Page 56 of Little Buried Secrets

“How did your mother respond?”

“She told him she wanted to think about it and that it was something she’d need to talk to us about first. He didn’t get why our opinion was necessary. He said the decision should be between the two of them. He also said if my mother felt the same way about him that he felt about her, there was nothing to think about.”

Pushy and manipulative.

“Sounds like Grant was trying to guilt your mother into doing what he wanted without factoring in her concerns or needs.”

“Yep.”

“I understand your behavior toward him now, and the reason why you’re so protective of your mother.”

I shifted my attention to the truck I’d seen on the street. It was still there. Except now I could see there were two people inside the cab, not one.

I checked the time.

Fifteen minutes had passed.

“Hey, ahh … thanks for being here for my mom,” Bronte said. “She thinks a lot of you.”

“I’m here for you too, if you want me to be.”

She snorted a laugh.

“Too much?” I asked.

She grinned and said, “A little. I should check in on my mom.”

I had no problem wrapping things up. Then I could get a closer look at the pickup and who was inside it.

“One last question,” I said. “The night of Sebastian’s party, one of the guys was flirting with Margot.”

“Yeah, Isaac.”

“You know about him?”

“Yeah, Margot told me he followed her around like a wounded puppy. At first she didn’t mind, but it bothered her when he wouldn’t leave her alone. The guy couldn’t take a hint.”

“What can you tell me about Isaac?”

Bronte considered the question. “He’s a moron, and he’s full of himself. Why?”

Blunt and to the point.

I liked it.

“Would you say he’s the type of person who has to have his way?” I asked.

“Oh, yeah. For sure.”

“There’s a chance Isaac set up Sebastian and Kaia to make it look like something happened between them that night when it hadn’t.”

She stared at me for a moment and said, “Are you being serious?”

“I am.”

“I was so angry when I heard about what happened that night. I never even questioned whether the story was true or not. I should have. When I confronted Sebastian at school the week after the party, he was gutted. At first I told myself it was just an act to get me out of his face. Now ...”

“You and Sebastian are talking again. Has he said anything?”

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