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Her blink was slow. She pressed a hand to her chest. “You’re apologizing to me?” she asked, those lashes rapid-firing now. “But I’ve been an ass. Like a big ole ass.”
I smiled. Bow Reed cursing was like the most adorable fucking thing. She was so dang chipper and couldn’t even do it right.
“I’m sorry, Sloane. I messed up. We all did.” Her head shook. “It’d been my brother to tell me the truth, and he looked sick while he did.”
“He did?” My brow hiked.
She nodded. “He feels terrible. I heard him talking about it on his computer with the others one night.” She adjusted her bag. “I guess Ares told him and the guys to give you space, which was why I’m surprised Dorian just did what he did. Ares mentioned you were pissed at him, and I’m sure none of them were in your good graces after they didn’t believe you.”
Well, that explained the parking lot, and the Wells-and-Thatcher-keeping-their-distance thing. My brother had been there, but I had as well. Them staying back had been about me.
As it turned out, Ares Mallick struck again.
“I would have come forward sooner, but I didn’t want to make things worse,” she continued. “I hadn’t believed you either.”
Again, I’d given her reason not to. I shrugged. “You’re right about what you said. I’d been dishonest with you before.”
“Even still I should have been better.” She frowned. “I’m really sorry, Sloane. I wanted to be there for the guys, for Dorian. It was such a bad time. His parents had to leave town, and the press has just left them all alone…”
“I get it,” I said, because I did. It was just a complicated time, and I understood.
But it was still hard, Dorian and our situation so hard for me.
“I hope you’ll consider forgiving me,” she said, and I grinned.
“What would I look like not forgiving you,” I told her being honest. “You forgave me that one time, but if I do, I have a condition.”
She appeared legit hopeful, on the toes of her Mary Janes. “What’s that?”
“You come with me to this football game.” I was actually considering it, more than considering it. “If I’m going to watch Dorian Prinze be an idiot, I’m not doing it alone.”
Her brow jumped. “You’re really going to go?”
I shouldn’t. In fact, I should flat-out refuse. I should let go and let him be an idiot.
But like most things with us, it wasn’t that simple. Dorian had gotten in deep.
Enough for me to tell Bow Reed yes.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Sloane
Bru came with me to Friday’s game, and I was surprised. Though he was technically still on the Windsor Prep football team, he wasn’t allowed to play. He’d spoken to the head coach about possibly reversing his thoughts on the rest of the season, but his coach held firm on the decision. There was too much risk that the players’ workouts would be too strenuous for him, and Bru was too far behind in his academics anyway to play at all. At least for this year’s season.
This bummed my brother enough where he hadn’t wanted to talk about football at all, but perhaps, he came to simply see if Dorian Prinze would make good on his promise tonight to play all home games in a dress.
He like the rest of the stadium.
Windsor Prep football fans always turned out, but this was even unusual for them. There was barely any bench space and even the opposing side had jam-packed bleachers. My brother and I came in right before the national anthem, and I wished we had arrived early. Gratefully, I ended up spotting the little rabbit at the top of the stands. She waved her arms, guiding us to come to her.
Bow had her spirit paint on and held a sign with the academy’s giant-ass mascot on it. Known as simply the king, the ape growled with a furious bite, and that was partly why I made Bow out so quickly. Her sign was huge, the gorilla large.
“Sloane!” Bow called, a flush in her cheeks. I wasn’t surprised since I was shivering myself down to my jeans. Maywood Heights’s weather was about to take a turn for the worst toward the end of the fall season. My jacket was barely enough for today. Bow moved her hoodie off the bleachers when we got there. “Saved us some seats.”
She seemed like the type to plan ahead, and I grinned, my brother and I taking them. Bow had a blanket too, and I took full advantage of it next to her. I offered it to my brother, but of course, like a dude, he said no.
I gave it to him anyway, putting it over his legs. “We don’t need another reason for you to get sick.”
