Romancing the Grump (Appies, #4)

by Jenny Proctor

My phone vibrates in my pocket as soon as I’m in my room, and I pull it out to see a text from my mom. Mom Just talked to Blake. Nathan, I’m so worried about him. Has he told you about the new plea deal they’ve offered him? He keeps saying he’s innocent and doesn’t want to plead guilty, but I’m beginning to wonder if he should. The attorney made this sound like the best possible outcome. I sigh and drop onto the corner of the bed to type out a reply. Nathan What’s the deal? Mom I don’t understand all the details. Something about eighteen months in juvenile detention, then community service. But that would mean no hockey. You know what that would do to Blake. I wish I could help Mom understand the details, but Blake’s attorney is avoiding my calls with expert efficiency. Short of driving up to Boston and camping outside his office—something that would technically be a lot easier for Mom than it would be for me—I’m not sure what else to do. I’ve at least managed to talk to Blake a few more times, and If he’s telling me the truth, he shouldn’t plead guilty to anything. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time and got caught up with some older guys on the team whom he wanted to impress. But he wasn’t the one committing a crime. He definitely doesn’t deserve eighteen months of juvenile detention, and he can’t stop playing hockey. At sixteen, Blake still has some growing to do on the ice, but he’s already better than I was at his age, and he’s in a great program. If he works ...