“Happy I’m just not getting thrown off trains anymore.”
Jason settled back in his seat. “Any pain?”
“Not really. Doc said I healed well and, as long as I stay out of trouble, I should be fine.”
“And he said it’s okay—the CrossFit workouts?”
“I have some restrictions, but overall I’m feeling great. I open next week.”
“Good for you. I’m proud of you for bouncing back.”
“It was time. New season and all that.”
“How’s Mom’s house?”
“Too empty. But it looks amazing. Uncle Walter did a lot of remodeling.”
“Cool. Can’t wait to see it.”
Roan’s hands tightened on the wheel. “There’s something I didn’t tell you before I came out here.” He drew in a deep breath, knowing his brother would question his sanity. “My gym’s right next to Reese Monroe’s dance studio.”
Jason’s head whipped around to stare at him. “Reese Monroe is back in Sugarville Grove?”
“Yep. Three years now. She retired from ballet, and now runs a successful business.”
“How is that possible? As in, how did you not know that when you bought the business?”
“I knew.”
“What? Are you kidding me? Dude, what are you doing?”
“I don’t know exactly. I just felt this pull to come home, and, when I started looking around for available spaces for the gym, there it was. This is going to sound a little bonkers, but I took as a sign that it was finally time to make amends.”
“Amends?” Jason asked. “Is that all?”
“I’ll be lucky if she ever forgives me. She wasn’t too thrilled to see me.”
“You’ve talked then?”
“If you can call her chewing me out for making too much noise with the construction, then yes. But she doesn’t want anything to do with me. As she shouldn’t.”
“Yeah, well, she doesn’t know the full story.”
“I don’t think it would make any difference.”
“Her father basically told you to leave her alone or risk ruining her life,” Jason said. “That might make a difference to her.”
He didn’t really want to talk about it, so he changed the subject, asking his brother about work. For the next thirty minutes, Jason entertained him with stories from the set, gossiping about guest stars, and filling him in on the usual drama.
Soon enough, they’d reached Sugarville Grove. Roan drove through the city center, with Jason practically pressing his face against the window like when they were kids. “I forgot howChristmas fanatical this town gets. Look at those lights. What’s that tent?”
“An ice rink opens in a few days. They put it up every Christmas season, apparently.”
“Do they still do the tree lighting?” Jason asked.
“Yep. Aunt Grace says the whole town shows up for it just like always.”
A few minutes later, they turned into the dirt driveway toward home. The moment Roan had parked in the garage, Jason was out of the SUV, hurrying inside to see the house. Roan grabbed his bag and followed his twin into the kitchen.
