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“You okay?”
“Yeah. Yes, I’m fine.” I smile to let him know that I am indeed, okay. I’m going to be okay, and there is nothing wrong with us getting to know each other better. I just need to keep reminding myself of that.
“Wow,” I say as Grant stops next to the rink. “When you said rink, I didn’t expect this.” I turn to look at him. “Does anyone in your family do anything halfway?” I ask.
“Nope.” His deep chuckle fills the cab. “There were seven of us, five being rowdy boys. We all needed our space.”
“This is huge.”
He nods. “Do you skate?”
“Yeah, I mean, I can. It’s been a while since I have. Aspen and I used to go skating all the time with our parents. It’s been years.” I think back to the last time I went skating. It was Aspen’s sixteenth birthday. After that, we were both too involved with being teenagers to spend that time with our parents. If I only knew then what I know now. Teenage me would have spent as much time with them as I could. Adulting sucks, and in my case my choices have taken me and my sister three hours from our parents. I swallow hard. I miss them so much.
“You miss them,” Grant says, at the same time I feel his thumb swiping across my cheek.
“I’m sorry,” I say, not realizing I was crying.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. I can’t imagine not living close enough to just drop in on Mom and Dad. You should invite them up. You know my mom would be down to host them. They could stay with me or even with my parents.”
I give him a watery smile and turn my gaze back to the rink. “I’ll keep that in mind. I don’t know if we’re there yet.”
“Of course we are,” he says, giving me a charming smile. “Think about it. Really think about it. I’d love to meet the man and woman responsible for giving me you.”
“You’re unlike any man I’ve ever met.” I know I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating.
“Good.” He hands me a cup of hot chocolate before leaning over and kissing my cheek. Comfortable silence surrounds us as we enjoy our drink. “We better start heading back. Aspen will be there soon, and I don’t want her to have to go in alone,” he says.
“Are you always this considerate?” I ask.
“I’m a gentleman.” He grins.
“I’m not worried about Aspen. She doesn’t know a stranger.”
“Good. We’re not strangers.” He reaches over and laces his fingers through mine. “Not anymore.”
I nod because I have no words. My emotions are running high, and I don’t trust myself to not say something I’ll regret later. The ride back to the house is quiet, with his hand holding mine tightly. It’s as if he knows I need the connection. I don’t know how he does it, but Grant seems to know what I need when I need it. Like today. I needed today. I didn’t realize how much I missed the company of a man. One who doesn’t belittle me, one who my gut tells me I can trust. I never thought I would trust again, but with Grant, it’s as easy as breathing. I don’t know how or why, but it just is.
With his hand on the small of my back, Grant leads me into the house. I can hear my sister’s laugh as soon as we open the door. That’s Aspen for you. She’s never met a stranger and can hold a conversation with anyone. I used to be like her. I used to be full of life, but then I met Elijah. At first things were good, but then he changed, and suddenly there wasn’t much to laugh and smile about.
“Hey, you two,” Lena says as we enter the kitchen. “How was your ride?” she asks, her eyes sparkling.
“Good. Thank you,” I say politely.
“I should be thanking you. You kept that one out of my hair. I swear those boys of mine pick at everything I’m cooking. It makes it impossible to get anything done.” She turns to look at Grant, as do I. His hand is still on the small of my back, but in the other, he has a roll that he’s just taken a huge bite of.
“What?” he says with his mouth full.
“See what I mean?” Lena smiles at her son. “Can I get you something to drink?” she asks me.
“No, thank you. We just had hot chocolate. It was delicious.”
“Yo, Ma, where are you?” a male voice calls out.
“In the kitchen!” Lena calls back.
I turn to Grant to ask which brother, but before I can, he appears in the doorway of the kitchen. “Well, what do we have here?” he asks. His smile lights up his face as he darts his eyes from me to Aspen.
