Page 85 of Unloved

No one, since my mother, has defended me so fiercely.

I think I’m in love with her—not even romantically, but on some soul level. I feel devoted to her.

When no one speaks, Ro clears her throat and stands up again, only to hand out another, single sheet, this one on online critical thinking courses offered and their costs for the school.

“Matt is a brilliant, talented student. When offered the correct accommodations, he thrives. It would be quite disappointing to see this school fail him in this.”

She smiles at me again, squeezing my shoulder with her delicate, slender fingers. I have to resist the urge to grab her in a hug and spin her around the room.

I’m walking on clouds as we leave the conference room, registration number for my new replacement course clenched in my hand as I follow a stomping Ro like a lost puppy.

“Ridiculous,” she mutters. “The way they treat you is absurd. Have they been like that to you the entire time?”

She doesn’t wait for my answer before continuing to stomp across the green, wind pulling some of her curls free until she looks a little more haphazard, softer, and I can’t stop staring at her.

“Accusing you of not applying yourself? God—I’m insultedforyou. To fight me on that? They don’t knowanythingabout you.”

Ro swings back toward me, finger wagging toward my face. “Don’t listen to a single thing they said. You’re so smart and kind and I’m proud of you, so… So screw them! You’re better than all of them anyway, Matty. Smarter, too.”

I should laugh, but I can’t breathe.

Matty. It pours over my skin like warmth and comfort. Home.

My entire soul feels like it’s fracturing, and she has no clue, still stomping across the parking lot toward what I now realize is her car. And I’m still following her.

“Sorry, I’m just.” She growls a little and shakes her head. “I’m done. I swear.”

“You can keep going,” I stammer. “I like you angry for me.”

She grins and laughs a little, breathing in deeply and out slowly as if to calm herself down.

“I am. Very angry for you. But I know you’ve got a practice to get to and I made you something.”

She opens her car door and reaches in for a little gift bag, handing it to me shyly.

“It’s silly, but I wanted to make you something for your first away game this weekend and the official start of your last season. So…” She shrugs again, all the fire from earlier seeming to bleed away into self-consciousness.

That has me ripping into the bag faster, pulling out a length of silky blue fabric. It’s a tie, embroidered with the Wolves’ logo and my number in pretty cursive with a star.

“A star?”

“You’re gonna play for Dallas, right? I felt like it would be good luck. It’s—”

“It’s the best gift I’ve ever gotten. Ever, Rosalie.” I crush her into my chest without hesitation, kissing the top of her head and laying my cheek there as I rock us back and forth. “Thank you.”

CHAPTER 31Freddy

It’s actually been awhile since I’ve done something this impulsive. But after yesterday’s meeting—and the gift I’d carried like a precious jewel into my room later that evening, tracing and retracing the embroidery—I want to do something for her.

So I’ve found the perfect place to take her today. Granted, asking her for her schedule or if she’s even free ahead of time might have been a better option, but after finding out how close the store was, I could barely sleep from the bubbling excitement.

I park outside her dorm and try calling her, but it goes straight to voicemail.

My brow furrows as I opt for a text.

FREDDY

Can you come outside for a minute?

---