Chapter 35
Chapter thirty-five
The walk back to the coffee shop was quiet. Out of the corner of her eye, Sloan noticed the quick glances Matty kept giving her. It was no surprise when she felt warm fingers interlock with her own, and she gave a small squeeze back.
“You want reassurance,” Sloan said, a statement rather than a question.
“Right now, yes,” Matty agreed. “You’re not the only one stepping into something very different from the life you’ve been living—”
“I want you to share that with me,” Sloan cut in, stopping to face her. “I know I can come across as though I’m not interested.” She gave her a small smile. “I am. Very much so. Perhaps that’s why I feel so…discombobulated.”
Matty laughed. “I’m not sure I’ve ever heard anyone use that word in conversation.”
“Well, I’m full of surprises.”
Matty nodded. “I suppose it’s just…” She half-laughed. “I’m not going to lie, I’m on edge. The need to get some kind of release is—” She broke off, cheeks warming.
“Sorry,” Sloan winced.
"Don't be. I…I'm enjoying it, in a weird way. It's not something I've ever done with anyone before." Matty shook her head, a reluctant smile crossing her face. "It's usually just a give-and-take thing. And this, with you, has been a little eye-opening."
Sloan glanced around. The busy shopping area was bustling, but not overly so.
“I enjoy that edge too,” Sloan said. “I’m very good at staying there.
And at keeping someone else there, knowing I could push them over, and deciding not to.
Denial is an art form.” Her mouth curved faintly. “That does not mean I don’t want more.”
Matty’s gaze held hers.
“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—”
They both turned to find Gloria bearing down on them on a mobility scooter, one hand planted on the horn, grinning from ear to ear.
“Where did she get that?” Matty asked.
“If she’s stolen it, I’ll take her to the police station myself.”
“She won’t have stolen it,” Matty said, laughing. “She’s got her own money, hasn’t she?”
“Yes, of course she does.” Sloan grimaced, then stepped forward, striding towards her mother. “Where the hell have you been, and who have you swindled for this?”
“Oh, Joan,” Gloria said, coming to a halt. “Give it a rest.”
Sloan flinched before she could stop herself, then smoothed the reaction away.
Gloria chuckled. “I’m test-driving it.”
“You’re what?”
“Test-driving,” Gloria repeated, like Sloan was an idiot. “I know you’re not a stupid girl, so I won’t patronise you by explaining what that means.” She glanced past Sloan to Matty. “He says it can do eight miles an hour. Can you keep up on them skates?”
“Mum,” Sloan said firmly, “explain to me how you went from, ‘I just want a quiet cup of coffee,’ to marauding around town on a borrowed scooter?”
“Well, I was enjoying a nice coffee, and then this gentleman appeared and we got talking and he was telling me about his dad and how he used to be in a wheelchair until they got him a scooter.”
“Right,” Sloan said, forcing herself to follow along.
“And I said that Matty had suggested getting one to me, but we hadn’t looked at it yet.” Gloria winked at Matty. “Then he said there’s a shop just around the corner that does them. You can hire one or buy one.”
“Okay. And you somehow managed to get yourself there?” Sloan asked.
“Don’t be ridiculous, I can’t wheel that thing,” Gloria said. “Harry took me.”
“Harry?”
Matty leaned in. “The man she was talking to,” she hinted, then leant back when Sloan glared. “I mean…I imagine.”
“Exactly. See? Someone pays attention to me,” Gloria sneered. “So, I’ve got this for three hours to see if I like it, and I’ve been on it for three minutes and already decided I do.” She tapped the horn again, delighted with herself. “So come on. I want to get one ordered.”