, I didn’t expect to hear anything, but Celia had submitted her applications a week before me.
“Nothing yet from Emerson College or BU.” As a communications major, those were her top two choices.
“Me either. I just talked to Mrs. Flowers. She said BU and Boston College usually send out letters between mid-February to mid-March.” I’d decided to switch my major to teaching and had applied to both of those schools. I had many other options for great colleges and universities around the country, but I wanted to stay local. In case my parents needed me, I would be close by.
“What about Maiken?” she asked.
Shrugging, I watched the players set up under the basket while Coach Dean explained a defensive play. “A scout from Boston College is interested in him. I’m not sure where that stands since he froze on court that day we were at the game.” Daddy’s heart attack had taken up much of my brain space, so thoughts of college weren’t high on my list. Not to mention, whenever we had a chance to see each other, nothing but him and me mattered. “I still can’t believe we’re so close to graduation and how our lives have changed.”
“You mean sex,” she whispered, waggling her eyebrows.
“Well, that’s for sure. Maiken and I can’t get enough of each other when he’s home. But it’s not just that. We’re getting older. Our lives are about to change. It’s kind of scary to step into the unknown—meeting new people, experiencing new things, building a future.”
“It sounds like you’re writing your valedictorian speech.”
“I’ve been working on it.” My grades had gotten so much better, thanks in part to sleeping more, working less, and tutoring Trevor. While he’d been doing his exercises or reading, I’d had a chance to do my own homework. “How’s your project coming for the school’s blog?”
She’d been busy covering the sports games and seemed to be in her element. Not only was she good at writing for the school blog and covering high school sports, but she really seemed to love it. She was a natural in front of the camera too.
“I’m almost done. I’ve interviewed each basketball player. When you came in, I was working on Trevor’s story.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Coach just told me he’s had a tough road. Has he mentioned anything to you?”
