Page 34 of Crashing into Love

“No way.”

“I’m getting kind of tired. Is it okay if we maybe go back now?”

“It’s good that you asked. As an athlete, we have to learn to recognize when our bodies need a break. I’m not always that good at that.”

“You’re not?” Gia asked.

“Nope. Do you want to grab a late lunch and then head back? I’ll let you get a burger and fries if you don’t tell your mom.”

After lunch, they went back via the shuttle again, and Gia fell asleep against Drew’s side. Drew wrapped her arm around the little girl and let her sleep. She’d never really given any thought to having kids of her own before because she’d always put snowboarding first and thought that when her career was over, maybe she’d finally find someone, settle down, and she’d know then whether this was what she wanted. She understood that spending a few hours with someone else’s kid wouldn’t be what parenting was really like, but she had to admit that she’d been enjoying herself all the same.

“Oh. She’s out, huh?” Selma asked when Drew walked in carrying Gia.

“Yes. We had lunch, and she pretty much crashed on me.”

“How was she?” Selma asked, rubbing Gia’s back when Drew got close enough to her.

“She was great; did everything I asked of her and more.”

“Are you lying to protect her?”

“No.” Drew chuckled. “She also told me that she knows about our history.”

“History?”

“The whole you-crashed-into-me thing.”

“Oh, that. Right.”

“What else would it be?”

“I should take her,” Selma said.

“Selma, I don’t think I’ve directly said it yet, but I do forgive you. Even if it weren’t the sport and how things happened sometimes, I’d still forgive you. You know that, right?”

“What did my kid say to you today?”

“Nothing, really.” Drew smiled and went to rub Gia’s back when the girl stirred a bit, but Selma’s hand was already there, so their hands touched. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Selma said with a small smile. “I should take her up.”

“Yeah, okay,” Drew replied. “Or, I could. I’ve already got a pretty good grip on her.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’ve got her, Selma,” Drew stated.

“Okay.”

CHAPTER 12

“Hey, you’re up,” Selma spoke when she walked into the house and saw her grandma walking toward her kitchen.

“Of course, I’m up. I’m fine.”

“You’re feeling good?” Selma set the bag of food she’d brought with her on the counter after following the woman into the kitchen.

“I triple-checked with the doctor. He said everything was good. I am not contagious anymore.”

---