Page 110 of Just Let Go

The image of her with her mom and Carly caught her eye. Maybe she shouldn’t have included it on the wall. Maybe it was time to put it away and accept the fact that she wasn’t coming back.

Maybe being disqualified from the design competition was confirmation of that.

She touched the face of the little girl in the picture, looking up at a mother who’d made her world come alive. Why did everything have to go so terribly sideways?

Before the knot in her throat manifested itself in tears she absolutely did not want to cry, she heaved her bag up onto her shoulder, turned off the light, and walked out the back door.

She’d do better with a little space between her and the flower shop.

She parked her car in front of Carly’s small bungalow and turned off the engine. She’d barely had time to check in with her sister since the ski trip, but she was curious about Jaden’s “training.” Was Carly aware he was getting up so early and spending so much time with Grady?

She had to admit, it had surprised her, almost endeared her to him a little bit, but her practical side argued with that emotion. What if Grady filled Jaden’s mind with Olympic dreams—or worse, stories of his own escapades?

Quinn headed up the walk and knocked on the door, pushing it open as she called out her sister’s name.

“Back here!” Carly must be baking.

“I smell something delicious,” Quinn called out. She moved toward the kitchen, the smell of cinnamon and banana filling her nostrils.

“Banana bread,” Carly said.

“The kind with the crumblies on top?” Quinn exaggerated her inhale as she moved into the kitchen.

“Is there any other kind?”

“Not any kind worth eating,” Quinn said. “I didn’t come for dinner, but if you’re cooking, I’ll stay.”

Carly packed together a nice-sized meatball and eyed her sister. “There will be plenty, but this isn’t all for us.”

Quinn walked over to the empty bowl where Carly had mixed together the banana bread. “I love when you don’t rinse the bowl out.” She slid her finger along the inside of the bowl, scooping out a good amount of the batter, then licked it off. “Even the batter is good.”

“I know. That recipe was a good find.” Carly rolled another meatball.

“Who’s all this for?”

“I thought it would be nice to take a meal to Grady,” Carly said.

Quinn only stared.

“Look, I know you don’t like the guy, but he’s been really great to Jaden. Got him up before dawn the past two days to work out, Quinn. This is Jaden we’re talking about here.”

“Jaden, the fifteen-year-old who still has schoolwork?”

Carly sighed. “Don’t be like that.”

“That’s actually why I came over here. I’m surprised you’re okay with this whole arrangement.” Quinn dropped her bag on one of the kitchen chairs and plopped herself in another.

Carly shrugged. “All I know is my kid is happier than I’ve seen him in a really long time. And his grades have actually gone up the last few weeks.” She glanced up at Quinn. “You know how hard things have been with him, Q. I was really starting to worry about him.”

“And what? You think Grady is going to cure all of that? What happens when he leaves?”

Carly’s forehead wrinkled in what could only be described as maternal concern. “Is this about Jaden? Or you?”

Quinn scoffed. “This is about Jaden. How can you even ask me that?”

“Because I think you like him.” Carly raised a brow.

“Grady Benson is not my type, Car; you know that.”

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