Page 27 of Just Let Go

Quinn glanced at Grady, then back at Jaden. “If by ‘this far’ you mean stuck doing community service in Harbor Pointe, Michigan, then yes, it did. But it’s not going to work for you. Let’s go.”

Jaden rolled his eyes.

“School starts in ten minutes. Come on.”

“Grady, maybe we can ski together sometime while you’re here. If you could help me shave even a few seconds off my time—maybe take a look at my form.”

“Jaden. Now.” Quinn stood behind him like an annoyed babysitter, and it was Grady’s presence that annoyed her, he could tell.

“Let’s do it, kid,” Grady said, mostly to get a rise out of Quinn.

It worked. He couldn’t be sure, but it was entirely possible there was steam coming out of her ears.

“For real?” The kid’s eyes lit up like a fireworks display.

“Course. You can show me the slopes—I gotta stay in shape anyway.”

“For the qualifying races.”

“That’s right.” Orrace, singular, as the case may be.

“How many will be left when you finish your sentence here?”

Grady felt his shoulders slump. “One.”

“Whoa, dude. That’s gonna be a killer race.” Quinn tugged on his arm. “Gotta go to school, but this weekend?”

“You got it.”

“Bets, will you give him my number?” Jaden backed toward the door, Quinn still pulling his arm.

Betsy nodded and gave him a little wave. “You got it, kiddo.”

Quinn glared at Grady one last time before walking out the door.

“Seems like a good kid,” Grady said once they’d gone.

Betsy let out a little groan. “He’s a handful, to say the least.”

Hmm. Like someone else Grady knew.

What was the deal with the sheriff’s daughter? Why had she whipped out her bossy mom voice? Whatever it was, he had the fleeting thought that getting under her skin could be a fun pastime while he was trapped here in Mayberry-by-the-lake.

Might just make the ridiculousness of his situation a little more bearable.

“He is not someone to idolize, Jaden.”

“Give him a break.” Quinn’s nephew slumped down in the passenger seat of her Volkswagen.

“Did you or did you not see the giant hole in the wall at Hazel’s?”

“He’s there to fix it. Sheesh.”

“He’s there because Judge ordered him to be there.”

Jaden’s shrug was meant to dismiss her. But she wasn’t so easy to shut up.

“Is that really the kind of person you want to look up to? A guy who can’t control his temper when someone hurts his feelings?”

---