Page 48 of Drop the Mitts

Jenna reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "We made a list. Things we want to do. Starting with the tournament this weekend in Edmonton. We want to hit West Edmonton Mall—Hope’s first aquarium visit, maybe even the wave pool."

Country grinned beside her, squeezing her hand. “We’ll send the whole thing to the team chat or text it to you or whatever.”

A few of the guys called out support, clapping, nodding. Someone raised a drink. André’s throat burned, and then his heart stuttered as Grace stood. She crossed the snow-dusted patio and wrapped her arms around Jenna, whispering something too quiet for him to hear.

And then she left.

Just like that.

Didn’t look at him. Didn’t say goodbye. Just left his damn coat draped on the back of the chair and rounded the side of the house.

André didn’t think. He set his plate down on Country’s chair beside him and stormed after her. The snow crunched under his boots, cold air biting at his face, but it did nothing to cool the fire crawling up his spine.

He barely registered the holiday lights twinkling along the edge of Curtis’s garage, or the wreath on the gate. All he saw was Grace’s figure disappearing down the walkway, her scarf trailing behind her.

He didn’t know what he would say, and he was already berating himself for making this about anything other thanCountry, Jenna, and Hope, but he couldn’t let her walk away. Not like this.

"Grace," he called, his voice low and sharp.

She slowed, then turned after passing through the gate. "What?"

He jogged the last few steps, exited the side yard, and stood under the golden glow of the street lamp. "You forgot something."

She frowned, glancing at her purse. "Pretty sure I didn’t."

"For someone with such a strong sense of decorum, this is kind of disappointing."

Grace looked annoyed. “Look, I’ve got to go, so?—”

“You weren’t even going to hand it to me?”

She bristled, mouth tightening. "You looked busy."

He laughed. “Nope. For you to make that assumption, you would’ve had to at least glance my direction. Which you didn’t.”

Grace’s eyes flicked toward the fence. “I’ve got a lot on my plate, André. I need to focus on work. On the lawsuit. As soon as that’s finished and the building is renovated, I’m going home.”

André considered this. “Home to what?”

Her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean home to what?”

“It seems like you’re doing fine working remotely, so what’s waiting for you there?”

She scoffed. “Friends. Family.”

He shook his head. “Didn’t you come out here to help Tyler’s dad before he passed? Your ex?”

“Someone’s been doing their research.”

“Why would you do that? If you had a life you loved back home, why would you come to his rescue?”

She turned toward her car, which was parked on the curb. “I don’t have to explain my relationships to you.”

He followed a few steps behind. “Are you with someone right now?”

“I just told you, I need to focus on work and?—”

“Then what are you going home to, Grace?”

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