Welcome To Hickville High (Hickville High Series Book 1) (20 page)

“Really?” Kelsey rocked back on the bench. “Okay, girl, you’ve got to change your strategy.”

Shelby leaned forward across the wooden table. “What do you mean?”

“If you really want to see Caleb squirm, let him go.”

“What?”

“Stop flirting with him and talking about him. And you have to go cold turkey. It will drive him nuts.”

Shelby rubbed her hands together. “I love it. I can’t wait to tell everybody I’m over him.”

“No.” Kelsey almost shouted. “You can’t tell anybody, you just do it. If you announce it, it will have less impact. You want to broadside him.”

Hannah grinned. “I can’t wait to watch this play out. I don’t think she can do it.”

“I can too. Just watch.”

A waitress set a couple of pitchers of soda on the table followed by three glasses of crushed ice. She looked at the girls and asked, “Three buffets?”

Kelsey checked her purse before ordering. With the five from her dad and what she had left over from Latte’da, she had enough money to order the buffet. She hated living like this.

They nodded and the waitress handed them a stack of plates from her tray. Kelsey saved a couple of places by setting plates in front of their seats. She looked at the other rows of tables filling up. “Looks like nobody wants to sit here anyway.”

Shelby smiled. “That’s because this is pretty much the jock table.”

Great, now we look like football groupies. “Then why are we sitting here?”

“Because you sat down first,” Shelby said. “Don’t worry about it. We’re sitting with Austin anyway.”

When the players started arriving, Kelsey caught a few looks as the jocks sat on the other end of the row. But it wasn’t like Kelsey and company were the only girls. The other players had girls sit with them. Kelsey just wished Austin would hurry so they wouldn’t look so desperate.

By the time he arrived, there were just a few places left beyond the ones she’d saved. When he walked in, the entire room clapped and whistled. His face turned crimson and held a huge grin as he made his way to her.

“Good game.” She stood and hugged him tight, or tried to.

He gave her a half-hug back and said thanks before taking his seat.

Wow. His hug had no feeling. It was less than a “friend pat.” But it was her fault. She’d insisted he back off, and he had. So while she jumped up and gave him an I’m special to you hug, he brushed her off like she was Britney Boyd. And she felt stupid. She choked the feeling down and focused on her friends.

Kelsey had to give Shelby credit; she didn’t flirt with Caleb. Of course, it could have been because she’d turned her attention to every other guy in the place.

When they were in the buffet line, Austin leaned over Kelsey and asked, “So are you having fun?”

“Yeah. I am. This is pretty cool.” And she was, but the feel of Austin so close, and the faint scent of his aftershave teased her senses and made her want to forget her commitment to friends-only status. God, what game was her heart playing? Drew loved her and she loved him. Her obsession with Austin had to be purely physical—they were just too different for it to be anything else. He was the country mouse and she was the city mouse. He was farm animals and football. She was high heels and romantic dinner dates.

Still, to her huge disappointment, he didn’t offer to take her home. When he finished his pizza he looked at Travis and said, “I’m beat. I’ve got to be at the feed store early to help unload. I’m going to take off.” He spoke to Travis. Travis! Not Kelsey.

He stood and patted her on the shoulder. “I’ll see ya later.”

As she watched him leave, she wanted to yell, Wait a minute. What about me? You’re supposed to give me a ride home! But she knew this was the way it was supposed to be. Besides, Hannah would give her a ride. But all of that knowledge didn’t take away the awful void right in the middle of her chest.

After Austin left, Kelsey tried to have fun. As amusing as it was to watch Shelby struggle not to flirt with Caleb, the room felt empty and cold without him. Shelby was spending the night with Hannah and they’d asked Kelsey to join them, but she wasn’t in the mood. They dropped her off around ten-thirty—an hour and a half before curfew. It was official. Her life sucked.

When she walked into the house, she found her parents sitting on opposite ends of the couch watching TV. Normally, she’d find them all snuggled up and she couldn’t help but wonder if the encounter with the tabby-haired lady had caused some tension. “Hey guys. Everything okay?”

Her dad turned down the volume. “You’re home early.”

“Yeah, I’m tired.”

Her mom picked up a package from the coffee table and handed it to Kelsey. “This came for you today.”

Kelsey saw that it had an Italian return address. Excitement poured into the empty space in her chest. She sat on the couch next her mom and tore the wrappings off. Carefully, she lifted the lid of the box and unfolded the tissue paper. A silk multicolored scarf was next to an aqua Cashmere sweater. She held the V-neck sweater against her chest. “This is beautiful.”

Her mom rubbed the sleeve between her fingers. “Very nice.”

Kelsey said, “Do you think it will ever get cold enough to wear it here?”

Her dad said. “Yeah. It may be November. But it gets cold.”

Kelsey picked up the package wrappings. “I’m going to go call Drew.” As soon as she was in her room she punched his number.

“Hi, Kelsey.”

“Drew, I got the package you sent. Thank you so much! It’s beautiful.”

“You just got it? Anyway, I thought the color would look amazing with your eyes.”

“It’s so sweet.” She laid the sweater on her bed and draped the scarf across it. He’d shopped for her while she flirted with Austin. “I so don’t deserve you.”

“Don’t say that, babe. You’re perfect.”

If he only knew. “You’re sweet.”

“Hey, in a few weeks we’ll be together again and I can show you just how perfect you are.”

Guilt made her cringe. “I can’t wait. As soon as I deposit my check, I’m going to buy my tickets.”

“It’s ridiculous that your dad won’t let me buy them.”

Kelsey sighed. “You how my dad is.”
Can’t you just drop it, Drew?
“Besides, it’s not that bad working at the diner. It feels good to earn my own money.

“Well, once you’re in Chicago, I’m paying. We’ll do whatever you want, you decide.”

“You know I’m staying with Zoe, right?”

“Yeah, but I’m going to pry you away from her every chance I get. I’m lonely without you, Kelsey.”

“Me too.” The words sounded so fake, she was such a liar, but he didn’t seem to notice.

She heard someone was talking to him in the background. “Hey, Kelsey? I have to go. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

It wasn’t until she was leaning over the sink to spit out her toothpaste that she realized he hadn’t said he loved her. In fact, he hadn’t mentioned those words since he’d texted them.

She padded across the hall to her room and crawled under the sheets. Should it bother her? She hadn’t said the words to him either. She scrolled through his texts until she found the one. She read the words and squeezed her phone to her chest. She imagined Drew holding her saying he loved her. But the memory of Austin kissing her kept invading her thoughts.

What was wrong with her? She could tell herself that night with Austin just happened, but the truth was, she wanted it to happen. She’d been a more than willing participant. One thing was for sure, she’d totally effed up their friendship.

Tears burned her eyes. When she hugged him after the game he felt a million miles away and when he left, the pat he gave her was cold and empty. Drew, Austin. How had her life gotten so complicated?

It is illegal to throw rubber balls or confetti in Borger, Texas.

Austin slapped his alarm off. Five seemed earlier than usual. He stretched and felt the impact of last night’s game. He’d taken a couple of big hits, but it was part of the game and by the time he finished heaving feed bags, the soreness would have worked itself out.

He grabbed his laptop and clicked on Kelsey’s Facebook page. She posted: Chicago here I come!

He clicked on Comments.

Zoe: The Magnificent Mile awaits your return.

Katie:  Do you still have all of your teeth?

Lizzie: I get a dollar for every time you say “y’all.”

Emily: I’ve missed you girl, can’t wait.

Kelsey:  Can’t wait to get out of Hickville.

Austin typed in, “The chickens are gonna miss ya.”

He scrolled through her pictures. This wasn’t the first time he’d clicked on her photo album. He wanted to know what her perfect life had been like in Chicago. He rolled the cursor over the pictures and named the faces before the tags appeared. Zoe, Katie, Emily, Lizzie, and Drew.

Kelsey looked plastic in those pictures. She was beautiful, no doubt, but not like she was now. In those pictures, her makeup masked the freckles sprinkled across her nose. Her eyes were the same amazing deep blue, but the mascara was so heavy they almost looked stuck open. Her lips were sexy as hell no matter what she painted on them. That night at the bluff they were pouty red—begging to be kissed. He closed his eyes for a second and let out a deep, long sigh. He hated the taste and feel of lipstick, but for her, it was worth it.

She looked happy in the pictures, but there was no mischievous sparkle in her eyes. And something else was missing. He studied her smile. It was there, but so different. It seemed tighter—not forced—just not carefree.

He checked out a picture of Kelsey and Drew. He could see how they’d wound up together. They were Barbie and Ken. But now? Ken looked like the kind of guy who would consider her life on the farm her “dark years.” Austin couldn’t imagine pretty boy getting his hands dirty.

He clicked on the pictures of Kelsey sitting next to him on the edge of the pool. Frustration burned deep. Kelsey wasn’t the same girl as the one who’d blown in from Chicago. In this picture, she wasn’t wearing makeup. She was sitting so close that their arms touched. They were watching her sister flip off the board and she was laughing. She wasn’t just happy; she was joyful.

He clicked away from her profile, stood, and stretched his sore muscles. Who was he kidding? Kelsey hated living in the boonies. He wanted to believe she was happier here, but seriously, going from riches to rags couldn’t be the desired life path. She was making do until she could blow this town. College-boy could give Kelsey her old life back.

Not that Austin didn’t want to go to college, but he didn’t have the luxury of having school paid for him. As much as he loved being the quarterback of the Hillside Hornets, college football was not likely to be in his future. Austin’s college plans consisted of a couple years stint at Spring Creek Community College and hopefully Texas A&M.

He sighed. If Kelsey wanted her old life back, he wouldn’t be the one to give it to her. His future was pretty much the same as his past. He’d had a job at the feed store since he was twelve.

He padded into the kitchen to find his mom sitting at the table. She took a sip from a mug of coffee. “You’re up early?”

“Yeah, I told Mr. Quinn I’d help him unload a truck this morning.”

“Good game last night.”

“Thanks.”

“How is Ms. Kelsey Quinn?”

Great. Twenty-question time. “She’s good.” He grabbed a bowl of cereal, poured a cup of coffee for him and topped off his mom’s mug. “She’s all excited because she’s getting to go back to Chicago in a couple of weeks.”

“Coming to Texas must have been a huge change for her.”

“Oh yeah. It upsets her to see her friends luxing it out while she’s stuck feeding chickens. It’ll be good for her to get to do all that stuff again. She won’t want to come back.”

His mom smiled behind her cup. “You never know. She might find some things in Texas she just can’t get in Chicago.”

“Or she’ll resent this life more than ever. It’s got to suck to be rich and lose it all. At least we don’t know what we’re missing.”

His mom laughed. “Yeah, but I wouldn’t mind having a little taste of knowing.”

Austin leaned back in his chair. “Mom, have you ever wanted to do anything besides work at the diner?”

“Of course. We all have dreams. I wanted to go to nursing school. I almost did once, but your dad wouldn’t have it.”

“So what’s stopping you now?”

“I’m too old to back to school now.”

“People your age go back to school all the time. I could help pay for it.”

“Absolutely not. You save your money for your education.” His mom rose and headed toward her room. “I told Donnell I’d take her shift this evening, so I won’t be home until ten. Don’t stay out late tonight—I want to go to early church.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He stood and washed his bowl. Was this a glimpse into the future—stuck in a minimum wage job wishing he’d gone to college? No. He may not have school handed to him, but that wasn’t going to stop him.

*

Austin heaved another bag onto the cart, kicking up a puff of dust as the bag slammed down.

“Hey there, cowboy.”

Kelsey stood a few feet away from him wearing shorts and a tank top and smelling like spring. “Hey, what are you doing here? I thought you were working at the café.”

“I don’t go in for awhile and I thought you could use some help. Are you ready for a break? I brought some doughnuts. They’re on the table in the kitchen.”

“You’re awesome.”

Austin followed Kelsey to the beat-up wooden table that served as the feed store kitchen. He grabbed a Dr. Pepper out of the fridge and a couple of doughnuts.

Kelsey sipped her coffee. “Do you want to sit outside? It’s a really nice morning.”

“Sure.”

They sat and let their legs dangle off the edge of the loading dock. The smell of sweet feed and fresh-cut grass wafted over them. They sat next to each other not talking. It sucked, but it was better than not being around her at all. He demolished a chocolate-covered doughnut in two bites.

Kelsey sat her drink down. “Austin, I think we need to talk.”

“About?”

“That night on the bluff… I’m so confused.”

Crap, he didn’t want her to feel bad about it. It wasn’t her mistake. “Kelsey, I knew what I was getting into. If anything, I owe you an apology. I knew you had a boyfriend. I shouldn’t have taken you there, I shouldn’t have kissed you.” He wanted to look her in the face and read the thoughts behind her expression. But he was a coward. So he stared at the tips of his scuffed boots.

“We both let it happen. The thing is—I have a lot of fun with you. You’re my best friend. I don’t want what happened to make it weird between us. I mean I understand if it does, but does it have to?”

Austin put his arm around her and pulled her next to him. “Look. What happened, happened. Let’s just move forward. Best friends. Drew doesn’t ever have to know. And God, Kelsey, don’t beat yourself up over it.”

“Thanks.” She stood and stretched. “I can’t believe I’m going home in a few weeks.”

Austin stood too. “Yeah, me either. Hey, are you here to feed me or to help me?”

“Okay, I’m coming.”

Austin returned to heaving sacks onto the flat cart, only now Kelsey worked next to him.

“Dang!” He looked up and saw Kelsey sucking on her finger. “I broke another nail.”

“Poor baby.” He grabbed her hand and felt the calluses across her grip. “Those aren’t the hands you came here with.”

“Yeah. Tell me about it. I remember the first time I unloaded bags, it took Ryan and me together to unload one bag.” She flexed her arm. “Check out these babies. Think anybody back home will notice?”

“Trust me, they’ll notice.” What will Drew think about the roughness of her hands? He doubted the guy would appreciate how hard she’d worked to earn those calluses. “So you’ve earned enough money to go to the thing?”

“The gala, yes. Now I can quit the diner.”

“You’re quitting?”

“I’m working today, but I’m going to talk to your mom. I’m only working on Saturdays right now anyway.”

“Oh.”

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing.”

“You said it like it meant something.”

“It was just a response. What do you want me to say?” His tone had more bite than he intended, but not as much as he felt.

“I don’t want you to say anything. It just sounded like you were judging me.”

“Because I said Oh? Seriously Kelsey? I don’t care if you work or not. It doesn’t affect me one way or another.” But it affected other people, like his mom. But Kelsey didn’t think about the people who’d come to depend on her. Maybe she was just a dishwasher, but it freed up his mom, T-bone, and the other waitresses to do their job.

Austin loaded the last bag on the cart and straightened. “Mr. Wilson is going to back his truck to the loading dock. I’ll get these. He usually helps anyway.”

He pulled the cart to the end of the dock and waited for Mr. Wilson. Kelsey followed. But he didn’t want her there. He had a lot of anger in his gut. Not just about the job, but about everything. As much as he pretended otherwise, he was mad as hell about the bluff. If she was so in love with Drew, why’d she make out with him? He sure as hell didn’t force her. She kissed him first.

He didn’t look at her when he spoke. “I thought you were going to do something else.”

“No, I’m here to help you, remember?” She said it with fake cheerfulness and it set his teeth on edge.

“I got it, Kelsey.”

“But I want to help.” Her voice was a little strained.

“Look. The whole freaking world doesn’t revolve around you and what you want.”

“Okay.” She turned and walked back inside the store.

As soon as the words left his mouth, he wished he could have them back. He knew up front that the only reason she took that job was to get back to Drew and her rich friends. It pissed him off that after she got what she wanted, she had the luxury of being able to quit. And what did that say about that night on the bluff? He wasn’t going to go there, he wasn’t ready to acknowledge that question.

He didn’t wait for Mr. Wilson to help him unload. As soon as the truck was at the dock he tossed the first bag onto the bed. When he finished, he hurried back inside to make up with Kelsey—except he couldn’t find her.

He waited for Mr. Quinn to finish ringing up a customer and then asked, “Have you seen Kelsey?”

“She just left for the diner.”

“Thanks.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and headed to the back room.

*

Kelsey was proud of herself for not losing it in front of Austin. She wanted to run to the bathroom and cry, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. She walked straight to her dad and without so much as a hint of a tear in her eyes told him she was going to work. It wasn’t until she started the engine of the clunker truck that the tears came.

As she drove to the diner, the words he’d said looped through her brain.
The whole freaking world doesn’t revolve around you.
Where did that even come from? He said he wanted to be friends. He told her not to feel guilty about what happened between them. God, he was such a liar.

Her phone dinged. She thought about Austin’s freak-out about texting and driving. “Well the world doesn’t revolve around you either.” She picked up the phone and read the text.

Austin:   I’m sorry.

Kelsey: Whateve…

One word. She couldn’t get one word out. She’d looked up and realized the car in front of her had stopped at a light. She slammed her foot onto the brake, but the old truck slid into the back of the Ford anyway. The rest of the scene unfolded in slow motion. The car in front of her was pushed almost to the center of the intersection. Tires on a red car squealed as it slid through the intersection and clipped the front end of the car she hit. The sound the cars made as they collided, was not at all what she expected. There was no drawn out metal crunching, it was just sort of a muffled pop. And then everything went still.

She got out the truck and hurried to the other cars. The other drivers got out of their cars. “I’m sorry, it’s my fault. I didn’t see you stop. Are you hurt?”

A middle-aged woman stood next to the car she hit and shook her head. “No, I’m fine. Do you have insurance?”

“Yes. Can I call my dad?”

“I think you’d better.”

The woman from the red car said, “I’ve already called the police.”

Kelsey wasn’t sure her dad would have his cell phone on him, but she knew he’d answer the store phone. She punched the number.

“Feed Store.”

“Austin, can you get my dad?” She managed to keep from blubbering in the phone, but it was obvious she was about to cry.

“Kelsey?”

“Just get, Dad.”

Tears fell while she waited for her dad to answer. She pressed her fingers against her lower lids, as if that would stop them.

“Hello.”

“Daddy…” That was all she could say before she dissolved into sobs.

“Kelsey, what happened?” He used his business voice, not mean or you’re in trouble, just tell me what I need to know.

Kelsey took a deep breath. “I had a wreck.”

“Is anybody hurt?”

“No.”

“Can you tell me where you are?”

His calmness helped her focus enough to answer his questions. “At the corner of Pecan and Maple.”

“I’m on my way.”

Kelsey stood by the two strangers while she waited for the police and her dad. “I’ve never had an accident before, I’ve never even had a ticket.”

The woman from the car that took the double hit surveyed the damage and shook her head. “At least nobody was hurt.” The words were clipped like it was all she could do to keep from saying more.

As they waited, the adrenaline coursing through her settled and was replaced by dread. She was in big trouble, and if her dad found out that she was texting, she was going to be in bigger trouble.