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“Rainbow, honestly,” she said, laughing with the words. The woman was gorgeous, Bow’s height and with blond hair nearly the color of Wells Ambrose’s. Hers was natural blond, though, and the woman’s bib overalls gave her a more youthful appearance. She sported them with cute heels. “Darling, you had twenty feet to the car.”
“Sorry, Mom. You know I’m a klutz.”
“Something I’ve apparently cursed you with.” The woman grinned. “Catch your father looking at us, he’d be laughing at us both.”
The woman nearly dropped her own bag when she said it, making her laugh. Her laughter was so high-pitched it reminded me of her daughter’s voice. If anyone questioned this woman was Bow’s mother, they wouldn’t. I definitely saw it.
Her mother was scattered grabbing the oranges, but Bow was still looking at me. It took her a moment to start helping her mom and her mom a moment to realize I was helping. I’d gathered a couple before she saw me.
“Oh, thank you,” the woman said, standing. She took me in. “Oh, are you from the school?” She faced Bow. “Bow, is this your friend?”
Bow’s lips parted. Friend was definitely a strong word. I hadn’t been her and the rest of Legacy’s favorite person as of late, though, I didn’t know exactly how Bow herself felt about the situation. The boys were her brothers, and she obviously followed along with them.
But then, she looked at me, really stared. A harshness met a normally soft gaze, and when she pushed away her hair, she barely gave me her eyes.
“Mom, this is Sloane,” she said, the tone of her soft voice matching how she looked at me. It was rare I saw Bow Reed angry. Actually, she was entirely too sweet, but today, my appearance was met with aggression. Bow lifted a hand in my direction. “She is from school. Yeah.”
I’d say ouch, but I knew what this was. She still believed I’d crossed her brother, no blood tie or not, and the only reason Ares was being decent to me was because he needed something from me.
And don’t forget that.
I couldn’t forget my place amongst them, and this bond Ares himself had mentioned. They were family, and this was their world.
Mrs. Reed didn’t know about all this drama, though, and I put my hand out when she gave me hers. “Hi, Mrs. Reed.”
“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.”
