Nine
Phoenix
“The Billings,” Grandma says to Griffin as if he has any understanding of who they are. “They’re all bad seeds.”
Griffin briefly looks at Grandma Dori then back at Maverick. “What happened?”
“I don’t wanna talk about it.” Maverick pushes aside his bowl of mac and cheese.
“Why did the school not call me about this?” Griffin seeks an answer from me, but how would I know? “I’m calling them first thing in the morning.”
“Don’t, Dad. I told them that my shirt got caught on the chains from the swings.”
Griffin swivels around and my shoulders sink, hearing the embarrassment in Maverick’s tone. He looks at Rome and me for a moment before falling on bended knee in front of his son’s chair. “Why?”
“Because I’m not going to make friends by telling on people.”
Griffin blows out a
