He beamed brightly. “That’s amazing. Thank you. You’ll have a great time, I promise.”

His choice of words soothed me somehow. Because he didn’t say we’d have a great time. Which might have implied that perhaps it was going to be August attending in his place.

I released a breath. My head starting to hurt again. “Great.”

At fifteen to noon, I stepped out to the kitchen with my coat and backpack. August and Troy were sitting at the small kitchen table. August was on his laptop, his eyeglasses on. He was focused but I saw a shift in him when I walked into the room. Grace was already whipping up lunch.

“Grace thank you so much for having me and for the warm accommodations.”

“Oh it was our pleasure dear, were you comfortable last night?”

August’s eyes flickered to where I stood, but I ignored it to avoid any chance of blushing. “Very.”

“It’s still coming down out there and I heard it’s heavier when you get over the bridge. You sure you’ll be alright?”

August shut his laptop and stood.

“Who did you say is trying to leave?” Robert emerged from the living room with the Sunday paper.

I laughed. “I’ll be fine, really, I have Grace’s phone number now, I’ll call when I get home.”

“Not in that machine you got parked out front, you’re not.”

“Robert,” Grace warned.

“I’m not letting Harry’s daughter go out there in this. Leave your car here, I’ll bring it back on Tuesday when I head into Brooklyn. August, take her back to the city in your truck.”

“I was planning on just following her, but that’s probably a better idea. Troy, get dressed.”

“Troy’s staying here.”

“What, why?” August asked.

Robert put a tight arm around his still seated son. “We had a chat earlier and decided that we need to spend some quality time together—at the gym, at the rink, watching some games replays, you know, guy stuff.”

August shook his head. “Fine, whatever, Harper you okay with that?”

“Of course.”

“Troy, get dressed, I’ll grab our skates.” Robert marched off toward the garage.

“Where we going?”

“To the rink.”

August laughed and I heard him mutter, “Good luck.”

I followed August to the front door and Troy raced behind, startling me when he spun me and took my hands in his.

“I’ll see you next week, right?” he asked softly.

My chest tightened. Umm….

“What’s next week?” August asked.

Oh no.

“Harper is my date to Coach’s party next Saturday.”

August’s heated gaze looked down at me. “Oh.”

I released a heavy breath and snuck a glance at him. His hard expression twisting at my insides.

“Yes. Next week.”

Troy leaned in and kissed my cheek briskly when Robert called from the kitchen.