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 w
as grabbing her tray off the line, but I got her arm.