Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Beck
Present
As I walk up to WaggingWithWords, I notice Sloan outside as I approach.
We’ve gotten more comfortable with each other from all of the hours we’ve spent in the gym, but I still notice when certain things make her flinch.
I try not to walk up on her too quickly, trying to avoid doing something that triggers or alarms her.
“Everything okay?” I ask Sloan, keeping a bit of a distance. I notice she’s quickly locking up and there’s a sign on the door that they’re closed for the day.
Sloan startles slightly but then turns and realizes it’s me.
“You don’t know?” Sloan asks solemnly.
“Know what?” I wonder confused.
“Sut’s grandma passed away. The funeral and burial are this morning. We’re all going to the cemetery,” Sloan offers somberly.
“Shit. I had no idea. You need a ride?”
“I don’t mean to overstep, but you aren’t going to…” Sloan hesitates, looking everywhere but at me.
“I’m not going to start a fight, Sloan. You have my word,” I affirm, trying to ease her mind.
Sloan hesitates, looking up and down the street. I’m not really sure what she’s looking for. I think she may be stalling. Likely not comfortable being the one to drop this news on me.
Tilting her chin up gently. “Sloan, you have my word.”
Sloan swallows, licking her lips and nodding her head okay. My eyes trace her mouth for just a second before she turns her head out of my grip.
“Let’s go,” I offer, putting my arm out to lead the way to my car. Opening the door for Sloan, she hesitates but gets in. I gently shut the door behind her, watching her noticeably flinch through the window.
I won’t hurt you, Sloan.
“You wanna pick the music?” I ask, offering her the aux cord.
“Thanks,” Sloan says so softly.
Sloan is so kind. So gentle. So calm. Even though she’s so closed off and guarded. She’s such a conundrum to me.
We drive in a comfortable silence with only the sound of Hero/Heroine by Boys Like Girls playing softly in the background. It’s almost peaceful until I remember where we’re going and the fact that I haven’t spoken to Sutton since I stormed out of the café before she left for the tour.
Sutton may not even want me at her grandmother’s funeral.
I never even got to meet the woman that was so special to her.
Sutton always kept this piece of her close and she didn’t share much about her with any of us.
We knew she visited her grandma at a nursing home and that she was her rock after Sutton lost her parents.
But other than that, Sutton had a wall up when it came to her grandmother.
I noticed she was always distant for a few days after her visits but then would bounce right back to being her bubbly, outgoing self like nothing happened.
We pull up fifteen minutes later. I was so lost in my head that I almost forgot Sloan was even in the car, she was so quiet.
“I’m going to stand back here, just in case she doesn’t want me here,” I tell Sloan, helping her out of the car.
“Is it okay if I go sit with Quinn and August?” Sloan questions concern in her eyes.
“Of course, Sloan. You sit wherever you want.”
Wringing her hands, she says, “Okay. I’ll see you in a bit.”