The Maxwell Series Boxed Set: Books 1-3

by Alexander, S. B.

  “You’re dismissed,” the principal said.

  Turning, I hotfooted it out of her office. I’d already missed English, and I was late for chemistry. I stopped at the counter. Barb, the admin assistant, had her red hair twisted up on her head with a pencil through it.

  She looked up from her computer screen. “Do you need a pass?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I’m late for Chemistry.”

  She tore off a piece of paper from a small notepad much like the prescription pads doctors use. She scribbled on it, stood, circled around her desk, and handed it to me.

  I left the admin office for the quiet halls to the science wing. The walls above the lockers had good luck signs for the football game tonight. One read, Beat Lancaster Christian tonight. Before I walked into chemistry, I peeked through the window. Ms. Clare, tall and athletic, wrote on the whiteboard while the class wrote in their notebooks. I thought of all the reasons why I didn’t want to go in. Grace was one reason. I didn’t want to deal with her. I also wasn’t looking forward to any glares or whispers from the rest of the class, not to mention that I didn’t trust myself not to let my anger get to me. I had one strike with Principal Sanders.

  As I kept reasoning with myself, I spotted Kody inside. His hair toppled over his forehead. As he ran his hand through it, he looked up and at me. Then he angled his head. Was he the one who tattled my secret? I refused to believe it. Why would he? He was seeing Dr. Davis, too. A body blocked my view of Kody. I blinked, refocusing to find Ms. Clare at the door. I rolled my shoulders back, opened the door, and handed her the note. I fixed on Kody, who was also my lab partner, and strode to my desk like I owned the world. As soon as I sat down, Ms. Clare resumed writing on the whiteboard.

  Kody leaned in. “What’s wrong?” he asked in a hushed whisper.

  “Later.” I took out my notebook and pen from my backpack.

  Ms. Clare was charting the differences between chemical and physical properties. My attention didn’t waver from my notebook or the board the entire class. I would’ve searched out Becca for a lifeline, but she had a doctor’s appointment this morning. Aside from her or Kade, I felt unprotected, even with Kody next to me, and Tyler and Kelton behind me.

  Thirty minutes later, the bell rang. I packed my things. I was about to dart out when Kody stretched out his hand in front of me, his bicep showing under the short-sleeved gray T-shirt he wore with a guitar on the front.

  “Wait. Is something wrong?” he asked.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I glimpsed Kelton heading over from the back of the room.

  “I’d rather not talk about it right now.” I slung my backpack over my shoulder.

  “Talk about what?” Kelton asked, blue eyes appraising me.

  I grabbed my hair in both hands, gathered it together and swept it to the front so my hair fell over my shoulders. “I’ll talk to you guys later. I’m going to be late.” I skirted around the benches.

  “Kody, is she okay?” Kelton asked.

  I didn’t wait to hear what Kody said. I merged into student traffic. This was my free period. Since Becca wasn’t here, I decided to forgo the courtyard for the library. I found a quiet spot at a table in the very back next to the history section. A few students milled around, searching shelves, while others had their noses buried in books. I slipped into a chair, folding my arms on the table. I was about to drop my head when Kade loped over, oozing confidence as though he could battle the world—a stark difference from when he’d sat on my hospital bed looking defeated. He could probably fight anyone and always rise the victor.

  “How did you find me?” I asked in a library voice—soft and low.

  “I have ways,” he drawled as a dimple emerged. He folded his six-foot frame into a chair.

  I rolled my tired eyes, and the room tilted. Yeah, that little head bounce on the ground didn’t help with my mild concussion, or my stupidity for even fighting with Tammy.

  “You okay?” He lugged his chair closer, his hands sliding along my thighs.

  “Yeah, just a headache.”

  “So, what happened?” Kade whispered.

  “Tammy was being a jerk, and so was Aaron. He asked if I was going to pass out again during the second round. I ignored him. Then as I turned to leave, Tammy piped in and asked if I preferred to hang out with my shrink instead of them. I attacked. How do you think she found out that I was seeing Dr. Davis? Only you and Kody know.”

  “Not sure, baby. I know my brother wouldn’t spread news around like that. I’d put my life on it. But I’m going to find out.”

  “Does it really matter now? The cat is out of the bag.”

  “If it bothers you, then yes.”

  “It does bother me. But what would you do if you found that person? You couldn’t get them to retract their statement. How do you take back a rumor, even if the rumor is true? It was inevitable.” My goal now was to ensure that I didn’t have another flashback on the field, in school, or anywhere. “Do you think Tammy stole my gear?”

  He lifted a shoulder. “It could be anyone. Let Coach get to the bottom of it.”

  The more I thought about Tammy and Aaron, the more I became convinced they both had the spite to do it. But how could I prove it? I might never be able to. No, but I could take precautions to make sure no one got hold of my gear.

  “Thank you, Kade.” I laid my hand on top of his.

  “For what?”

  “For worrying about me.” I leaned in and gave him a quick kiss.

  But quick turned into long, slow, and wet when he took control of my mouth. I didn’t bother pushing him away even though we were in school. When our mouths parted, my body trembled with the need for more of him.

  A cheerleader gawked as she sat down at the empty table next to us.

  “Do you want to get out of here?”

  “Yes, but I can’t. I just got my butt handed to me by the principal, with a warning. I need to toe the line, especially with tryouts still looming.” I had to be a good girl. I had to learn restraint. Otherwise I wasn’t going to make it through my senior year or baseball, let alone my potential scholarship with ASU.

  “Do you want to go to the football game tonight?” he asked.

  “Are you asking me out on a date?” I whispered.

  “Dates with me lead to guilty pleasures. So if you want it to be a date then…” He brushed his lips along my jaw while his hands dipped between my legs.

  I squirmed as a frisson of heat crawled up my legs. “Be careful. You might like it,” I said, throwing back his own words he’d said to me a week ago.

  “Oh, no doubt.” His eyes darkened. “And maybe before the weekend is over, I just might have you where I’ve wanted you from the moment I saw you,” he rasped.

  “In your dreams,” I said sarcastically in spite of the fact that I shuddered.

  “You are what my dreams are made of, Lace.”

  A bevy of emotions—optimism, hope, joy—ran through me. In that moment, he snagged another piece of my heart.

  Chapter 16

  My last few classes crawled until the pep rally. The rah-rah festivities had been scheduled for after school, this time—which was good because I didn’t care to sit through an hour of watching Grace and her cheerleaders jump around in the gym, nor everyone gawking at me. It was hard not to lash out at someone when they looked at me the wrong way. My self-control had been tested many times today. I wouldn’t say I was proud of myself since I’d lost my cool with Tammy. However, one incident out of many was a vast improvement at this school over what it had been at Crestview.

  “How’s your head?” Kade asked as he wheeled his truck out of the school’s lot.

  Mary had taken me to school this morning. Dad thought it would be best if I didn’t drive for another day. I told her I’d find a ride home wit
h Kade or Becca.

  “Better,” I muttered, fiddling with the truck’s heater, angling the vents to blow on me. I still had a weak headache. As soon as I got home, I was going to pop some Advil.

  “We don’t have to go if you don’t want to.” He turned onto Main Street. “We could hang at my house.”

  I sat back now, relishing the warm air on me, thawing my hands. I didn’t know where my friendship with Tyler stood yet. We really hadn’t talked since he brought me to school the other morning. I wanted to show him I was a good friend. He’d done a lot to help me with my pitching. “Nah. I know Tyler would like for me to see at least one of his games.”

  “Should I be worried about Tyler?” He sounded disappointed.

  I snickered. “Are you jealous, Kade?”

  “Maybe,” he said, a muscle ticking in his jaw.

  Reaching over the console, I placed my hand on his leg. A dimple popped out on his cheek, showing how content he was with my touch, I imagined. We listened to Daughtry belt out “Waiting on Superman,” while Kade maneuvered through the streets of Ashford on the way to my house.

  “I’ll pick you up around six thirty.” He pulled into my driveway, parking behind my Mustang.

  “Okay.” I had my hand on the door, but he stopped me. “What?”

  “You’re not getting out of this truck until after my lips have touched yours.” His long lashes fell then rose.

  I rolled my eyes in a fake attempt at showing him I didn’t care.

  “Get your lips over here,” he said playfully.

  “What if I don’t?”

  “Do you want to find out?” His grin was feral yet charmed.

  Without thinking, I opened the door then dashed out of the truck and ran. No sooner had I made it to the porch than Kade’s muscled arm stretched out, grabbed me firmly by the arm, and spun me around. I giggled, falling into him.

  “You can run, hide, disappear, whatever. I will always catch you, Lace.”

  “I hope—”

  His warm lips met mine until the front door opened.

  “You kids finished yet?” Mary asked.

  Kade lifted his head, and I almost growled in annoyance.

  “I’ll pick you up later,” he said, relinquishing his hold on me. “Hi, Mary.” He waved as he strode back to his truck.

  “Is my dad home?” I asked, ignoring her lopsided smile as I fought for balance after Kade’s kiss. I wanted to tell Dad about my fight with Tammy before he found out from Principal Sanders or Coach Dean. I didn’t know if they called parents after a fight or not.

  “He’s in his study. He wants to talk to you.”

  I moved past her and into the house.

  “A warning,” she said, closing the door behind her. “The principal called your dad today.”

  I hesitated midstride. I turned, certain the horror on my face was evident.

  “You’re on your own. You know I don’t get involved with stuff like this,” she stated matter-of-factly. “Dinner is in an hour.” She darted off into the kitchen.

  Several swear words slipped from my tongue. Dad was going to freak. The yelling and shouting I could deal with. The disappointment in his eyes over my screw-up, though, pained me. He’d been warning me repeatedly not to get into any fights at school. I shed my jacket and my backpack, setting both at the bottom of the stairs. I circled around the bannister and padded down the hall to Dad’s study.

  “I’ll check on it tomorrow. Yes, I’ll be at the club tonight. Good,” Dad’s voice trickled out.

  I waited, leaning against the open doorjamb. Fabric furnishings, tan walls, and thick brown carpeting gave the room a restful feeling. However, the mood bouncing off him was anything but tranquil. His face was drawn, almost hollow, as though he’d lost fifty pounds overnight. His stitches were no longer bandaged, and he had a red ring circling the fresh wound of his left eye. Black marred the area beneath it. My pulse stilled for a moment. His green eyes looked blank. Or, I hated to think, dead.

  “Sweet Pea.” A hint of hardness edged his tone as he set his cell phone on his desk.

  Pushing off the doorframe, I worried my lower lip. Before I took two steps, his cell phone rang. Ignoring it, he sauntered around his desk and met me in front of it.

  “Are you okay, Dad?”

  He combed his fingers through his hair before rubbing his neck. Not a good sign. Whenever he was struggling with something, he scrubbed his hand over the nape of his neck. Maybe he wasn’t mad at me. Maybe his anger had something to do with his work. A daughter could hope.

  “I’m fine. How’s your head?”

  “Um…good,” I muttered as I glanced up at his battered face.

  “Lacey, you know I haven’t grounded you in a long time, and I don’t want to start. But…” A slow scowl formed on his face.

  A long pregnant pause ensued. He seemed to be searching for the right words. I had no idea what Principal Sanders had told him. My stomach clenched into tiny fists.

  “Cut the crap at school.” His voice boomed with sudden anger. “Understood?”

  “You’re not going to ask me what happened?” Not that it mattered. Anytime I’d been in any principal’s office, it wasn’t for good reasons.

  “Why? So you can tell me it wasn’t your fault?” The rage in his tone increased. “Or tell me someone said something to piss you off? Neither of those excuses are enough to attack someone. Now, I’m tired of the bullshit you’re dishing out. You promised me that you would learn to control yourself.”

  “And you promised me you would relax when we moved here. We’re supposed to spend more time together. I’m not the only one who needs healing, Dad. It’s clear—” I pointed to his face— “you aren’t any calmer than I am.”

  The frown lines around his mouth deepened.

  I didn’t care. He needed just as much help. I wanted my old Dad back, the one who smiled frequently. The dad who didn’t forget I had a baseball game. The dad who spent time with his daughter. While I wished I could help him, I had my own struggles. The deaths of Mom and Julie were still very raw, and probably would be for a long time. I pivoted on my heel and made it to the door when he cleared his throat.

  “You’re right,” he said sadly.

  I believed Dad had been hung up in two of the stages of grief—depression and denial. However, the last couple of months he seemed to have slid into the anger phase. Taking a breath, I turned. “You need to get help, Dad. I’m not the only one who needs a psychiatrist, or someone to talk to.”

  “I know. I thought immersing myself in something new or with work would keep them out of my memories.” His eyes were downcast.

  “Say their names, Dad.” It infuriated me he wouldn’t. It hurt, too. He loved them as much as he loved Rob and me. He hadn’t talked about them. When I did, he turned inward and checked out of the conversation.

  He lifted his watery eyes to mine. “I can’t. I’m…not ready to. I’m sorry.”

  I didn’t believe acceptance would ever come for either him or me. Neither was I certain if knowing who killed them would help us heal. But we had to move on with our lives. If not, we would suffer, or worse, live dying. I couldn’t walk around dead inside anymore. I couldn’t hurt other people for no reason. I wanted to feel again. Trust again. Since telling Kade what happened to Mom and Julie, a small sense of acceptance had settled within me. Sure, I was far from healed, and even though I grieved for them every day, still struggling with PTSD and my emotions, I could take a few baby steps. Tonight I was going to let go and relax. If someone provoked me, I was determined not to retaliate.

  I went over to Dad and gave him a hug. “I’ll do better at controlling myself. I promise.” Maybe if I showed improvement, he would seek the help he needed.

  He squeezed me. “I love you, Sweet Pea.�
�

  “Ditto, Dad.”

  “We should go eat,” he said.

  I eased out of his arms. “Sounds good. But then I’m going to the football game tonight with Kade. Okay?”

  He nodded, smiling as we walked out of his study. We didn’t solve anything, but he did admit he needed help, and that was a start. On the way to the kitchen we talked about the football game. Lancaster Christian, or LC as they were called, were one of Kensington’s main rivals. They’d won state last year, and they were picked to win state again this year. Tyler was on a mission to make sure LC didn’t get past the playoffs.

  Mary talked a mile a minute during dinner, about the farmer’s market she had been to earlier in the day. I didn’t know there were that many different fruits and vegetables. Dad even laughed a few times, which warmed my heart. It had been eons since I’d heard his laugh.

  As we were cleaning up, my phone buzzed. When I plucked it out of my jeans pocket, the screen displayed a text.

  I’ll be there in a few minutes.

  “He’s early,” I mumbled to myself.

  “Go,” Mary said. “I’ll finish up.”

  “Thank you.” I gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

  I ran out of the kitchen, up the stairs and hurriedly changed my blouse for a form-fitting scoop-neck sweater. Warmth was key for tonight. Then I scooted into the bathroom and brushed my teeth. Given Kade’s relentless mission to kiss me, I had to make sure I had clean breath.

  “Lacey,” Mary called up the stairs. “Kade’s here.”

  One last swish, then I spit out the pasty wintergreen liquid. “I’ll be right down,” I shouted as I crossed the hall to my room.

  I flipped up the tops of my leather boots so they covered my knees. I checked in the full-length mirror—I could wear the boots either above the knee or lower, and I had yet to wear them thigh-high. The style screamed sexy. Satisfied, I ran my fingers through my hair, letting the long strands spill around my shoulders, grabbed my gloves, jacket, and phone, and headed downstairs.