Her favorite part was the M&M carved into the lid. He’d made it in shop class, and now it held her most treasured possessions. Two little notes, a silver dollar she and her brother had used as a trophy whenever they placed bets, and a bracelet. She pulled out the dainty bracelet, tracing her finger over the four letters engraved in the silver.
MACK.
Four little letters that had the power to rip the world in two.
If only she had been the one to get on the four wheeler that day instead of him, maybe her twin brother would still be here.
Her eyes flicked to a photograph of her and Mack hanging above her desk, and a sob worked its way up from her chest. He’d died three years ago, but it still felt like yesterday that she’d lost her other half.
For the first few months after his death, she’d barely left her room. She finished her freshman year online and dropped off the dance team. She’d still danced by herself in the safety of her barn where only Mack would know where she was. But she’d stopped living. Until the first day of her sophomore year when her dad had threatened to drop her off at school in her pajamas. She’d thought he was bluffing. He hadn’t been. But thankfully, her mom had packed an outfit, makeup, and a comb so she wasn’t forced to start her tenth grade year in unicorn pajama bottoms.
Maizie fell onto her bed, still clutching the box and bracelet against her chest.
Why had she agreed to this stupid party? All she wanted to do was go to her barn and dance until peace came. But Lindsay was waiting for her. So was Turner. If she didn’t go, people would know.
There were no secrets in small towns, which meant if someone was sick, five people would show up at their door with their own versions of homemade chicken noodle soup. But it also meant that when someone died, there was a chip in the foundation of the whole town. And even though you could get used to a chip in the cement, even forget about it at times, it was always there, never to be perfect again. And everyday, she was aware of how imperfect the world was without Mack. Whether she wanted to or not, she’d experienced everyone’s reaction to their family’s loss, which only made it that much harder to move on.
She latched the bracelet onto her wrist, a feeling of safety and wholeness settling over her. Though she’d never be whole without Mack.
Her phone buzzed and she brushed any tears from her cheeks before they could ruin her makeup. She did one last mirror check and pasted on the finishing touch: a falsely confident smile. Her most used accessory over the last three years.
She was fine. Nothing to see here.
* * *
A door shutting somewherein the house brought Christian’s attention from the board game and face to face with the most gorgeous girl he’d ever seen.
A familiar girl.
No. That couldn’t be Maizie. The girl he’d met in the barn had been messy and intimidating.
She’s glaring at me.
Okay, so she was still intimidating. But she was anything but a mess now.
She was beautiful and even more confident without the milking boots.
I rejected this girl’s hand?
“Go change, young lady,” Jayce said, pointing a finger at her.
Maizie rolled her eyes and continued to the pantry, where she rummaged through the shelves.
“Are you still dating that loser?” Jayce asked.
Maizie spun on him, her eyes drifting right past Christian. “Do not call my boyfriend a loser.”
“She totally is.” Mitchell spoke up for her. “And they’re so gross.”
“Oh shut it,” Maizie quipped.
“What’s the record this time?” Jayce asked. “Have you made it a month yet?”
Christian’s attention danced between the two of them. They fought like brother and sister.
“Two, actually.” Maizie glared at each of the boys, daring them to challenge her, and now that’s all Christian wanted to do.
“He’s not worth your time,” Jayce said, rolling the dice while still maintaining eye contact with her.
