He looked over at his mom. “Which is not at all what happened, by the way.”

When his mother didn’t say anything, he thought about it. About how he’d just showed up at Katrina’s apartment in New York, and basically took over all the decision making from there.

“Okay, maybe I did. Just a little.”

“You do realize how important her independence is to her, don’t you?”

“Yes. And maybe I bulldozed my way into her life more than I should have. And maybe I could have been a little gentler in my suggestions.” He turned in the seat to face his mother. “I love her, Mom. I don’t want to lose her.”

His mother leaned forward and patted his hand. “Then go see what it’s going to take to get her back. My guess is she’s miserable without you and doesn’t know what to do, either. The two of you need to communicate your needs to each other and figure out how to make it work.”

He sighed and leaned back in the seat. “Why couldn’t this be easy like you and Dad were?”

His mother laughed. “You think he and I getting together was easy? Your father was a bullheaded alpha male who thought women would fall at his feet. And I was an independent feminist who in no way wanted anything to do with an arrogant athlete. He decided one day that we should just get married. I told him I intended to stay single, and no way in hell would I ever marry a man like him anyway. He didn’t have a romantic bone in his entire body, and I was convinced that, even though I loved him like crazy, we could never see eye to eye on anything.”

Grant arched a brow. “So not the story Dad tells.”

“Of course it isn’t. He always has to come out the hero.”

“So how did you end up saying yes?”

“He finally swallowed his pride and was honest with me and told me he wouldn’t make it if I wasn’t in his life, and that he was only half a man without me. And then your strong, testosterone-filled father got down on one knee and, with honest-to-God tears in his eyes, proposed marriage to me.”

Grant couldn’t imagine. “Wow.”

“Yeah. And so your independent feminist mother bawled like a baby and said yes. It was sloppy and romantic and if you ever tell anyone I told you this story I’ll totally deny it.”

Grant laughed. “Your secret is safe with me, Mom. But thanks for sharing it.”

“Sometimes you just have to let the woman you love know how you really feel. And own up to the mistakes you’ve made.”

Now he understood where he’d gone wrong. And how he had to fix it.

THIRTY-TWO

KATRINA HAD TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO CALL AND text Grant, but he wasn’t answering. She knew he wasn’t playing a game today. She’d checked his schedule, and he was due to play New England in the opening game of the season on Sunday, which she knew was a big deal.

So maybe he was in meetings or practice or traveling or something. Either way, she was going to keep trying until he answered his phone. Though he was probably avoiding her.

She couldn’t blame him.

Leo and Anya were spending the next couple of days at camp, the last before school geared up. She figured they mainly just wanted to get away from her. Not that she could blame them.

She had to admit, the quiet unnerved her, forcing her to think about all the stupid mistakes she’d made.

She had walked away from the best thing that had ever happened to her, and all because she was afraid of change, of losing her independence.

Afraid of the past.

Now the only thing she was afraid of was that Grant would never agree to give her a second chance.

Her doorbell rang. She frowned, knowing she hadn’t ordered a delivery.

She pressed the button. “Yes?”

“Katrina.”

Her heart slammed against her chest. “Grant?”

“Yeah. Can I come up?”

“Yes, of course.” She pressed the button, unable to believe he was here.

She took a step back and looked down at herself. She wore a pair of workout capris and a tank top, and her hair was in a high ponytail.

It would have to do, because he was going to be here in a …

He knocked on the door and she opened it. She wanted to cry seeing him standing there in his cargo pants and white T-shirt. He looked tanned and gorgeous and it took every ounce of willpower in her to stop herself from hugging him.

“Come in.”

He stepped inside and she closed the door.

“Thanks for seeing me. I wasn’t sure if you’d be home.”

“Yes. I’m home. Just … hanging out.”

Well, this was awkward.

“Where are the kids?” he asked as he looked around the apartment.

“They’re at camp for a couple of days. I think they’re mad at me.”

“Oh.”

“Grant …”

“Before you say anything, I have something I need to say to you.”

“Okay.”

“First, I’m sorry. You were right.”

She was confused. “I was?”

“Yeah. I did take charge of your life. I barged in here and made you go sightseeing and eat hot dogs and go to ball games and take all those trips without once asking if that’s what you wanted. I was kind of … I don’t know what the word is … bowled over by you, and I guess I didn’t want to give you the option of telling me to take a hike, so I wanted to insinuate myself into your life and not give you the chance to say no until you fell head over heels in love with me. Or something like that. Even I can’t explain it, Kat. All I know is from the moment I met you, I wanted to see you all the time.”