“I’m sorry about before,” Cheyenne said, wrinkling her nose. Hardy was surprised by the change in her demeanor. She appeared to be almost…genuine. “PMS. It’s no excuse, but at least it’s an explanation.”
Miracle’s smile warmed a bit, not at all to Hardy’s surprise. He imagined she was the forgiving type. “I know how that goes,” she sympathized.
“Are you in photography, too?”
“Yep.”
“Poor Hardy, he has to take a class like this to make him the best candidate for the best schools, but he hates every minute of it. He’s not exactly artistically inclined,” Cheyenne teased, poking Hardy in the ribs.
Inwardly, Hardy rolled his eyes. Cheyenne didn’t know him at all.
Miracle said nothing. Although she continued to smile in her peaceful way, Hardy saw the skin between her brows bunch. A tiny frown appeared there for the space of a heartbeat before it disappeared as if it had never been.
Clearing her throat, Cheyenne quickly moved on to another subject. “So, you’re from North Dakota, right?”
Miracle nodded.
“Then you need to come with us tomorrow for Free Friday Afternoon. We almost always do something outside and there’s nothing like Florida sunshine.”
Hardy saw Miracle’s eyes light up. They were filled with such anticipation he felt a smile tug at the corners of his mouth.
“Thank you! That sounds great, but what’s Free Friday Afternoon?”
“Seniors get out of school after lunch on Fridays. I guess they figure it keeps us from skipping school more on Fridays. They started it a few years back. And for us,” Cheyenne said, squeezing Hardy’s arm and bestowing a bright smile upon him, “we always go do something fun before the game. It’s part of Hardy’s ritual.”
“Ritual?” Miracle asked, her eyes bouncing from Cheyenne to Hardy and back again.
“Yeah, Hardy’s got a big future in football and we’re all doing our part to make sure nothing changes and that he has the best year of his life.”
“Won’t it ruin it for him, then, if I come?”
“Oh, no. As long as I’m there, he’ll be fine,” Cheyenne boasted sweetly. Maybe a little too sweetly. “So you’ll come?”
“Sure.”
“Good,” Cheyenne said with a nod. “So, we’ll meet after lunch in the parking lot, k?”
“Do I need to bring anything?”
“Nope. If it turns out you need anything, I’ll bring it.”
“Okay. Well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then,” Miracle said, smiling politely before she turned to Hardy. “Thanks again for showing me around.”
“No problem,” Hardy said, holding back all the other things he wished he could say.
With that, Miracle walked off in one direction and Cheyenne tugged Hardy down the hall in the other. It was with increasing perplexity that he realized his mind—and his heart—went with Miracle.
********
Hardy was more anxious than ever for Friday afternoon to roll around. He was always a bundle of nervous energy before a game, but this was something different. He found he was more looking forward to spending Friday afternoon with Miracle than performing well for the game. And that was a first.
After what felt like the longest morning in the history of time, lunch was finally over and Hardy was making his way to the parking lot to await Miracle. She’d been in Chemistry Lab, although she’d merely smiled politely and then turned to stare out the window for most of the class. And she’d been at lunch; he’d seen her with the art student again. Lucy he thought her name was. He’d watched her discreetly from the corner of his eye, practically prancing by the time the last lunch bell rang, officially signaling the end of the truncated school day.
And now he was waiting for her, anxiously scanning every face that poured from the school’s front doors. Cheyenne was chatting with her best friend, Elise, leaving Hardy to his own thoughts, ones that seemed forever turned in Miracle’s direction these days.
Hardy glanced at his watch. It was getting late. Disappointment flooded him when he realized Miracle probably wasn’t coming. It was enough to make him want to cancel. He turned to Cheyenne to discuss just that when he caught sight of a dark head popping through the doors. It was Miracle.
She hovered at shoulder height of most everyone near her. Hardy straightened, watching her as she made her way through the crowd to the edge of the parking lot.
She stopped to look around, shielding her eyes from the bright sun as she scanned the cars in search of a familiar face. When her gaze reached him, Hardy smiled widely and waved. His stomach twitched in excitement when she returned his smile and stepped off the curb.
He watched her as she walked toward him. Her tiny body weaved around slower-moving ones. She smiled at and spoke to each person. It was as though she couldn’t come into contact with anyone or anything without imparting some of her goodness onto them. He’d never met anyone like her.
When she finally reached them, Hardy saw her look expectantly from him to Cheyenne and back again. It was then that Hardy noticed how quiet his surroundings had become. Cheyenne was no longer chattering. He glanced to his right to where she stood, and saw that she was quietly watching him. She held his gaze for several seconds before she turned to Miracle.
Much to Hardy’s relief, Cheyenne put on a fake, too-bright smile. He didn’t think Miracle would notice. He was just grateful Cheyenne was being pleasant. “Ready to go?”
“Whenever you are,” was Miracle’s response.
“We’ll all ride together. Everyone else has already left.”
“Where are we going?” Miracle asked as she climbed into the back seat of Cheyenne’s convertible.
“Be patient,” Cheyenne scolded lightly with a grin. “You’ll see.”
With that, Cheyenne started the engine and sped out of the parking lot. Ten minutes later, she was pulling into a private lot one street over from the beach.
Cutting the engine, Cheyenne jumped out of the car. Elise quickly followed suit, leaving Hardy to raise his seat and let Miracle out. He offered his hand and caught his breath when she took it. He would never get over how soft her skin was.
Once she was safely free of the back seat, Hardy released his hold on her hand. He knew Cheyenne was watching him; he could feel it. And he didn’t want to raise her ire. She could ruin the day if he wasn’t careful.
Cheyenne rounded the car to the trunk where she and Elise recovered two huge canvas bags. The foursome set off to cross the street.
As they were making their way between two hotels, the vast ocean came into view.
“We’re going to the beach?” Miracle asked. Hardy forgot she probably wasn’t familiar with Middleton yet and didn’t know where they were.
“We sure are,” Cheyenne answered happily.
“Um, I didn’t bring a suit.”
“I brought one for you,” Cheyenne informed with a smile. “See? I told you not to worry anything.”
“I appreciate it, but I think I’ll just sit this one out.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You have to get some sun. The weather is perfect this time of year.”
“I see that, but I can enjoy it without changing clothes.”
“Seriously, Miracle, you’ll hurt my feelings if you don’t at least get some sun and you’ll never be able to do that with those clothes on.”
Hardy saw Miracle’s cheeks pink up as she tugged self-consciously at the neckline of her lightweight, long-sleeved sweater. He saw the indecision on her face and was just about ready to step in when she agreed.
“All right.”
“Yay!” Cheyenne exclaimed, clapping her hands.
With that, they made their way onto the sand and to the cabana that Cheyenne’s family owned.
“Your trunks are still in your drawer,” Cheyenne advised Hardy. “After he changes, you can change, Miracle. I’ve got everything you’ll need in here.” Taking out a towel for herself, Cheyenne handed Miracle the canvas bag.
“Where’s your suit?” Miracle asked.
“I’m wearing mine,” Cheyenne said, taking the hem of her t-shirt and pulling it over her head to reveal a bright red bikini top. She proceeded to unbutton and shimmy out of the shorts she was wearing, standing proudly in front of the group. Hardy had to admit she certainly could fill out a bikini.
Hardy glanced at Miracle, who was watching Cheyenne with a troubled expression. Immediately, he saw Cheyenne’s display in a totally different light. And he didn’t like it. “I’m going to change,” he announced, irritated with Cheyenne’s exhibition. For some reason, he felt she’d done it as a dig to Miracle, even though she hadn’t said a single mean word.
Less than five minutes later, Hardy emerged wearing his swim trunks. His other clothes were balled up in a tight wad in his hand. Miracle was perched uncomfortably on the end of a chaise, staring out at Cheyenne, chewing her bottom lip.
“It’s all yours,” he said, indicating the small changing room.
With a tight smile, Miracle stood and walked past him, closing the door snugly behind her. Out on the sand, Hardy positioned himself where he could pretend to pay all his attention to Cheyenne, but actually watch for Miracle to come out of the cabana. With his sunglasses on, he didn’t have to worry about Cheyenne noticing how often he glanced behind her.
When Miracle emerged, the first thing Hardy noticed was that she had a towel wrapped around her and was clutching it tightly to her chest. The only evidence he could see of clothing was the coral-colored strap of her bathing suit where it wound around her neck. She looked uneasy as she approached the group and stopped.
Elise nodded toward Miracle and Cheyenne spun in her direction.
“Did it fit?”
Miracle nodded.
“Good. I thought it would,” Cheyenne said, seeming pleased with herself. “Come on. Let’s go find everyone else.”
Cheyenne and Elise took the lead, leaving Hardy and Miracle to walk behind them. Watching Cheyenne bounce and priss in front of him left Hardy without doubt that she was doing it on purpose. It wasn’t having the desired effect, though. Rather than impressing Hardy, it only embarrassed him and made him feel uncomfortable in front of Miracle. He couldn’t imagine her acting that way under any circumstances and it made him wonder what he’d ever seen in a girl like Cheyenne.
A large group of their friends were already lounging on their towels down near the water. When Cheyenne stopped in front of them, she unfolded her towel and spread it out on the sand.
“Okay, who’s getting in?” she asked.
Several people hopped up and brushed sand off their suits, ready to head for the ocean.
“Miracle?” Cheyenne asked pointedly.
“No, I think I’ll stay out here, but thanks. You all go ahead.”
“Oh, come on! The water is warm this time of year.”
“I’d rather not, but thanks.”
“You have to at least come down and get splashed.”
“I think I’ll just stay up here. You go.”
“Oh, come on, Miracle!” Cheyenne said, grabbing Miracle’s hand and tugging. “Just for a minute.”
Cheyenne pulled at Miracle, but Miracle dug her feet into the sand and resisted.
“Really, I’d rather not.”
“Please. Come on,” Cheyenne begged, tugging again.
“Seriously, you all go ahead.”
“Don’t make me get Hardy to carry you down there,” Cheyenne threatened with a grin, grabbing at Miracle’s other hand where it held her towel in place. Miracle clutched the towel, almost frantically, backing away from Cheyenne.
“I’m not going. You guys go ahead. I’m staying here.”
Giggling, Cheyenne quickly reached forward and yanked at the tail of Miracle’s towel, surprising her and pulling it away from her body. Miracle gasped, standing in embarrassment and shock for several seconds before she moved her arms to try and cover herself.
Hardy’s heart dropped into his toes. Although on some level he did note that Miracle was much more voluptuous than what she appeared to be in her too-baggy, overly-concealing clothes, his pleasure at that took a back seat to the ache he felt for her when he saw the scar.
Since seeing Miracle that day in the park, Hardy had wondered why she’d been bald. He assumed it was something health related, but one could never be too sure that it wasn’t some sort of fashion statement or act of rebellion. He knew without a doubt that Miracle’s bald head had been neither.
A long purplish scar marred Miracle’s abdomen. It extended vertically from her ribs down her side at an angle toward her hipbone. It stood out starkly against her pale skin and she was obviously extremely self-conscious about it. She tried to hide it beneath her hands, but they weren’t big enough to cover the entire length of it.
Everyone in the group had stopped and turned to stare, wide-eyed and gape-mouthed, at Miracle. Hardy watched her silently take in every face, her gaze finally making its way back to him. He saw the tears glistening in her eyes and what little grip he had on his temper snapped.
Stepping toward Cheyenne, Hardy jerked the towel from her lax fingers, daring her with his eyes to say something. Shaking the sand from one end, Hardy walked slowly to where Miracle stood and carefully wrapped the towel around her shoulders, drawing it close around her.
When her enormous emerald eyes rose to his, Hardy saw gratitude in the liquid depths. It was all he could do not to bend down and pick her up to carry her away to safety, even if it was just emotional safety. But that would only make it worse for her, he knew. Instead, Hardy gently placed his palm between her shoulder blades and nudged, urging her to turn around. When she did, he led her across the hot sand back to the cabana.