Savage Little Lies by Eden O’Neill

Chapter Six

Sloane

The first half of the day left me anxiety-ridden. I didn’t have an opportunity to speak to Bow since she’d dropped the math class we’d had together. I had to wait until lunch, but she wasn’t at the table we normally sat together at. I studied the whole lunch room for her and even went out to the courtyard to see if she and the other boys were out there. The Legacy boys often took lunch there, and though their Court groupies were there, none of them were.

I texted Bow after I noticed, asking if maybe she and the boys went out to lunch. They did that sometimes off campus.

She never got back to me.

In fact, the whole school day passed with nothing, and it was a long one because of it. I left the day with no contact and my brother’s make-up work. I got everything he needed so he could get caught up, and he was in the same place I’d left him that morning. Actually, he was sleeping, but he left me a text around fourth period that the doctor had checked him out. The guy, I guess, said what my brother had was most likely a temporary bug, but he wrote him a note off from school for the next few days just in case. I didn’t want to bother my brother, so I left his work on his desk, then tried Bow again that night.

She hadn’t answered.

Me: We really need to talk. We didn’t leave things well, and I know you’re busy, but I didn’t tell anyone anything about you. I wouldn’t do that.

That I sent to Dorian, also mentioning I hoped he was okay. He’d gone completely ghost, and if he believed what he had about me, that was probably why.

I wish he’d just talk to me.

We could figure this whole fucking thing out if he did, and I could only hope Bow not getting back to me had nothing to do with this.

The next morning, my brother didn’t look any better. He didn’t look any worse either, but he was lethargic. This did worry me, so I called his doctor, Dr. Richardson. The man informed me if my brother did have a temporary bug, then he simply needed rest. He offered to come by again if it made me feel more comfortable, but when I proposed that to Bru, his eyes rolled back in his head. He said I was worrying for nothing, and we both just needed to do what the doctor said. I called Callum about everything, and he advised the same.

“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” our guardian had assured me. “But do call me if you need anything. I can even stay in town longer if you need me to.”

I definitely wasn’t going to do that, and odds were, I might be channeling more worry about my brother’s situation because of everything going on with Dorian. The news had still been talking about his family this morning, and the Mayberry situation. They seemed not to want to let it up, and who knew when they finally would.

I told Callum him staying longer wasn’t necessary, but he did give me the line of his personal assistant just in case. Something came up with one of his businesses, I guess, and he had to fly out this evening.

That made me anxious that I wouldn’t have his aid, but I forced myself to nut the fuck up. My brother and I were good, and I needed to just stay positive about everything else.

“Chocolate pudding, please.”

Her little voice triggered me in the a la carte line at lunch later that day.

Bow.

I angled around, spotting Rainbow Reed about four people behind me. I’d missed her earlier today, and actually, her brother and his friends too. Their cars had been there, but no boys.

Well, everyone but Dorian’s car.

He still wasn’t here today. At least, if the Windsor Preparatory’s parking lot told me anything. I was surprised to see Bow now, actually. She hadn’t been at lunch yesterday.

Taking this opportunity, I allowed a few people to pass.

She jumped just about a foot when her head lifted from the pudding cups.

“Sloane,” she gasped, her dark lashes blinking. They whipped like fans, easily seen since she sported a messy bun today. “You scared me.”

Clearly. I nudged my tray in. “Sorry.”

“No, it’s fine.” Taking her pudding from the lunch lady, she slid it on her tray. “How are you?”

She asked the question, but she wasn’t really looking at me, analyzing the salad options. This rich-ass school had enough of them. I watched her. “Good.”

This was something she’d know if she’d bothered to return my texts, calls.

Be patient.

I wasn’t selfish enough not to know she and hers were going through shit. I was well aware of it.

She said nothing in response to what I said, as if she hadn’t heard me. Next thing I knew, she was grabbing her tray off the line, but I got her arm.

“Not so fast, little rabbit. Uh,” I started, not really knowing where to go from there. I mean, she hadn’t answered me when I attempted to reach out. “How are things? I haven’t heard from you. I texted. Called?” I put her on the spot. I knew. “I’m not sure if you’ve talked to Dorian, but I think there was a misunderstanding between us the other day. He seems to think I leaked where he was, and that’s how he got arrested.”

Bow’s lashes flashed in my direction. She started to say something, but then her lips pinched tight.

“Has he talked to you?” I asked. “Said anything? I know he’s not here today. I know he’s going through epic shit, but if that’s what he’s thinking about me, I need to talk to him. He’s not returning my calls or texts.”

Basically, he was doing the same thing she was doing to me now. Actually, the exact same thing.

A strong feeling told me she knew exactly what I was talking about, but for whatever reason, she wasn’t talking to me about it.

She was too busy looking outside.

Something about the Legacy boys was they always stood out. Especially Thatcher Reed, her brother. He was the largest out of the Legacy boys, and I’d seen him pummel through guys like a boulder on the football field. He sat between Ares Mallick and Wells Ambrose, the two of them talking to him about something, but he wasn’t a part of the conversation.

He was too busy looking at Bow and me through the window.

Catching wind their buddy no longer had their attention, both Ares and Wells slid their gazes in our direction too. Wells’s jaw locked immediately, and I noticed Ares sit back. He started to swing his head in the direction of Thatcher, as if to say something to him, but the large football player was already up and moving. He headed in the direction of the cafeteria doors, throwing them open.

“I need to go,” Bow’s little voice said beside me. She ducked her head, avoiding my eye contact, and I could do nothing but watch her go to her brother. He took her by the shoulder when she got to him, looking at her.

As if I might have done something to her.

He scanned her like he was looking for any sign she’d been messed with. I guess passing the test, he let her go, and when he started to move in my direction, she grabbed his arm.

Now, I couldn’t hear what she said to him, but her little hand was certainly tight on her brother’s arm.

He wrapped an arm around her after she finished, guiding her away and back into the courtyard. The two of them sat together at the table, joining the other guys, and it didn’t take a genius to see what was going on here. Bow had definitely talked to Dorian. They all had.

And that was more than obvious.