Page 53 of If It's You

“How so?”

“Because of Mack,” he said.

She shifted on the bale. “Who told you about him?”

“Jayce,” Christian said.

“Why would he tell you that?” Maizie’s voice rose in pitch.

“Mason mentioned him.”

She seemed to soften at her brother’s name, and she fell against the haystack again, crumpling onto a bale. “I miss him.”

“I can imagine.”

“He always pushed me to chase my dreams. He was my biggest fan and my best friend. Do you have any idea what it’s like to lose someone like that?”

“I have a clue,” he whispered, rubbing at his chest, but Maizie must not have heard him.

“Of course you don’t. Why are you even here again? For a good tan and free food.”

Christian’s fist clenched so hard his muscles twitched.

“I’m starting to wish I wasn’t,” Christian muttered.

“Then leave,” she said. “You don’t know anything about me.”

His body went numb. “Maybe that’s true. But you don’t know me either, princess.” He stomped to the door of the barn.

“I don’t want to.”

Christian slammed the barn door behind him.

Why did I think trying to help her was a good idea?

Christian took off at a run. He didn’t bother going back to Maizie’s. He ran back to the farmhouse and climbed into bed, forcing the pain and tears deep down inside. He wouldn’t cry again. Not if he could help it.

Fourteen

Maizie owed Christian an apology. She hadn’t meant to snap at him last Saturday night. She had been upset because of the unwanted memories. So what was her excuse for yelling at him other times? He wasn’t a terrible person, just terribly annoying.

She didn’t know why she’d expected to see him at her graduation yesterday, sitting by Jayce and her grandparents. Of course he hadn’t been there. She’d basically told him to leave and never come back when he had just been trying to help her. But at least he hadn’t been there to witness her crying through her two-minute speech about Mack, which ended up being closer to ten minutes due to all her blubbering. There hadn’t been a dry eye in sight when she finished, but she survived. And by the end, she’d felt grateful that she had been able to do that for her brother. To receive his honorary diploma and close the chapter that she had started with him. But now she was starting the next chapter alone. And she hated that.

She clicked through the available college courses again. She had two empty spots to fill but couldn’t decide what to take. What would Mack have wanted to study? He’d always wanted to go pro in basketball when he was younger. But would his focus have shifted as he grew up? She hoped not. He’d been so talented, the only freshman to play on the varsity basketball team. When she pictured him in heaven, he was still dribbling that dang ball. And hugging everyone. He’d always been the touchy feely one, and she’d always been as prickly as a cactus. But somehow, it worked.

What would he say if he could see her now?

Her phone buzzed. She shut her laptop and pushed herself away from her desk.

Rob: Wanna get some ice cream?

Maizie: Yes!She could have Jayce do her chores, and then she could think about how to apologize to Christian later. Or maybe if she avoided it long enough, she could get out of it altogether.

Rob: Be there in twenty.

She changed into a pair of denim shorts and a sage green top.

“Where are you going?” Her dad asked when he saw she was no longer in work clothes.