Page 2

2

FORD

M y Gram stands on the porch, arms crossed over her chest. A broad smile curls her lips when she sees me.

I tip the driver, throw the door open, and practically sprint to her.

Dropping my bags, I envelop her in a huge hug.

She laughs as I lift her off her feet. “Don’t give me a heart attack, boy. I’m not getting any younger.”

“Oh, Gram. You look as gorgeous as the last time I saw you.”

She pulls back, squeezing my cheeks. “You sure know how to flatter a lady. How did Carly ever let you go?”

Immediately, my shoulders tense. “Gram?—”

She holds up a hand. “Listen, Ford. I’ll give it to you straight like I always do.”

Oh, shit. Here we go.

“I knew things weren’t gonna work out for you and Carly. Sure, I kept up the pretense when I saw her at your game in Ontario, but deep in my heart, I knew.”

I eye her skeptically, waiting for her to finish.

“The truth is, she didn’t give you that sparkle in your eyes.” She frowns, her brows drawing in. “I haven’t seen that spark in you since Harper?—”

I groan. “No, Gram. We’re not going there.” I lower her to her feet.

She tilts her head up, eyeing me in that intimidating way of hers.

She’s over a foot shorter than me, and yet, she intimidates me like no other.

She crosses her arms over her chest, glaring at me. “Ford Brooks. Now you listen to me. You need to?—”

My cell phone rings, cutting her off. I yank it from my pocket, desperate for a reprieve from this conversation.

“It’s Connor. I need to take this. He wanted me to let him know I made it safely.”

“Ohhh, Connor.” Gram does a little shimmy, and I fight the urge to go catatonic. Connor is a notorious flirt, but Gram?

She’s a fucking menace.

“Put him on speaker,” she orders, eyes twinkling.

I groan but obey, already regretting every life choice that led to this moment.

The call barely connects before Gram jumps in. “Hello, boy toy. It’s your favorite mountain lion.”

“Rawr!” He says with a laugh. “How are you, beauty?”

She laughs. “I’m doing well. Be even better if you’d come over and help me with my physical therapy. The doctor says my hips are tight.”

She gives me a lascivious grin, and I know I won’t like what she says next. “That’s not the only thing that’s tight.”

“Jesus Christ, Gram.” I snatch the phone away, taking it off speaker phone and putting it against my ear. “See what you started?”

Connor howls with laughter. “If my little peach needs a workout?—”

“No. Do not finish that statement, or I’m shoving your fucking hockey stick up your ass.”

“Oh, kinky,” Gram says, her blue eyes twinkling.

“I take it you made it home without incident,” Connor says.

“I don’t know if I’d say without incident.” I scowl as I think about her bringing up Harper and then flirting with my teammate. “You know how Gram is.”

“Don’t be talking about me like I’m not standing right here,” Gram sasses, pointing her finger at me.

“Oh, feisty. I love it when she gets worked up.”

I groan.

“I speak the truth,” I say to her.

Then to Connor, I say, “Stop it. I’m about to lose my coffee.”

He chuckles. “I just wanted to be sure you made it safely. My sister just pulled up, so I gotta go. We’ll get together soon.”

I nod, even though he can’t see me. “We’ll make plans soon. Later.”

Hanging up, I brace myself for Gram’s tirade. She stands there, tapping her sandal on the porch. “Come inside so I can give you some cookies and tea and properly yell at you.”

I chuckle, shaking my head. “Yeah, cause the squirrels will find the way you freak out scandalous.”

She rolls her eyes, turning toward the door. I grab the screen door and pull it open for her.

“Glad to see you still have manners.” She pats my arm as she passes, entering the house.

I follow behind, the scent of home-cooked meals and Gram’s familiar perfume infiltrating my senses. Comfort immediately wraps around me like a familiar hug.

I’m home.

My apartment close to the rink in the city is a poor substitute for the peace and tranquility of Gram’s house. The place I grew up when my parents divorced. Then my mom remarried and moved out, but I stayed here with Gram.

As I walk through the family room into the kitchen, my gaze moves to the window. Freshly cut grass gently sways in the gentle breeze. The afternoon sun filters through the trees, causing shadows to dance on the lawn.

Beyond the shimmer of the lake lies the house that once felt like my second home.

Now, it’s nothing but a ghost of what I lost.

I should look away.

Shouldn’t care.

But my stomach clenches anyway because, for the first time in a decade… she’s here.

And I fucking felt it before I even saw the house.

Dragging my gaze away, I meet my Gram’s knowing stare.

Busted.

Dammit.

I hold up a hand. “I don’t want to hear it.”

“Too bad. Cause you’re gonna listen.”

“I’ve gotta bring my bags inside.” I spin around, heading for the porch.

Her voice follows behind me. “Keep running, Ford. But you can’t hide from me.”

Right before the door closes, I hear her say, “It’s time you dealt with the past.”