Page 67 of Just Let Go

“Well, that remains to be seen. Now, how about you get to work?”

She walked away, her heart pounding and her head reeling. She couldn’t go skiing with an Olympic athlete! She’d never come close to doing something so dangerous. She’d fall and make a fool of herself. She’d have to figure a way out of it.

But the insecure teenager buried somewhere inside her didn’t want anyone—especially Grady—thinking she was a boring girl who refused to take risks.

Even if she was.

So how was she going to get out of this ski trip without seeming exactly like that?

Grady couldn’t be sure, but he thought it was possible Quinn had avoided him for the better part of Friday. She set him on a varietyof tasks, and he managed not to mess anything up, but she kept her distance.

Before he went home that night, he reminded her he’d meet her in the morning for their impromptu ski trip. He could see her searching for an excuse to get out of it, but she must’ve come up empty because she simply nodded and ushered him out the door.

Truth was, a part of him was nervous too. He hadn’t skied since his last competition—the one that had everyone talking. Normally he’d be up for the challenge of proving everyone wrong, but lately he felt more frustrated than inspired. Maybe he could figure out another way to stay afloat—and pay for his portion of Benji’s medical bills at the same time.

Pete had sent him the details of Spectre’s offer. Better than he’d expected, but not nearly what he was used to. Shouldn’t he be insulted they’d assume he’d take such a deal?

“It may be your only option,” Pete had said. “Think about it, Grady. What’s more important—your pride or your brother?”

Had Pete given up the idea that he could come back?

His stomach knotted at the thought. He’d know if he was done, wouldn’t he? When he heard it or read it online, it didn’t resonate with him. But nothing about the sport was coming as easily to him as it used to, and he supposed that was what bothered him the most.

He arrived at the flower shop early and found the lights on. He could see Quinn inside. Her hair was pulled up into a ponytail and she wore a purple headband. Maybe if he taught her to ski—helped her overcome this fear she seemed to have of taking risks—he’d earn her respect.

Why he wanted it, he didn’t know. Perhaps because she hadn’t given it to him automatically.

He parked his SUV out front and walked toward the door just as another car pulled up. Jaden practically jumped out, decked out in full ski gear. His goggles were on top of his head and his coat practically swallowed him up.

“Grady, hey!” he said, as if they were old buddies. Why did hehave the feeling this was a side of Jaden most people didn’t see? With Grady, Jaden was in full-on fan mode.

A young woman who sort of resembled Quinn but with darker hair got out from the driver’s side.

“You must be Grady Benson,” she said.

“That’s me.”

“I’m Carly Collins, Jaden’s mom.”

“Quinn’s sister,” he said.

Her eyebrows pulled down, but a look of amusement crossed her face. “That’s right. I didn’t think you and Quinn were that close.”

“Oh, she can’t stand me,” he said with a smile.

“Sounds about right.” Carly gave him a quick once-over. “You don’t look like you’re really dressed for skiing.”

He shrugged. “I’ve got my gear in the car.”

“See, Mom?” Jaden said. “You should’ve let me get dressed when we got there.”

“Nah, you look great,” Grady said.

“Thanks for doing this.” Carly didn’t look him in the eye. “I want you to know it means a lot.”

“Course. I’m happy to. Gets me back out on the slopes anyway.” If you could call them that. Grady knew the manufactured snow and so-called mountain were going to be borderline comical, but he supposed they were better than nothing.

He pushed the thoughts away and turned toward the flower shop door.

---