Page 146 of Comeback
“Thank you, guys, for being here.” She hugs him and then London, then Slade stops dancing long enough to hug her too.
I wait my turn, letting her soak up all the love and support here for her today. She deserves it.
The studio has started to clear out when she finally returns to me.
“Did you enjoy the recital?”
“What wasn’t there to enjoy? I got to stare at you for two hours straight.”
Light laughter makes her shoulders shake.
“It was great. I love that you had Greer’s class signing the lyrics. That was awesome.”
“And dancing to rock music.” She grins and then her face falls serious. “I couldn’t have done this without you. And everyone should know some sign language.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” She leans forward and kisses me, then whispers, “In case that wasn’t obvious.”
A tug on my shirt has me glancing to the side. Greer beams up at me. “Did you see me, Uncle Arch?”
My insides liquify at her calling me her uncle. I’m honored actually.
“I sure did.” I squat down in front of her and then hold out my hand for a high five. She slaps her little palm against mine with spunk.
“Aunt Brina promised to teach me more signs too so I can talk to you even when you aren’t wearing your ears.” The look of excitement on her face at the prospect is the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen.
“I’ll teach you one right now. Ready?” I ask her.
Her eyes widen and she nods quickly, watching me intently.
I make the letter P and then tap my left shoulder and move it down and across my torso. Greer follows intently. Her tongue peeks out between her lips as she attempts it on her own. She gets close, but it’s obvious she’s already forgotten.
“This is a letter P,” I say, helping her form the letter with her own hand, then I move it the same way I did. “Shoulder to opposite hip.”
I drop her hand and then watch her do it on her own.
“What does it mean?” she asks eagerly after she’s successfully done it twice.
“Princess.”
Her eyes light up and she does the sign again. “Like that?”
“That was perfect.”
She turns and runs off toward her friends and shows them how to sign it.
I stand in front of Sabrina, and she smiles at me in that soft, doe-eyed way that I recognize from Brogan and my brothers falling in love. But I never thought anyone would look at me like that.
I love you, I sign to her. Three little words that encompass everything and yet somehow still don’t even scratch the surface of my feelings.
43
ARCHER
Rain spits from the sky in the final minutes of the game. It’s been a tough one—not that any of them are easy, but the last field goal put us up by ten and has me breathing a little easier as the clock ticks down.
I glance over to the stands where Flynn is sitting. My dad is next to him. A weird sensation settles in my stomach every time I see him. This is the second game he’s attended and while I still don’t know how I feel about him or if I’m ready to have a relationship, I don’t hate having him here.
