“No way,” King says. “He’s going to do all that if he wants to talk to our sister.”
“There’s no point,” I say, crossing my arms. “If you’re all going to be assholes and hurt him, I won’t see him. I’m not going to put him in danger.”
“Fuck,” Royal says, dropping his head and rubbing the spot between his eyebrows. “You like this guy.”
I sigh. “Look, it’s about more than whether I like someone. You’re all going to be on the team together. And I’m sure you know better than anyone that being on a hostile team that doesn’t want you there isn’t going to work. They won’t play for you if you’re responsible for getting their star suspended.”
“They will once they see us play,” Duke says.
I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter if you’re just as good. They’ll sabotage you. The whole team will boycott. People in the south are different. A name is here is like blood. They’re loyal to that.”
“She might have a point,” King concedes quietly.
My other brothers stare at him. “You’re really going to give up?” Duke asks.
“I’m not giving up,” King says. “But even if Devlin’s off the team for good, the other two are there. And they’re good.”
I know my brothers well enough to know there’s another reason King gave in. He knows I’m right about the pranks. They’ve gotten dangerous, and if there’s one thing stronger than King’s pride, it’s his protectiveness. He won’t say it because he doesn’t want to wound any egos, but he doesn’t want our brothers to get hurt, either.
“I guess if we’re really going to quit, we might as well quit while we’re ahead,” Duke says. “We hit last.”
“And it’ll look like they gave in,” Baron points out. “We wrecked Devlin’s car and got him suspended, and now we’re all friends? Looks like they’re the ones who broke first.”
Royal just glowers at me. I smile at him and hop off my chair. “Well, we didn’t find a dress, which means I’m going shopping with Dixie today. I’d better get going.”
“Why don’t I join you?” Royal says.
“You want to go dress shopping?” I ask, planting a hand on my hip.
“How else are you going to get around?”
“Wouldn’t be an issue if I had my license,” I sing-song as a reminder.
“No way am I trusting you with a car now,” he says.
A shock of hurt hits me with his words, even stronger because that distrust is warranted. It’s true that I’m going to Homecoming with Colt, and that he makes me laugh. It’s true that I’m going to ask Dixie to go last-minute dress shopping today, not sneaking off to meet Colt for a secret rendezvous as Royal obviously thinks. But there are other lies laced in with the truth, and other schemes behind my words. My side went surprisingly well, but I’m not sure how easily Colt will be able to convince his family.
I go up to my room to shower and message Dixie.
UnsweetDolce: Hey, girl. I might need to invoke the emergency friend favor.
DixieDog: OMG what happened? U ok?
UnsweetDolce: Yes, but I need a dress for tonight.
DixieDog: No way! You’re going to HC? With who?
UnsweetDolce: Colt. Don’t freak out and say Darling in that creepy way.
DixieDog: Totally freaking out!
UnsweetDolce: Help me find a dress? If not, no prob. My brother’s going anyway.
DixieDog: Your brother can’t help you dress shop.
UnsweetDolce: Is that a yes? Thank you so much! Sorry it’s last minute.
DixieDog: You’re saving me from a trip to the country club. I should be thanking you.