Chapter 4: Matt and the Box
Group Chat: Oh my god, he came to see you! Anna, he wants you to follow him to Chicago!
Group Chat: She must be so happy—he finally gave her a chance!
Group Chat: He’s secretly inviting her, so stubborn but so sweet!
I pursed my lips and handed the box straight to the security guard at the front gate.
“Please take care of this for me.”
With that, I left without looking back.
The guard was a retired Marine with a gentle drawl. He just nodded, already used to the soap opera of our lives. The screen door banged behind me as I headed inside.
“Tsk, what a shame.”
Matt Johnson’s voice drifted over from next door.
He leaned lazily against the porch column. Matt’s old Ford pickup sat in the driveway, the hood propped up like always, a half-finished bottle of Gatorade on the bumper.
When I glanced his way, he grinned.
“Don’t take it to heart. It’s just a guy—c’mon, Anna, don’t let it get to you.”
Suddenly, I remembered Matt didn’t live long in my previous life.
He died at thirty.
That means he only has nine years left.
I felt a little sorry for him.
“Take care of your health.”
He looked at me, confused.
He scratched at his stubble, the half-empty can of Sprite sweating on the railing. “Geez, Anna, you make it sound like I’ve got one foot in the grave.” He chuckled, but his eyes lingered on mine a little too long.