Giggling, she slid to the ground, landing in a pile of leaves. The drop wasn’t far, so she remained on her feet. Not wasting time, she took off running, allowing herself a wide berth to dodge the motion activated lights.
Daddy worried about anyone too close to the house. Mattie appreciated the oversight. Why he didn’t want to catch intruders before they reached the property, she didn’t know.
The cold grass against her feet jolted her, but she ran fast enough to generate heat, so the chilly night air didn’t bother her.
She didn’t see Grant until she was right up on him and her momentum sent her flying against him. She knocked him over and sprawled ontop of him. Scrambling back and giggling wildly, she dusted herself off and stood.
“That was quite the entrance,” Grant said dryly, popping to his feet, none the worse for wear.
The stream was nearby and the flowing water was a gentle murmur in the tranquility of the night. With spring upon them, the forest was slowly awakening with the sounds of creatures.
“You could’ve called me to let me know you were close and I could’ve met you halfway.”
“The lights would’ve gone off,” she said, giddy from her escape. “I would’ve been caught.”
“What does that mean?”
Realizing she’d dropped her phone made her sigh. She couldn’t turn on her flashlight and see Grant’s handsome face.
“It means I snuck out.”
“You’re joking.”
“Nope,” she said cheerfully, then bounced up and down, and clapped her hands. “And I did it. No one caught me.”
Grant laughed. “Congratulations.”
Preening, she gave her most elaborate curtsy, though it went unappreciated because it was so dark. “Thank you, sir.”
“Since we’re on borrowed time, tell me what’s up. Are you okay? You aren’t thinking about hurting yourself, are you?”
She had been vague about why she wanted to see him, but she didn’t mean to worry him. “Ishould’ve told you that this wasn’t about me. It’s about you. I’m sorry if I worried you.”
His entire demeanor changed. Instead of the friendliness she’d detected, tension wafted from him. She raised her hands, all her pleasure deserting her.
“What about me?”
She couldn’t read his mood because his tone was so monotone. Swallowing, she stepped back, wondering if she’d anger him. But no. Grant wasn’t violent like Wally, his father, Billy, Eric, or even Bash, though last night, Bash seemed completely different than when he’d found her at Turn Creek. His presence had momentarily frightened her. However, he acted as if she didn’t matter one way or the other.
“What do you want to say, Matilda?” Grant snapped.
“Uh, n-nothing. Never mind. I—”
His hand landed on her shoulder and he squeezed gently. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’m being an asshole. We’re friends, so tell me what you have to say.”
“It’s just, uh, d-don’t throw away your life to cook meth.”
Grant sighed. “Roxy is devastated. Unlike my dad, she has been trying to understand my reasoning.”
“Lolly would. Because of Uncle Mortician.”
“She asked me if I knew how to roll a joint.”
Mattie doubted it. She was more experienced than he was. Grant had always been a good guyand on the straight-and-narrow until he came up with this boneheaded plan. “Do you?”
“No.”
“Do you even smoke?”
