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Because he’s not allowed to be happy.
And since Imake him happy,he can’t have me.
Which was sad, but it didn’t change anything.
“You okay?” Lou asked.
Grace tore her attention away from Jaime and back to her date. The waitress had left, the water glasses were full… “Sorry about that. Yep. Fine.”
“So, what do you do for fun back east? I can’t imagine there’s much nightlife on an island. How far are you from the city?” Lou had high energy and was generous with his smiles.
He was trying to make this a good night out, and Grace appreciated it. It’s just that she wasn’t feeling it. She wished she could’ve stopped herself from developing real feelings for Jaime.But look at him.He had such a commanding presence, a charisma that drew people to him.
She could see how he’d have been the life of the party—before Booker’s accident.
Oh, well. It is what it is.
She wanted to go home, get her hands in some dough, but she was the one who’d suggested they go out tonight, so she had to be there for Lou. “It’s a little over five hours. But I don’t really go out much since I’m up so early baking.”
“That’s no fun. While you’re in town, we’ve got to get you out more.”
“Yeah, I’d like that. But to be honest with you, I’ve never been much of a partier. I really love what I do.”
For the first time, he dropped the perpetually upbeat façade. “I feel the same way.” He tapped his fingertips on the scarred table. “I think hockey’s always given me an excuse to get out of partying.”
“What do you like to do instead?”
“You’re gonna make fun of me.” He gave her a shy smile.
“No, I’m not. Come on. I prefer to make lemon curd than go out. What you do can’t be weirder.”
“I like to learn languages. My dad had this globe in his office, and I used to hang out with him in there. I got obsessed with all the different countries—like how crazy is it that we can have so many cultures? How can there be so many different ways to live and eat and dress when we’re all on the same planet?”
“Why would I make fun of that? That’s fascinating stuff.”
“So, while the guys are on their phones or talking to each other, I’m the asshole with headphones learning to speak another language.”
“How many are we up to?”
He ticked off his fingers. “Italian, French, German, Spanish, and now, I’m working on Mandarin.”
“And have you visited all those countries?”
“Yes, but not the way I want to.” He drew in closer. “Hockey’s pretty much dominated most of my life, but when I retire, I’m going to visit every continent and really get to know as many cultures as I can. I’ve been learning photography so I can write a book about it.”
“Very cool. I love it. I think people like us are lucky.”
“Like us?”
“People who’re born with a passion. The ones who don’t have it are restless. They tend to get into trouble because they don’t have this burning desire to do something.”
“Like hockey for me and making croissants for you?”
Her jaw went slack, and her body hollowed out until she was nothing but a heartbeat inside a drum.
The revelation hit so hard it rocked her world. It was like peeling a cloudy film off her eyes and seeing clearly for the first time.
“What’d I say?” Lou sat up, reaching out for her. “I thought you said you loved baking. Did I get it wrong?”
