I’d asked Petra to take me home. I’d had a feeling I wouldn’t be an honored guest at the football party, since Leo had gotten kicked out of the game over me. Especially when I checked the final score online and saw that Harbor U lost by a touchdown.
Leo texted me hours later to let me know that the entire team was being held for some kind of team-building exercise and not to wait up. I didn’t know what time he finally got home, but it must have been late. Which didn’t bode well for his early morning meeting.
After lazing in bed for another half hour, I finally got up and showered. When I got done blow-drying my hair, I stared at the straight locks, wishing Violet had taught me how to replicate her elaborate fishtail braid before “breaking up” with me. Left to my own devices, I could manage a ponytail or messy bun. Otherwise, it stayed down, like it would today.
Selecting one of the outfits Nana had picked out for me yesterday, I got dressed and headed downstairs for a bite to eat. Despite sleeping in, it wasn’t even ten o’clock yet, which meant that lunch was still a couple of hours away.
Susan was nowhere to be seen, but she’d left a homemade yogurt parfait in the refrigerator with my name in it. She was always spoiling me, and I needed to figure out a way to thank her. I knew taking care of the Sharpes was her job, but I wasn’t a Sharpe, and I hated that I added to her workload as much as I loved her amazing food.
I was halfway through the glass dish filled with yogurt, strawberries, blackberries, and granola drizzled with honey when Vincent stormed into the room. He stopped short at seeing me, but his turbulent expression didn’t ease. In fact, it might have grown even harder.
I carefully put my spoon in the dish. “Is something wrong?”
He ran his fingers through his hair, like I’d seen Leo do too many times to count. “Everything is wrong. How could you possibly think any differently?”
A chill slithered down my spine at his tone. I’d seen Vincent upset before, but his anger was usually of the restrained variety. The kind that made you want to hide but not duck.
This anger felt different. Like he was tired of keeping it bottled up and was ready to loose it on the world. Or just me. Because the way he was glaring at me told me this was personal.
Focusing on his emerald-green tie rather than his face, I said, “I’m sorry. I don’t know what you mean.” I didn’t bother wondering why he was dressed for the office on a Sunday. The concept of weekends didn’t exist for a man like him.
He laughed harshly as he lifted the cell phone clutched in his hand. “Do you know who I just got off the phone with?”
I shook my head. How could I possibly know that?
“The Harbor University athletic director. And he informed me that Leo has been suspended for the next three games.”
Suddenly queasy, I pushed my parfait away. I’d known there would be disciplinary action, but I hadn’t expected a three-game suspension. And all because I’d worn that stupid sweatshirt so that Leo would pay attention to me.
I was an idiot, a recurring theme as of late.
“He also informed me that the fight started because some loud-mouthed asshole decided to bait Leo...over a girl.” Vincent narrowed his eyes on me. “He didn’t know the girl’s identity, but I have a feeling I do.”
I didn’t respond, because I had no words. How could I explain that Leo getting in trouble was the last thing I would ever want? Hurting him wasn’t even an option. Knowing he’d probably heard the news of his suspension by now made me want to get to him as fast as possible—even if that meant borrowing the damn Bentley.
Vincent took a few steps toward me, and I was tempted to jump off my barstool and escape to the other side of the island. But I was pretty sure my knees would collapse under me if I attempted to stand.
He stopped several feet away, and almost everything about him seemed to change at once. He relaxed his rigid stance, dropping his shoulders and placing his hands in the pockets of his dress pants. The tightness around his mouth and eyes slackened, replaced by a relatively amiable expression.
Then, he spoke, and his tone was gentle. Coaxing, even.