Dare to Dream: The Maxwell Series (8 page)

“Get to the point.” My hands were still balled at my side.

“Well, let me be the bearer of some fantastic news. Kade beat the shit out of my cousin. Kelton and I went at it. Then my cousin got shot by one of Pitt’s thugs.” He laughed, a sound that sliced through every one of my nerves. “Classic Maxwell brothers. Not sharing.” He made a pouting face. “I also bet you asked what happened and they gave you some bullshit answer.”

I pushed my tongue against my bottom teeth as I held my breath, debating whether to push this asshole out of my face or find Kelton and give him more bruises to match the ones he already had. Or hunt Kade down right now. A buzzing in my head started low.

“You’re dating the wrong guy, sweetheart.”

The word
sweetheart
unleashed my pent-up rage. I raised my balled-up fist. The buzzing in my head grew louder. Over the noise, two words resonated.
Baseball scholarship
. My hand stopped just before Aaron’s face. He didn’t flinch.

“Go ahead,” he said. “I’d love to see you get benched your first game.”

Baseball scholarship. Scouts.

I lowered my hand but moved closer to him so only a paper-thin space separated us. His breath smelled like onions. “You’re not worth it. It’s sad you get off taunting girls with your psycho horseshit. You’re going to end up a lonely man.” I realized at that moment that he had to have low self-esteem to be jealous of a girl. Or maybe he was screwing with me because his cousin and Kade had a longstanding feud. Kade had said at one time that Greg would do anything to get back at him. Whatever the case, Aaron needed to know he wasn’t getting under my skin.

I stormed into the bathroom, went directly to the sink, and splashed water on my face. Why couldn’t we just get along? The only good thing to come out of the conversation was he confirmed my suspicions about Kade lying to me, which wasn’t even good. Unless Aaron was lying, which I didn’t think he was. He had satisfaction written all over his face.

My heart hurt. I didn’t understand why Kade would keep that from me. He knew the rumor mill at school. He also knew I would notice Kelton’s bruises. Something wasn’t adding up.

The door creaked open.

“Get out, Aaron,” I sneered. “Do you want to get benched your first game for being a stalker?”

“Touch Aaron and I’ll use my last strike with Principal Sanders,” said a familiar voice. “It sure would be worth it to break your limbs so you can’t play ball at all this season.” Tammy sidled up to the sink next to me and posed in the mirror, smoothing a hand over her cheerleader uniform like she thought she was beautiful.

Well, she was. Her wide blue eyes stood against her silky reddish-brown hair that fell below her ears. But she lost all that prettiness when her snarky attitude got in her way.

I grabbed a couple of paper towels. “Mind your own business.” I patted my face.

She pushed me away from the sink. “Aaron is my business.”

“Then tell your boyfriend if he dishes out his psycho crap then he better be prepared to take what’s coming.”

I marched out because otherwise I wouldn’t be playing any ball. The only strikes I wanted were on the ball field—not the kind given out by the principal.

I jogged all the way to the sports complex. Once inside, I sent Becca a text about my meeting with Coach. Then I stuffed my bad mood into a box, rolled back my shoulders, and ambled down to Coach’s office. I’d read an article in a magazine on the plane about attitude. I couldn’t remember all of it, but the one line that had stayed with me said that life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you react to it. Why not experiment to see if I could control myself? So, I checked my attitude at the door.

The buzzing in my head diminished as I entered. A boy I hadn’t seen before was sitting in one of the two chairs in front of Coach’s desk. He had curly blond hair and wore black-rimmed glasses. Aaron sat in the other chair.

“Come in, Lacey.” Coach waved me in.

Immediately the new guy stood like a gentlemen while moron Aaron didn’t move.

“Hi, I’m Shaun Spears. Take my chair,” he said as he moved to stand to the side of Coach’s desk.

“Thank you,” I said before silently snarling at Aaron.

“Shaun enrolled today,” Coach said. “He moved up from North Carolina and is interested in the remaining pitching position we have open. He’ll be joining you at practice today. I won’t be there, so Aaron,” Coach said to our captain, “show him the ropes. Get him warmed up. Work with him on pitches. See what he has. I’ll have time to put him through drills later in the week.” Coach glanced at Shaun. “Lacey is our starting pitcher. She’ll also help you. I want you both”— his head bobbed from Aaron to me—“to be civil. If Shaun is as good as his stats say, and with Lacey’s arm, we have an even better shot at State.” He clasped his hands on his desk. “Any questions?”

No one said a word.

“Good. Shaun, you can go. I need to speak to these two alone.” Coach wagged his finger at Aaron and me.

Shaun smiled at me then left.

“I promised a colleague of mine at Swain Middle School that I’d supply two of my ballplayers to help him with ball practice at some point within the next few weeks. I wanted to give you a heads up that you two have been selected. I’ll let you know when Mr. Camp is ready.” He picked up a pen.

“Why us?” I crossed my arms over my chest. Not that I minded helping out, but I wasn’t sure working with Aaron was the best idea.

“Helping and teaching others the game of baseball helps you to sharpen your skills. Volunteer work will help your college applications.”

Aaron went to open his mouth.

Coach held up his hand. “That’s all.”

Aaron glowered at me and stomped out. I stared at Coach, trying to figure out what he was up to. He knew Aaron and I didn’t get along. Not that we argued on the field, but the tension was super thick between us. Coach also suspected that Aaron had been involved with Tammy when she stole my gear, and he knew Aaron had bullied Mandy.

Somehow Aaron and I had to find common ground so we didn’t kill each other. Otherwise, the chemistry of the team would go to shit, and we wouldn’t be a well-oiled machine. I wanted to win State, and I wanted to impress the ASU scouts. I couldn’t have Aaron rattling my cage the entire season.

T
he news
of Sullivan getting shot spread around school like wildfire, and the ass didn’t even go to our school. By lunchtime, I knew I should’ve spilled the beans about the fight to Lacey before school. I was an idiot. I wasn’t thinking straight. I was so worried she would panic. I knew she was starting to connect the dots, especially after we ran into Aaron. I was scratching my head as to why he hadn’t bragged about the incident. He’d also sounded sweet. I chalked up his nice demeanor to his psychological games. Or was he really being nice because Pitt put the fear of God into him? He did piss his pants, after all.

I was sitting with Kelton in the busy cafeteria when I caught sight of Lacey walking toward me through the crowd. With her shoulders back, fury swimming in her eyes, and her nostrils flaring like a raging bull’s, she looked like she wanted to knee me in the balls. She knew about Friday night. I didn’t think it was Aaron who’d told her since I’d sent him a glare of warning. I wasn’t sure if he’d gotten the message or whether he would keep his mouth shut if he had. I shrugged it off. I’d been in the doghouse before now anyway.

All of sudden my head hurt as I tried to anticipate what the fuck I was going to say.
The truth, asshole.
The bustling cafeteria certainly wasn’t the place to have a conversation. No, first I had to make sure she wasn’t going to make a scene. When she got mad, her emotions got the best of her to the point where she wouldn’t listen. It was a normal reaction for anyone, but her rage was stage worthy. She’d flipped out in this very room when she’d thought I’d lied about my feelings for her. The cafeteria ladies had run for cover.

“Who pissed in her Wheaties?” Kelton chomped on a toothpick. “Uh oh, I bet she knows about Friday. You’re going to have to come clean, bro.” He lifted his legs to rest on the chair beside him.

I knew he was right. I was waging a war with myself about telling her about my meeting with Pitt. The fight was one thing, but my conversation with Pitt was a whole different ballgame. I had to verify what Pitt had told me. I didn’t want to ruin Lacey’s relationship with her father for no reason. I didn’t want her panicking or blacking out. Her blackouts ripped my heart to shreds each time. Maybe I was trying to protect myself more than her. All I wanted was for my girl to be happy and healthy and live her dream instead of her nightmares. She wanted that scholarship to ASU as bad as I wanted a future with her. I had to keep her focused on her dream and keep her safe at the same time.

“I will when the time is right. Whatever she’s mad about, I’ll deal.”

“It’s your funeral. That girl will have your dick twisted forty different ways.” He winced.

I was about to tell my brother to fuck off when Tyler Langley strode up to Lacey. I kicked out my legs and crossed my ankles, keeping watch on Tyler. The star quarterback of Kensington High wanted Lacey badly. Too badly in my book. I still wasn’t over the fact that he’d been at her house when I’d shown up unexpectedly a few months back. The fact that I’d found Lacey with her blouse open just made matters all the worse, but she’d told me they were just friends. I trusted her. I sure as hell didn’t trust him.

“It’s kind of sad,” Kelton said. “Tyler wants to eat your girl. You better pray she doesn’t dump your ass for lying.”

“Tyler knows I’d lose my shit on him if he ever touched her the wrong way,” I muttered.

Kross came out of nowhere and slid into the seat next to me.

“Since you’re both here,” I said, “can one of you give Lacey a ride to and from practice and afterwards stay with her until I get back? I set up a meeting with Pitt this afternoon. I shouldn’t be too late.”

“Sorry, I can’t,” Kross said. “I have to meet Jay. He lined up another fight. So I need to work out.”

I swung my gaze to Kelton.

“No way.” Kelton shook his head. “I got a date tonight.”

“Kel, I don’t want her alone.” I checked on Lacey. She was laughing. What the fuck was Tyler saying to make her laugh?

“Well, I don’t want my balls to be alone.” Kelton swiveled in his seat to face Kross and me.

Some girl snickered at the table one over from us.

“Postpone the love fest.” My tone dropped. I hated to exert my big-brother authority. But we were talking about Lacey. If I lost her, my life was over. She gave me the strength to move forward, to see that life could have a purpose. “It’s a couple of hours at most. Kody has guitar lessons. I’d ask Hunt, but he’s meeting me at Pitt’s office. You’ll still make your date. Besides, after tonight, we’ll have bodyguards on her.”

“So, you’re taking the tutoring job?” Kelton asked, dropping the attitude.

“If Pitt meets my demands, then yes.” I hadn’t figured out all my demands, except that I wanted Hunt to be one of her bodyguards. He’d told me on the phone this morning he was now working for Pitt.

“Probably a wise move,” Kross said.

I prayed it was. I also prayed I’d relax a little and get my head clear enough to figure out the connection between Mr. Robinson and Lorenzino.

Lacey wasn’t talking to Tyler anymore. Becca was standing with her and another dude who I’d never seen before, and I knew practically all the faces in this school.

“Who’s the dude with Becca?” I asked. The guy wore black-rimmed glasses that were bigger than his face. And he clearly had a death wish, since his hand was resting in the small of Becca’s back. She appeared to be oblivious to the guy’s touch, but Kross sure wasn’t.

He growled, and his body went rigid. “Whoever the fuck he is, the dickwad better get his hands off my girlfriend.”

“Let’s go.” I wanted to talk to Lacey, and I needed to get some air. I hooked my backpack over my shoulder.

The three of us got up. Kelton hung back to talk to a table of girls. Kross sneered at the guy next to Becca as we approached the threesome. We had about twenty more minutes before lunch ended. Kids were still coming in while others were leaving.

“Hey,” Becca said, pressing her tiny hands on Kross’s chest as she lifted up on her toes to kiss him.

He drew her to him, his gaze never wavering from the stranger as he let Becca peck him on the lips.

“This is Shaun. He’s new here.” Becca’s cheeks flushed.

Kross snarled at Shaun.

“Don’t worry, man. I’m not hitting on your girl.” Then his hazel eyes landed on Lacey. “So, I’ll meet you at the indoor facility today?”

She batted her lashes at me. Did that mean she wasn’t mad anymore? Or was I making too much out of her earlier body language? Yeah, guilt always made me think the worst.

“Shaun plays baseball. You know Coach Dean has a spot for one more player.” She grabbed my hand.

I grinned at my girl. “Can we talk outside?” What with the news about Sullivan getting shot and the tension between Lacey and me, it was time for me to at least tell her about Friday night.

We wound our way through the halls and out the main entrance. Just outside the glass doors was a cement bench. She shivered. I immediately removed my sweatshirt and gave it to her. She slipped it over her head.

“I did lie to you.” I kept her hands in my lap so they’d stay warm.

“Why?” Her tone was even.

“Honestly, I’m an idiot. Sullivan and Seever ambushed Kelton. Then Sullivan got shot by one of Pitt’s men who was at the fight with Pitt. It was an accident, and it scared the hell out of me. I thought Kelton got shot. I wanted to tell you when you got home. But I was selfish. All I wanted was you and a quiet night. Then when you saw Kelton this morning, that’s when I panicked. I’m sorry. Will you forgive me?” I rested my forehead against hers as a weight lifted off my shoulders.

“I’m still mad at you, Maxwell. I gave you ample opportunity to tell me. I hate that you tried to shut me up in front of your brothers by kissing me. You shouldn’t put your brothers in a spot where they have to lie either. None of that was cool.” She mashed her lips into a thin line.

She was right on all levels. “I’ll apologize to them as well.” Hell, as brothers, we owed each other a lifetime of apologies. “Are we okay?”
Please say yes.

She gave me a weak smile. “For now.”

I briefly closed my eyes. I was okay with
for now
. Lacey stewed on things longer than most people I knew.

“So, when you walked into the cafeteria, you were seething. Then Tyler had you laughing. Care to share?” Since Lacey did let things bother her, to turn from mad to happy in an instant wasn’t in her nature.

“I saw Aaron in the hall. He told me all about the fight. Since you weren’t talking, I asked Tyler about it. He said something sarcastic about fights among boys being about who had the bigger penis.” Her lips split into a dazzling smile.

My muscles had tensed when she’d mentioned Aaron, although I didn’t know how to respond to Tyler’s analogy except to kiss her. She didn’t return the kiss. I knew she needed time, but that didn’t stop my stomach from hurting at the rejection.

“How did that conversation go between you and Aaron?” I clenched my teeth.

“He’s was an ass, but I can handle him,” she said with conviction. “He knows I’m onto his psychological games. He’s not going to ruin my season. If he does, then I’ll ruin his.”

At least for now I wasn’t worried too much about Aaron. My brothers would be at practice anyway if Aaron got out of hand. Her determination to push toward her dream of a baseball scholarship always made me smile.

“I’m going to hang with Hunt while you’re at practice. Kelton can give you a ride to practice and then home.”

“Or I can get a ride from Renee or Shaun.”

Renee would be fine. Lacey had been hanging with her since they’d both made the team. But Shaun.
Like hell.
In light of everything Pitt had told me, there was no fucking way Lacey was getting in a car with a total stranger alone. I’d almost be happier with Aaron giving her a ride home. Almost. I wasn’t going to make a big deal about it. Kelton would bring her home.

“What do you think they want? I mean, the ones who killed your mom and Julie?”

“Where did that come from?” Her delicate brows were pinched together.

“It’s been on my mind since you told me.”

She lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know. I asked Rob, and he doesn’t know either. At first, when Detective Fisher asked him about this guy, Dennis Weeks, and showed us a picture of him, Rob said he’d never seen or even heard of the guy. But I got the impression he did by the way he hesitated, looking at my dad before he answered. It was like he was asking my dad for permission to answer. Like they both knew something. I asked Rob why he was so nervous, but he said he’s just on edge. He wants to put all this behind him just like I do.” Tears clouded her eyes. “Tonight I’m going to look. My dad keeps a box of his and my mom’s treasures. I’m not sure I know what to search for, but I have to try.” She blinked and shivered.

“The bell is about to ring.” I heaved to my feet, pulling her up with me. “Can I help?” Maybe we could figure this out together. Maybe I’d have some new information after I saw Pitt.

“I’d like that.” She peered up at me, relief coloring her gorgeous face.

“So fights among boys are all about penises, huh?” I held the door open for her.

She laughed, and my heart lit up like fireworks. I wanted nothing more than to see her happy. I didn’t know what was going to happen in the near future, or if the cops would ever catch the fuckers who’d ruined Lacey’s world. But I was extremely certain of one thing. I was going to marry this beautiful girl someday.