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“Sloane?” She tested my name before facing her daughter. “Is this the same Noa Sloane who came to our house? Janet mentioned her.”
I knew Janet to be the Reeds’ housekeeper.
“Yeah.” Again, Bow was looking at anything but me. “But she’s probably busy, so…”
“Of course.” And realizing I still had the oranges, Mrs. Reed had me put them in her grocery bag. Mrs. Reed managed to lift a hand below the bag. “One second, Sloane, before you go.”
I didn’t know what this was about, but she had her daughter assist her to the car. Bow still had her broken bag and the oranges she’d gathered.
Using her foot, Mrs. Reed motioned the sensor for her automatic trunk to open. She placed the bag in the back. Bow followed her with her items, but only Mrs. Reed came back.
“What are you doing for dinner this evening?” she asked, and at this point Bow was coming back.
Bow shook her head. “Mom…”
“Oh, stop it. You never have friends over.” She braced her daughter. “Please join us. Bow and I were just out gathering a few things. It’s our night to make dinner, right, sweetie?”
Bow appeared at odds with what to say. I mean, she didn’t want me to come over, clearly. I was a traitor to her.
“I probably shouldn’t,” I started, making her mother frown. “My brother’s at home, and he’s been feeling under the weather.”
Bow’s lips parted after I said that. Had she not known? I didn’t think they were friends or anything, but she was acquainted with my brother. She wet her lips. “Sorry to hear that.”
She did sound sorry. She probably was. Bow had a heart. She wasn’t like these boys, and though she was obviously as loyal, she wasn’t so hard-edged.
Mrs. Reed frowned. “Oh. I’m sorry. Hope it’s nothing serious.”
I did too, and I waved her off, trying not to make a big thing of it. I had no reason to according to Dr. Richardson. “We’re thinking it’s just something he has to sweat out.”
“Oh?”
I nodded. “Though he’s not making it easy.” I shrugged. “He’s seventeen, so he thinks he’s invincible.”
“Well, I definitely know something about that with this one’s brother.” Mrs. Reed shook Bow, which made her smirk.
“Yeah, Thatcher’s stubborn,” Bow said. “Real stubborn.”
She said it to me, and I noticed the initial aggression had faded. She might be going along with her brothers, supported them, but she may not actually feel the same way. At this point, Legacy, Dorian, and everything was just one more thing I didn’t want to think about. If Dorian had made up his mind about me, then he had and I…
“You know what?” I stated, getting Mrs. Reed’s attention. “Bru, my brother, he’s fine. In fact, he’s been pushing me to stay out longer.” I lifted my bag of paints. “I was at the art store so I could do something else other than be in his face tonight.”
This made Mrs. Reed smile. “Does that mean you’ll come over? Have dinner?” Mrs. Reed pumped her fist, and that too reminded me of her daughter. She nudged her. “Bow, isn’t that great?”
Bow’s enthusiasm definitely didn’t match her mother’s, but she didn’t appear as annoyed either. Maybe I’d been right that she might not be on the Sloane-hating train as the others. We had been friends.
We might be able to be again if I could just talk to her, and Ares’s text did say varsity was running drills tonight. Odds were, her brother wouldn’t even be there, and I wouldn’t have to deal with his mess.
Bow nodded at her mother, and Mrs. Reed tapped her chin. I didn’t know what that was about, but I did know Bow didn’t seem like she had a whole lot of friends. Bow herself had been very enthusiastic to have me over the last time, and that definitely could have something to do with the guys in her life. I mean, they had chased me away.
He chased you away.
I swallowed. “I’d love to come over.”
“Perfect. Dinner’s at seven, but if you come over early, we can chat while we prepare,” Mrs. Reed said, and I forced myself not to backpedal. I forced myself to believe I was going over there to talk to Bow and maybe just be cool with her again. It wouldn’t be about anything else.
It couldn’t be about anything else.
Chapter Sixteen
