“Trouble?”
“In Twin River.”
“Oh great.” Our big hockey rivals. Not so much in track, but still a rival because it was Twin River. “Drunk?”
Brodie nodded. “But he’s downing coffee at Annie’s now.” He stood up. “Come on, Caleb.”
We made quick work of dropping Caleb off at home and heading out to Twin River.
“I’m not going to let this shit with Pax let you off the hook, buddy. For real. What are you going to do about things with Grace?” Brodie asked.
“I think I’ve done enough, don’t you?” I adjusted my cap so my hair didn’t whip me in the face. Weather was nice enough to take off the Jeep doors.
“You haven’t done shit. Not when it comes to winning her back. You hightailed the first time she told you to bolt.”
“She told me twice. Trust me, Grace does not want me back.”
“Screw you, man. You know what I mean.”
“What am I supposed to do? Beg? Follow her around? I tried for a day or two. I can’t—”
“Oh, twowholedays?” Brodie rolled his eyes and adjusted his cap, too. “Wow, that’s impressive. Said no one ever.”
“Come on, Wind, you know Grace. Tough, fierce, and knows how to stand her ground. You should have seen her, outside that clinic. She couldn’t even look at me.”
Brodie shook his head. “She was hurt. It was in the moment. Emotions were raw. Listen, I was talking to Willow about everything and she made a pretty powerful observation about Grace.”
“Which is?”
“She said that Grace runs from everything. Literally and figuratively.”
I could relate to that.
“Emmett’s death, her wrist, the medical ineligibility…” Brodie nudged me with his elbow, then went on. “Pain, man. Grief. Anger. She’s runnin’ from everything, including you.”
“That’s heavy stuff.”
Brodie shrugged. “Well, I can’t take any of the credit. Willow is way smarter than both of us combined.”
I shifted in the passenger’s seat. “Has Willow talked to Grace?”
“Girls talk.” He nodded.
“Does she think I have a shot at getting back together with Grace?”
“She knows you’re both hurt,” Brodie said, “but yes.”
Grace’s face flashed through my mind. Her beautiful eyes, her smile, her lips. Man, I missed her lips.
“You want to know what I think?” Brodie asked.
“I don’t know, do I?”
He reached over and punched me in the shoulder. “Listen, Grace’s older brother died. In a freak accident. They were best friends. I think she’s terrified of losing someone else she cares about and that’s why she pushed you away. Dude, she needs someone who’ll fight for her, be by her side through thick and thin, never give up on her, Preach, man, she needs you.”
“Wow.” I let my head fall back onto the headrest but kept my eyes on the road. “And I thought what Willow said was deep.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not a total neanderthal.” Brodie backhanded me and laughed.