Page 56 of Just One Kiss

“Right,” Grady said. “Jaden’s doctor.”

David sneezed, his eyes reddening with every second that they stood there. “And you’re the snowboarder.”

Grady smiled graciously. “Downhill skier.”

David snapped. “Right. Skier.”

“Do you ski, David?” Quinn asked.

“Not even a little bit,” he said. “I can’t stand the cold.”

Quinn smiled. “And you live in Michigan?”

David laughed. “Hopefully not for too long.”

Quinn’s eyebrows shot up. “Really?”

David shrugged. “So many places to see.”

An awkward pause hung there like something stale in the air.

“Hey, there he is,” Grady said as he looked past Carly and toward the archway.

Carly followed Grady’s gaze and found Jaden standing behind her, wearing the clothes she’d laid out for him. He looked handsome and grown up in black dress pants, a blue dress shirt and a tie. He tugged at his collar. “This is so uncomfortable.”

Grady laughed. “But you look sharp, dude.”

Carly had been so grateful for Grady over the last year, though she had to wonder if it was her sister’s fiancé who’d encouraged Jaden to give Josh another chance. She didn’t know the whole story, but she knew his relationship with his own father had been tense, and maybe he had some regrets.

As it was, Jaden looked up to the man as more than a skiing coach, and so far Grady hadn’t let Jaden down.

She prayed he never did, though her son apparently had a higher capacity for forgiveness than his mother.

“You do look sharp,” Quinn said.

“It pays to listen to your mother, especially about fashion,” Carly said.

“I’d rather be in my track pants, but I’ll suffer for you, Aunt Quinn,” Jaden said with a grin.

Couples and small groups strode in through the decorated archway, and then, as if parting like the Red Sea, they dispersed to reveal Josh standing at the entrance. He spotted them and waved.

And now he was coming over here.

Carly’s smile faded. She looked at Quinn and widened her eyes, as if to ask,Why didn’t you tell me you invited Josh?

But Quinn’s own widened eyes seemed to convey that she had no idea herself. She glanced at David, who sneezed again.

As Josh reached them, Jaden clapped a hand around Josh’s shoulder and smiled. “Hope it’s okay I invited Dad.”

Josh carried a small box professionally wrapped in white and silver paper with a big silver bow. He held it out toward Quinn. “Congratulations.”

“You got me a gift?” Quinn looked as surprised as Carly felt.

Josh’s expression changed. “Well, it’s for both of you.” He motioned toward Grady. “Was I not supposed to?”

“Heck no, man, we’ll take your gift.” Grady reached out and took the box. “I’ll go put this on the table.” He kissed Quinn on the cheek and walked away.

“Thanks for that, Josh,” Quinn said. “You didn’t have to do that.”

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