Page 44 of Drop the Mitts

André’s leg bounced as he leaned over the table. “I’ve known Country for years and Jenna since she moved back to town. They’re incredible people. They’ve given that baby more love in the past couple of months than most people get in a lifetime.” Elodie glanced up. They shared a look before she dropped her eyes back to her plate. “Amey’s a single mom?—”

“That doesn’t mean she’s going to be a bad one,” Elodie interjected.

André nodded. “No, I know. You’re right. I should probably shut the hell up. You two are the professionals here.”

Grace stilled as he leaned back and scrubbed a hand over his jaw. Troy would never have done that. Turned a conversation over to anyone when he had a talking point. He was convinced he was the expert even when he knew nothing about the topic.

André threw an arm up over the top of the booth. Like it was the easiest thing in the world to admit he didn’t know anything. His jaw was tense, though. His hand clenched.

“You didn’t seem to think I was the professional the other day.” Elodie’s words had a bite to them.

André wet his lips, pausing before he responded. “I don’t think that conversation was about Country and Jenna. And I’m sorry I waited this long to have it.”

Elodie’s posture tightened. She nodded once, then leaned back as their server brought water for the table and their drinks.

Prepare for awkward family conversation, and don’t listen to a thing Elodie says about me.Grace couldn’t help it. She was more than intrigued.

She didn’t know anything about André besides the fact that he played Elite League hockey, was a smoker, and welded for a living.

That wasn’t true.She knew he cared about his friends. That he apologized when he was wrong. That he lit up a room when he walked into it. That he kissed hard. And that he had excellent taste in tacos . . .

Something swooped low in her belly, leaving her fingers tingling. She reached for her coffee and the thimbles of cream.

Elodie cleared her throat. “You know I never would’ve?—”

“I know.” André dropped his arm. “I was angry. At Luc, at Dad. Since I couldn’t take anything out on them, I took it out on you.”

Grace took a sip of her coffee, and Elodie looked up. “Sorry, this is rude. I suggested André and I get together on our own, but he insisted?—”

“This is the first time you’re getting together?” Grace turned to André, her eyes flying wide.

“I told you we hadn’t talked in a long time.”

Grace set her cup on the saucer. “Right, but I thought you meant that was truebeforeyou talked. Since you absolutely would’ve done that before all three of us got together. If I would’ve known?—”

“I wanted you to come.”

Grace motioned to Elodie. “Well, I don’t think she did.”

Elodie waved her off. “No, it’s fine. I just think I need to explain so we’re not talking over your head. I’m assuming you know about Luc?”

Grace had another moment like the one with Jenna. Was she supposed to know about Luc?

“She doesn’t know.” André took a drink of water, his brow furrowed.

Elodie raised an eyebrow. “I assumed since she was working on the charity game you’d told her the whole thing—” Elodie stopped herself and turned. “Sorry, I’m talking about you like you aren’t sitting across from me.” She blew out a breath. “So. Luc and André were both playing Juniors—” Grace pretended to know what that was— “and Luc took a hit. His helmet flew off, his skull hit the ice.” Grace winced. “He suffered a traumatic brain injury, and he’s never been the same. That’s why André runs these games.”

Grace gave him a questioning look. She’d been under the impression that this was a one-night-only kind of thing.

André read her thoughts. “This is the first time we’ve done something at this scale. In the past it was basically shinny with a couple of beer leagues.”

Elodie looked skeptical. “You’ve raised over a quarter of a million dollars in the past three years.”

André shrugged. “It’s not enough.” He didn’t say it like he was looking for validation. He was simply stating a fact.

Grace pursed her lips. “Where does Luc live now?”

“Out East.” Her eyes flicked to André’s. “He’s in an assisted living facility.”

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