Page 81 of Just Let Go

“Why don’t we all go out?” Grady asked. “We can celebrate.”

“Celebrate what?” Jaden asked.

“Quinn trying something new for the first time in decades,” Carly said.

Quinn stiffened, annoyance on her face.

“I was going to say, ‘Quinn learning how to ski.’”

“Yeah,” Jaden said. “And we can talk about that competition I want to enter next month.”

Carly shot him a look.

“You said we could talk about it. And I’ve kept my grades up.”

“What competition?” Quinn asked.

“Some competition Jaden’s been talking about for a month,” Carly said, putting her phone and her sunglasses in her purse.

“It’s at a ski club up north. They have way better runs,” Jaden said, that trademark excitement on his face. “We should go up there—maybe Grady can come up and give me some pointers before the race.”

Quinn frowned. “I’m sure Grady has other things to do, Jaden.”

“Not really,” Grady said. “I’ll go. If the judge will let me.”

Instinctively, all eyes found Quinn. She bristled. “Why are you looking at me?”

“You’ve got an in with Judge, Aunt Q,” Jaden said. “He loves you like you’re his own kid.”

“He loves Carly, too,” Quinn said.

“Not like he loves you.” Carly was very matter-of-fact. “You’ve never faced him in the courtroom.”

Grady felt his eyes widen.

“It was a misunderstanding,” Carly said with a wave.

“Will you talk to him, Aunt Quinn? Grady needs to ski somewhere other than here to get ready for his race anyway.”

“Wait.” That wrinkled line was back in her forehead. “Did you put him up to this?”

“No, we didn’t even talk about any of this,” Jaden said. “I wanted him to see me ski, then ask him if he thought I was ready.” The kid almost looked embarrassed.

Quinn’s eyebrows drew together in a familiar motion. “What kind of skiing is this?”

“Alpine skiing. Like what Grady does.”

Quinn’s head moved back and forth, as if the action were involuntary. “No way, Jaden. You’re not ready for that.”

“I am so. Ask Grady.”

Uh-oh.

She shot him a look and his hands went up in surrender—that action was involuntary. “Let’s go grab some food and we can talk more about it.”

“It’s too dangerous, Jaden,” Quinn said. “Carly, you’re not on board with this, are you?”

Concern washed over Quinn’s sister’s face. “How dangerous are we talking here? Jaden skis all the time.”

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