“What I’ve been awkwardly trying to say is, I want more than that with you.” Sloan’s eyes didn’t flinch. “And the first time I touch you, I’d like it to be somewhere private, and not—”
“Not my flat share,” Matty said for her.
“Yes,” Sloan admitted. “I’m sorry, that makes me sound like a real snob.”
Matty laughed. “No, it’s fair. Honestly, I’d never have invited you there. I was surprised to find you in my room…embarrassed a little, too.”
“You have nothing to be embarrassed about,” Sloan said.
“It’s a hovel,” Matty deadpanned. “If I had other options, trust me, I’d be gone, but it’s cheap for a reason. And Sarah and Brandon aren’t the worst people.”
“He smokes weed,” Sloan said. Then she frowned, thinking. “Do you?”
Matty shrugged. “I’ve been known to enjoy a few puffs, but I don’t make a habit of it.”
Sloan’s gaze held hers. “I don’t like it.”
Matty’s eyes dropped.
Sloan slid a finger beneath Matty’s chin and tugged her attention back, gently but unmistakably insistent. “I won’t have it in my home.”
“I wouldn’t do that.”
“We should get moving,” Sloan reminded, checking her watch. “She’s had an hour. I’m sure that’ll be plenty of time to come up with new ways to annoy me.”
Matty smiled and took Sloan’s hand again. “You two secretly enjoy it.”
“I do not,” Sloan argued, then grinned. “And there’s no ‘secretly’ about it.” They turned the corner and Sloan stopped short. “Where is she?”
The table she’d left Gloria sitting at now had a young woman with a pushchair and two toddlers perched around it.
“You’re sure it was this table?” Matty asked, turning, scanning all directions for a woman in a wheelchair.
“Of course, I’m sure. I left her right there.” Sloan moved from table to table, then glanced inside the shop. No Gloria.
“Try her mobile?” Matty suggested.
“She doesn’t have a phone.”
“Why on earth not?”
“Because she never needed one.” Sloan’s voice clipped on the last word. “She was at home all day and she had carers. If anything happened, they rang me.” She looked up and down the pavement before moving off again, her fingers curling tight against her palm.
“Maybe she needs one now,” Matty said
Sloan stopped so abruptly Matty nearly walked into her. When she turned, the fear in her face was stark. “That’s what you’re for.”
Matty didn’t flinch. “What if she wanted to ring someone who isn’t you?”
“Then she can use the landline at home.” Sloan’s breathing had gone shallow, and she hated that Matty could probably hear it. “Can we not do this right now? We need to find her.”
“I’m not trying to start something,” Matty said, gentler. “I just mean…if she’s going to keep doing things like this—”
“Like what?” Sloan snapped, then caught herself, forcing the edge down. “Going to be doing what?”
“Being more independent,” Matty suggested, then wished immediately she had put it another way.
“She’s not—” Sloan was about to launch into all the reasons why her mother wasn’t going to be more independent, when they heard a loud, relentless beep. “What in God’s name—”
