Page 152 of Just Let Go

“I just need some time.”

“You’re going to push me away too,” she said.

“Come on, Quinn,” he said. “We both knew this was never going to work.”

“How can you say that?” Tears shone in her eyes now, and he could see the wound he’d inflicted. But it was for the best. She deserved someone better—someone as good as she was.

“I want to be alone.” His voice was tense and louder than he’d meant it to be.

And the next thing he heard was the sound of the door closing behind her.

CHAPTER

39

IT NEVER WOULD’VE WORKED OUT ANYWAY.That’s what she told herself. Quinn went straight back to Michigan the day after Grady’s race, and she hadn’t heard from him since. It had been weeks.

The Olympics were just around the corner, and he’d officially made the team. He was back in the news, and she was trying not to pay attention. So far, her avoidance was working. She didn’t know where exactly he was, just that he was off training and probably falling in love with a female skier or at least someone who didn’t look like the Michelin Man out on the slopes.

She’d settled back into her regular Harbor Pointe routine—breakfast at Hazel’s with Hailey and Lucy; Sunday brunch at her dad’s house with Carly, Jaden, and the whole crew. But at night, when she was faced with the silence and darkness, her thoughts always turned to him.

For the most part, her friends and family had accepted her vague explanation that things “didn’t work out” with Grady. Maybe they assumed she’d talk about it when she was ready.

Would she ever be ready?

She tried to busy herself with Expo preparations. Her mini display would be up on that stage, and even though her mother was apparently living her new life in Florida, Quinn still wanted to take first.

But not for Jacie Whitman—for herself. Because she’d seen what it looked like to be the best at something, thanks to Grady, and she wanted a sliver of that for herself.

She hoped that wasn’t prideful.

Jaden was healing well, up and moving around with the help of crutches—and while he wouldn’t be skiing anytime soon, he’d made his physical therapy a priority to ensure he’d be back out there this time next year.

Quinn had to admit, she’d expected Grady to leave Harbor Pointe and forget all about them, but according to Carly, he was still in touch with her nephew, and his calls always seemed to brighten Jaden’s mood. His calls and the pretty, dark-haired girl who came over every day to help catch him up on the schoolwork he’d missed—she certainly seemed to lift his spirits too.

Now, Quinn stood on the porch of Carly’s bungalow, praying that her visit with Jaden didn’t turn into a recap of Grady’s latest and greatest. She didn’t think she could handle it.

She knocked on the door, then let herself in. “Hello?”

“In here, Aunt Quinn.”

She followed Jaden’s voice into the living room, where she found him sprawled out on the sofa watching the all-too-familiar sports channel.

“Mom’s not home from work yet,” Jaden said.

She sat on the chair next to him. “How are you feeling?”

“I feel good. Did you see they’re interviewing Grady this afternoon after his training?” Jaden’s eyes brightened. “Man, I wish I could’ve taken him up on his offer.”

“What offer?”

“Tickets to the Winter Games. Didn’t he tell you?”

She shook her head. “Why would he offer us tickets?”

Jaden shrugged. “Because he’s not close with most of his family. Who else does he have to celebrate with him?”

He made Grady sound so lonely. Was he? Her heart ached at the thought. She shoved it aside.

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