Hickville Confessions: A Hickville High Novel (23 page)

What a contrast to the first time they’d had pizza together at a school function—on the first day of school at the Meet and Eat lunch sponsored by the Purity Club. Kelsey was angry they’d moved to Texas and blamed it all on Ryan. She’d threatened to divulge Ryan’s disqualification for the PC. Now, Kelsey was Ryan’s biggest protector.

Justin squeezed her hand. “You okay?”

“Yeah. I was just thinking about the PC. The first time I had pizza in Texas was at a PC meeting. It was disgusting.”

“The meeting or the pizza?”

Ryan laughed. “Looking back, I’d say both.” She turned more serious. “It’s weird how seeing Kelsey with that slice on her plate made me think about that meeting. Is that the way it happens to you?”

“Yes. Only my mind takes me all the way to that bad place and freezes. It’s like I relive that night every time. I know it’s not really happening, but I have the same emotions. Crazy, huh?”

“No. Not crazy. Maybe your mind is just trying to make sense of it all.”

He shrugged, “I guess. Come on, let’s sit.”

This was the first time Ryan had come to a postgame celebration. Before, she’d gone to slumber parties at Macey Brown’s with the PC girls. This was way more fun.

As quarterback, Austin stood on the bench at their table and gave a postgame speech about how awesomely everybody had played. The crowed cheered like mad. It was a perfect postgame night.

Afterward, they decided to move to the little coffee shop across from the courthouse, so Ryan and Justin left first to save the seats. This time they didn’t spend time making out. Little kisses were enough. Make-out time would happen later.

The Grind was packed. Several groups of people sat on the wall that surrounded the courthouse across the street. She pulled Justin’s jacket closer around her and hoped they’d find a place to sit inside. But when they reached the coffee shop, a figure stepped from the shadows like a scene from a scary movie.

Macey Brown stood between them and the door.

Macey’s eyes held that same crazy look as they had the night at the fountain. “Well, if it isn’t the slut of Hillside.”

“Move, Macey.” Ryan took a step toward her, but she held her ground.

“This isn’t over. They may be able to keep
me
from school, but there are people who know what you are.”

Justin put his arm around Ryan. “Come on, let’s find seats.”

Ryan didn’t move. Here was her chance. “What difference does any of this make to you? What did I ever do to make you hate me so much?”

“You tainted the club. You lied.”

Ryan shook her head. “Why not just kick me out?”

Justin shook his head. “You can’t argue with crazy. Come on.”

“Hang on.” To Macey she said, “Tell the truth. Why pick on me?”

Hatred flashed in the other girl’s eyes. “You want to know why? Because you ruined everything. You came along and all anybody could talk about was the Quinn sisters. All Eric could talk about was you. He liked me until you came. He knew you weren’t a virgin the minute he saw you. Guys can tell by the way you walk.”

“That’s a load of bullshit,” Justin snapped.

Macey narrowed her gaze at Ryan. “Eric could tell and he wanted you. He said you had the face of a goddess.” She raised a brow. “Not anymore.”

Ryan slapped Macey across the face with all the pent-up anger she’d felt over the past few weeks. “Come on, Justin.”

Macey put a hand to her cheek and glared at them as they passed her. “This isn’t over.”

Ryan stopped and turned toward her. “Yeah, it is.”

She let Justin lead her to a just-vacated sofa in the back of the shop, where she sat with a plop. “She is twisted. Eric hardly talked to me.”

Justin sat next to her. “I knew he had a thing for you and I don’t doubt he said those things to her. He’s a jerk.” He shook his head. “I didn’t know he’d talked to Macey, but if he saw her as somebody he could screw, he would.”

“Jeez, and you were friends with him?”

“Key word—
was
.”

Kelsey and Austin walked up, followed by Mackenzie and Travis. Kelsey wrinkled her brow. “Everything okay?”

Ryan nodded. “Macey stopped me on the way in.”

“You’re kidding.” Kelsey and Austin sat on the loveseat opposite them. Mackenzie sat on the sofa next to Ryan and Travis took a chair.

Ryan said, “I wish. That bitch is crazy. I slapped her.”

“She deserves more than that.” Kelsey leaned against Austin’s shoulder.

Ryan rubbed the scars on her cheeks. “She’s glad she scarred my face. She did it because Eric Perez said I was pretty.”

“You’re kidding.” Austin put his arm around Kelsey and pulled her closer.

Mackenzie stood. “I’ll be right back.” She headed toward the bathroom, but not before Ryan saw the tears that welled in her eyes.

“She okay?” Ryan asked the group.

Kelsey looked at Travis. “Anything happen on the way here?”

“No. She has taken this whole thing pretty hard, though.”

Ryan sighed. “I don’t want to think about it anymore. Let’s get some coffee and hit the reset button to the fun we were having at Pepperonis.”

“Agreed,” said Kelsey.

Justin stood. “Tonight is my treat.” Mackenzie returned just as he was getting everybody’s order. “What do you want, Kenzie? I’m paying.”

She smiled—almost back to her normal self. “Nonfat, two raw sugars, latte with whip.”

Justin shook his head and repeated the litany of complicated orders.

Travis stood. “Come on, I’ll help you carry.”

Kelsey shot Austin a look and he stood too. “Hang on.”

As soon the guys left, Ryan turned to Mackenzie. “Hey there, what’s going on?”

Mackenzie gave a subtle shake of her head. “Nothing.”

Kelsey leaned forward. “You and Travis?”

Mackenzie rolled her eyes. “We’re friends.”

Ryan said, “I don’t know about that. He seems to stare at you—a lot.”

“He’s like a brother to me.”

Kelsey shrugged. “Shame. He’s one of the good ones.”

“I know—which is why I don’t want to screw things up by being more than friends.” Mackenzie smiled, but Ryan saw sadness in her face.

Something was up with her little sister and she needed to find out what.

Friday had been perfect. Justin’s parents had come to the game. His mom was home. He’d made amends with Austin. Best of all, he’d spent the evening with Ryan Quinn.

Saturday she had to work and it was all Justin could do to keep from hanging out at the feed store. Instead, he’d hung out with his parents. He’d tried to teach his mom to shoot zombies, but she was worse than Ryan. It didn’t matter, though—because she was laughing. When the Aggies played, they gathered around the TV with a bowl of popcorn and yelled them to a victory. After the game, he cleaned up and let his parents relax on the sofa. His dad’s feet were stretched onto the ottoman while his mom was laid out on the couch with her head in his dad’s lap.

They weren’t the same family as they’d been two years ago. This was the beginning of a new family—a family of three. It would never be the same and he would always long for the one he’d lost. But this was the beginning of something new and good.

By the time Sunday rolled around, he couldn’t wait to see Ryan. When she texted that she was home from church, he bolted from the house, but not before noticing his parents snuggled on the sofa in the den. Life was good.

The wind had dropped the temperature to the freeze-your-ass-off degrees. He grabbed a jean jacket because she still had his letter jacket. The thought of his jacket hanging below her butt and long on her arms made him smile.

The gate to the Quinn property had been left open. His gut clenched when he saw Austin’s truck parked in front, but he reminded himself that the guy was okay. He parked and jogged up the steps. The front door swung open before he had a chance to knock.

Ryan stood on the other side of the screen wearing a green sweater, super tight jeans, and a huge grin. “Hey there. Come in.”

“Hi.” He dropped a kiss on her lips. He was met by the smell of roast cooking and the sounds of a family enjoying a Sunday together. A fire crackled in the fireplace and a football game was on. Austin sat next to Mr. Quinn watching the game. Kelsey walked into the den carrying a bowl of chips and another of salsa. “Hi, Justin.”

Austin didn’t move but held his hand out for Justin to shake. “Dude.”

Mr. Quinn shook his hand and said, “Have a seat.”

He looked at Ryan. Not that he didn’t want to watch the game, but he’d waited all weekend to see her.

“Do you want a soda?”

“Sure, I’ll come with you.” He followed her into the kitchen, hoping to wrap her in his arms and lay one on her. No such luck. Her mom sat at the table snapping green beans.

“Hi, Justin. I hope you like roast.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Was she kidding? The smell wafting through the house made his mouth water.

Ryan opened the refrigerator. “Dr. Pepper?”

“Sure.” He wanted to ask her if they could hang out without the rest of the family around, but that wasn’t going to happen.

She handed him a can and grabbed one for herself. “Come on. I want to show you something.”

He followed her up the stairs to her room. She didn’t close the door, but when they crossed the threshold she took his can and set both hers and his on the dresser. She smiled up at him and he felt his gut clench again, but for a different reason. She snaked her arms up his chest and around his neck.

He pulled her close and lowered his mouth to hers. She opened to him, her tongue warm as it slid over his. She pressed her breasts tight against his chest and as much as he told himself he would resist, he ran his hands up her ribs to the sides of them. When the kiss broke, he nestled her hips against his and lost himself in her gaze. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too. We can’t be up here long. I’m sure one of my parents will find a reason to check on us. But I thought I was going to die if I didn’t get to kiss you.”

He liked that she wanted him as much he wanted her. He hugged her and whispered in her ear, “I can’t imagine my life without you.” He pressed his lips just below her earlobe and felt her shiver against him. He ran his hands beneath her sweater and up her back, where her bare skin was soft and warm.

“Ryan.” Her mom sounded from somewhere around the stairs. “Could you come here, please?”

She pulled away from him and rolled her eyes. “See?”

Justin leaned against the wall and watched her pad to the top of the stairs.

“What’s up?”

“Would you please gather some eggs? I need them for dessert.”

“Be right down.” She turned to Justin. “Have you ever gathered eggs?”

He shook his head.

“Come on—it’s kind of fun.” They jogged downstairs and she grabbed his letter jacket off the coat tree by the front door.

He followed her outside, but they both stopped abruptly as soon as the door closed behind them. Travis’s truck was parked across from the house close to the chicken coop. He could only see their backs, but judging by the way her shoulders shook, Mackenzie was crying. Travis was angled in his seat with his arm stretched across the back. He rubbed the back of her neck, but she pulled away. Travis shook his head and turned sideways in his seat.

Ryan dropped Justin’s hand. “Wait here.” She ran down the steps to the truck.

Travis looked through the back window, spotted them, and said something to Mackenzie. She jumped out and ran toward the barn.

“Kenzie!” Ryan went after her.

When Kenzie reached the barn door, she turned toward her. “Leave me alone.”

Justin walked to Travis’s truck. He had no idea what was going on, but he couldn’t deny the pain in the guy’s face. Travis lowered the window. “Before you say anything, this is not about me. Ryan needs to talk to her.”

“About what?”

“I can’t tell you. I promised. But Ryan needs to make her talk.”

Justin shook his head. “You’re going to have to give me more than that.”

“All I can say is that she needs Ryan right now.” He started the engine.

It was none of Justin’s business, but this didn’t seem right. “You made her cry and now you’re leaving? That ain’t right.”

“
I
didn’t make her cry. I’m just trying to pick up the pieces.”

“Who the hell did?” Justin’s mind began to search through the jerks at school.

“Ask her.” Travis shifted into reverse and backed away from them.

*

Ryan found Mackenzie sitting on a trunk in the tiny tack room just outside the stalls. When she walked in, Kenzie held up her hand. “I need to be alone.”

Ryan sat next to her sister. “Kenzie, what’s going on? This isn’t like you.”

She shook her head and hicupped. “I can’t,” she whispered.

“Did Travis do something?”

“No. Look, I can’t talk about it.”

Ryan put her arm across Kenzie’s shoulder, but her sister recoiled. Ryan let her arm fall away. “Whatever it is, you can tell me. Maybe I can help.”

She studied her hands and shook her head. “It’s just—school stuff.” She sniffed and placed a fake smile on her face. “It’s stupid. Hormones. I’m good.”

“You’re not good.”

Kenzie took a deep, ragged breath. “I am. Promise you won’t say anything to anybody. I’ll be up in a few.”

Ryan wanted to stay and make her talk, but she knew her little sister. Once she set her mind to something, nothing was going to change it, and right now her mind was set on not talking. She stood. “Okay. But Mackenzie, remember, you can trust me. When you’re ready, I’ll be here for you.”

Mackenzie nodded and Ryan left the barn.

Justin was waiting just outside the door. “Everything okay?”

“Not really.” She walked toward the coop. Justin matched her stride. “Where’s Travis?”

“He left. He told me to tell you to make her talk.”

She shook her head. “He obviously does not know my sister. She won’t talk until she’s good and ready.” She grabbed a galvanized bucket from a nail on the outside of the coop and proceeded to look for eggs beneath the chickens in the nesting boxes. She collected four bluish-green eggs.

Justin held his hand out. “Here. I’ll take that.”

She handed him the bucket with the eggs in it, although she wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t like she’d never carried them to the house before. “She said it was school stuff. Do you think she’s being bullied?”

“Maybe. But why wouldn’t Travis just say so?”

“She could’ve made him promise not to tell.”

He shook his head. “He said he’d promised her he wouldn’t say anything. It doesn’t make sense for him to keep a secret like that.”

He was right. There was something else going on with Mackenzie.

She heard gravel crunching beneath tires and headed out of the coop, bucket in hand. When she saw who it was, an instant grin formed on her face. “Have you met my Uncle Jack and Aunt Susan?”

“Sort of. I mean, everybody knows pretty much everybody in this town. They used to own the feed store, right?”

“Yeah, and this house too. Come on, you’ll love them.” She practically ran to Uncle Jack’s Suburban. When they got out of the truck, she gave them both a huge hug. “This is my boyfriend, Justin Hayes.”

Aunt Susan raised her brows at Ryan. “Boyfriend? Well, well, somebody has been busy.” She shook Justin’s hand. “You’re Alan’s boy.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Pleased to meet you.”

Her uncle shook his hand too. When he released it he said, “Well, if you’re Ryan’s boyfriend you might as well make yourself useful and unload that cooler from the back.”

Justin handed the bucket to Ryan and retrieved a Yeti from the back. Ryan liked the way his biceps bulged as he carried it up the steps.

Aunt Susan ran up the steps and held the door. Ryan led Justin to the kitchen, where she handed her mom the eggs and pulled homemade ice cream from the cooler. The rest of the family joined them in the kitchen. She loved days like this—everybody talking at once. Her dad and Uncle Jack talked football with Austin. Her sister, mom, and aunt were discussing the latest celebrity scandal. Justin stood a little back from the men looking slightly awkward. She was about to rescue him when Austin turned toward him and asked him some football question. He stepped into the circle and joined the conversation. She sighed. Everything was perfect.

Almost. Mackenzie still hadn’t made an appearance.

As if her aunt could read her thoughts, she looked around the kitchen and said, “Where’s Kenzie?”

Her mom answered, “She rode home from church with Travis. They should be here by now.”

Ryan wasn’t sure if she should say something or not. Travis had been invited to Sunday dinner, but that clearly wasn’t going to happen. She was about to tell her mom that Kenzie was home when she walked into the kitchen.

She had manufactured a smile and hugged her aunt and uncle, but Ryan still saw the pain in her eyes. Travis was right—she had to make her talk.

Her aunt gave her a squeeze. “Did you and your friend find everything you needed?”

Kenzie blushed. “Yes. Thanks.”

Ryan’s wasn’t the only stunned expression that flashed at Kenzie. Her mom looked from her to her sister-in-law. “What’s this?”

Aunt Susan swiped her hand through the air, dismissing her statement. “Kenzie and her friend came by to look through our old yearbook stuff.” She turned to Kenzie. “Did you get enough for your story?”

Kenzie pulled away from her aunt. “Yes. Thanks.” She looked at her mom. “I need to work on some homework.” She practically bolted from the kitchen.

Aunt Susan looked at the Quinn women. “Did I say something I shouldn’t have?”

“No.” Ryan’s mom asked the question that was burning in Ryan’s mind. “What story?”

Aunt Susan said, “Kenzie and…” She turned to Uncle Jack. “What’s the name of that curly-headed kid Mackenzie brought around?”

“Braden. He’s John McGuire’s grandson.”

“That’s right. Braden. Cute kid.”

Their mom’s gaze volleyed between her and Kelsey. “Do you girls know this Braden McGuire?”

Ryan shrugged. “Sort of. He’s the guy I’m working with on the Teens Against Violence stuff. I didn’t know Mackenzie really knew him.” She tried to look completely nonchalant about it. On the inside her brain was reeling. This had to be connected somehow with the tears in the truck.

Aunt Susan smiled. “He’s a good kid. They’re working on some story about the history of Hillside High.” She turned to Ryan’s dad. “Tom, we found the award you got for MVP your freshman year. I should have thought to bring it over.”

“What would I do with a relic like that besides toss it?”

“No.” Kelsey almost shouted. “Dad, if you don’t want it, let one of us have it. You may not embrace your high school football career, but we do.”

He shrugged and grabbed a beer from the fridge. “The second half is about to start. Who’s watching football with me?”

Austin and Uncle Jack followed him into the den. Justin looked at Ryan and back at the door through which the other men had gone, and Ryan almost laughed. It was obvious he was dying to watch the game. “Go. I’m going to help Mom anyway.” He grinned and joined the others.

Aunt Susan cocked a brow at her. “So—boyfriend?”

“Yeah. I couldn’t not fall for him. He saved me from the fountain, after all.”

Aunt Susan shook her head. “He’s had a tough couple of years. I’m glad to see something good happen to him, like you.”

“Thanks.” She turned to her mom. “Do you need help with the pie?”

“Not yet. Is something going on with Mackenzie? She doesn’t seem herself.”

“I dunno. I’ll go check on her.” Ryan jogged upstairs to Kenzie’s room. The door was closed. She knocked and pushed it open—no sense in giving her a chance to tell her to go away.

Mackenzie was curled up in the corner of her room with a pillow in her lap. Her eyes were wide, her stare distant.

“Kenzie?”

She didn’t answer. She didn’t even acknowledge that Ryan had entered the room. No movement at all.

Ryan sat next to her sister, put her arm around her, and pulled her head to her shoulder. “I don’t know what’s going on, and you don’t have to tell me. But know that I’m here for you. I always will be.”

Kenzie nodded but kept silent. They sat like that until Ryan’s arm was full of pins and needles. “Kenzie, we need to go downstairs.”

Her sister sat up. “Yeah.” She stood and walked to the door, then turned to Ryan. “You shouldn’t be nice to me. I don’t deserve it.” She left the room, closing the door behind her.