“But that’s not where it was,” her mother said.
That got Sloan’s attention. “When I found it in your bag, it was just lying in there. I thought it was strange, but didn’t say anything because you’d had such a rough day.”
“Holy cow. She so could have done it,” Mackenzie said.
Sloan wasn’t so sure. “I guess, but why? Why would she come after me… again? We made up. She hates Boyd as much as I do.” Sure, Sloan knew she had tried to forgive him. She’d even told him she had, but right now, she was still big on the hate.
“Who knows why Darcy does anything?” Mackenzie sighed. “But it’s a lead. And a pretty good one at that.”
“It’s something,” Sloan said, laying her head down on the island. They weren’t getting anywhere with this. Not really. What did it matter who was sending the flowers? Someone was and had threatened her and her mother. Would the police even believe them if they one hundred percent figured it out and told them?
Sloan lifted her head and sighed. “Maybe whoever it is got tired. No flowers today. Nothing. Maybe I got too close to figuring it out, and he or she stopped.”
She could hope so anyway.
MACKENZIE DIDN’T STAY LONG after that. She needed to get home to do homework. While Sloan’s mom cleaned up the kitchen, Ray and Sloan sat on the porch, chatting.
One piece of the puzzle didn’t make sense, and Sloan had waited all night to ask it. She was nervous, though, to ask. How did she bring it up without either being obvious or hurting Ray’s feelings?
“Boyd looked bad, didn’t he? In his chair?” There. As subtle as she could ask.
“Yeah. He looked pretty bad,” Ray said simply. He didn’t flinch. Didn’t act like he was lying. Of the two of them, Boyd or Ray, which one had the most cause to lie?
“What’s wrong?” he asked when she didn’t say anything. “Upset over your fight with Aaron? Because I fight with him all the time. He gets over it quickly.”
Good to know, but it wasn’t what was bothering her.
“Tell me,” he said gently when she didn’t answer. He placed his hand on hers and squeezed comfortingly. “It can’t be that bad. Unless…” His face fell. “Unless you don’t want to go to prom with me now.”
“What?” She hadn’t been expecting that. “Yes, of course I want to go with you.”
“You know,” he said, while rubbing his thumb over her knuckles in calming circles. “I understand if you don’t want to go. I mean, some psycho is trying to scare you, and the countdown to the Fall is on prom day. I don’t blame you.”
“The countdown might not even be a countdown.” She smiled, trying to make him feel better… and truthfully, trying to get herself to feel better. “I haven’t gotten any flowers today. Maybe Darcy or Boyd or whoever got tired of it or knew we were on to them.”
“Maybe.” He didn’t sound convinced. “What’s the other reason to go with me?”
Oh boy. The way he looked at her — eyes dilated, seductive grin on his perfect lips — made her swoon a little. “It’s prom. And I want to go.”
He laughed and shook his head. “Stop. All the flattery will go to my head.”
“I’m sorry.” And she was. She was sorry about all of it. “It’s just…”
“It’s just you like my brother more than me.” He didn’t say it mean. In fact, it sounded like a fact like the sky was blue and snails were yucky.
She didn’t know what to say to that. Aaron Hunter had gotten on her nerves so bad today. A tiny part of her never wanted to see him again. The bigger part, a huge part, couldn’t imagine that happening.
“It’s okay,” Ray said when she didn’t speak. “I understand.” He grinned. “The girls always love the bad boys.”
Sloan smiled and laid her head on Ray’s shoulder. “I don’t want to pick,” she admitted finally. “I want you both.”
Ray laughed. “That would make the sleeping arrangements something I’d rather not think about. Plus, do you really think Aaron would share you?”
No, she didn’t.
“Do you think I would?” His voice sounded hoarse. It seemed like it was killing him to let her go to his brother. And it was killing Sloan to hear it.
“It’s not fair. I know it’s not. To lead you both on. I just… I need you both.”
Ray kissed her on the forehead. “You have us both, in a way. But…” He didn’t finish. Instead, he sat her up and gently brushed his lips against hers. It was nice, but not like kissing Aaron. When Ray kissed her, it was like… comforting. When Aaron kissed her, it was like every nerve in her body exploded. One brother gave her stability. The other passion. She loved them both, but Ray was right. She had to choose. It wasn’t fair.
“You’ll still go to prom with me, right?” she asked, worried he wouldn’t.
“Yup.” He chuckled and pulled her into his arms. “Aaron will be so jealous.”