Page 7 of My Heart to Keep
“I only came down with Brianna because Mom asked me to. But you’re a senior. You should have a good time.”
I figuratively scratched my head. “Are you my brother?”
He full-on laughed, a sound I hadn’t heard from him in ages. Carter had always been a cranky teenager. “Quinn, I’m not home for the summer to babysit you. Actually, I don’t want to be here. Brianna and I can be doing other things.”
I could too if he hadn’t interrupted Maiken and me.
He stabbed his thumb behind him. “I’m going to find Brianna. Have a good time.” He strutted a way, running his hand through his short brown hair.
I didn’t move for a moment, stymied by his words, and when he went into the barn, I scanned the area as far as I could see for Maiken or my dad.
Whoa! My dad.I shivered at the thought that he could’ve caught us.
Celia came running out of the barn like a tornado on steroids, looking like she’d stolen the red cup in her hand. “Quinn, I’ve been looking all over for you. The party is rocking.” Then she slyly glanced around before thrusting the cup at me. “Here.”
I took the cup, sniffing as the aroma of alcohol floated out. “There’s enough liquor in here to burn my nose hairs.”
She giggled then snorted. “So drink. I added a bit of soda to cut it some.”
I shook my head. “I can’t. If I have any more, and I might make a bigger fool of myself.”Or scare Maiken away for good. Oh, and puke.
She jutted out her chin, her defiant stance daring me not to drink. “You promised.”
I puffed out my cheeks. I wasn’t one to break my promises. “One more.” With my luck, I would probably make a jerk out of myself. Oh wait, I already had with Maiken. “To our senior year.” I lifted up the cup and chugged like an expert drinker.
Celia watched me, grinning.
I scrunched my nose, holding my breath as I drank the burning fluid. I swore if someone lit a match right then, I would burst into flames.
When I was done, I shivered violently. I knew then that I would pay dearly for this little stunt later.
“Good girl.” Then she giggled and snorted. “Let’s dance.”
“I should go find Maiken.”
“He’s inside,” she said. “He’s talking to Liam by the food table.”
He must’ve backtracked and gone into the barn on the other side.
She hooked her arm in mine as we walked inside. “I love this song.”
“Teeth” by 5 Seconds of Summer was blaring from the speakers while bodies bounced up and down, dancing to their hearts’ content.
Dizziness encroached as I searched for Maiken among the hundred or more heads. Yeah, forty had turned into fifty, then sixty, and so on. Daddy hadn’t been down to break it up yet. But I figured he would at some point with how many kids were packed into the barn like sardines. At least there hadn’t been any outbursts of tempers or fists flying, which was a good thing.
Suddenly, the music stopped.
Kids protested.
In the distance, Jack, who was up on a platform, set his headphones on a table and began examining why the music had died. “Sorry, folks,” he said into the microphone. “Just a minor difficulty.”
I wiped the sweat off my brow with my hand, listing to one side as I searched for Maiken. I really shouldn’t have had that last drink.
“Fuck off,” someone to my right screamed in a high-pitched voice.
The hairs on my arm stood upright as Celia and I exchanged a wide-eyed look.
I knew that voice. I zeroed in on—of all people—Sloane Price.What is she doing at my party?I didn’t invite her.
