Page 143 of Just Let Go

Quinn watched, holding her breath whenever there was air between his skis and the ground, but each time, he nailed the landing and shot forward.

The crowd cheered with every jump, every turn, every smooth maneuver by a man who’d once lived for that praise. She had a feeling, though, that after this last month, maybe Grady was looking for something a bit more lasting than the fleeting affirmation of a fickle crowd.

At least she hoped so.

As he made another turn, he came into view—not just on the big screen, but in front of them, in living color.

“He’s in first.” Happy let out a cheer.

She folded her hands and pressed them to her lips, whispering a silent prayer as he crossed the finish line to the sound of more cheering.

Her phone buzzed as text messages from her family came in alarmingly fast.

He did it!

Grady Benson is back!

Tell him how proud we are of him!

She tucked the phone inside her coat pocket, drinking in the moment along with the rest of Grady’s adoring fans.

Happy scooted out. “You coming?”

“No, no, go ahead.” She didn’t want to get in the way.

She watched as Grady pulled his helmet and goggles off, bent over at the waist for several seconds as if he needed time to recover. He stayed like that for longer than Quinn expected him to, then reached down and took off his skis.

Happy reached him, and Grady stood and pulled his trainer into one of those tight guy hugs, the kind that seemed to only accompany victory.

And as he leaned away, his eyes searched the spectators. Happy pointed in her direction, and Grady found her, then waved her over.

When she didn’t move, he ran over to the stands, ignoring the cheers of the fans, eyes zeroed in on her. “Get down here, Quinn Collins. This one was for you.”

She smiled and inched her way out from behind the teenagers who were now gawking in her direction.

He took her hand and pulled her out of the crowd, then wrapped his arms around her.

“I’m so excited for you,” she said. “You have to be on cloud nine.”

He kissed her—right there in front of everyone—as the next racer took off like a bullet out of a gun. “I couldn’t have done this without you, Quinn. You—you’re everything I never knew I needed.”

She felt the smile wash across her face. How did she respond to that? She felt exactly the same way about him.

“You got some time for the reporters, Grady?” Happy stood at his side.

She expected to go back to her seat, but Grady slipped his hand in hers and led her off toward where the press was waiting.

But before they reached the expectant throng of paparazzi, Grady came to a halt. His face had gone pale, any trace of excitement gone.

“What’s wrong?” She followed his gaze to a small group of people standing off to the side. “What is it, Grady?”

“It’s my family.”

CHAPTER

37

HOW LONG HAD IT BEENsince his parents were in the stands at one of his races? He’d lost count of the years. There was too much distance, so much that Grady had given up on ever reconciling with them.

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