Page 81 of Spotlight
I fight a smile as Flynn shakes his head. “No, sadly I missed that.”
“Well, good to meet you,” Blake says.
There are a few other parents arriving with their kids. Flynn greets them all like it’s the most natural thing. He has that easy, likeable way about him that makes me feel less anxious. I’m one of the youngest parents, if not the actual youngest, and sometimes I feel out of place among them. Especially the moms. They all seem so accomplished and put together.
As we mingle with the adults, Flynn reaches over and takes my hand. It’s funny that he’s doing most of the talking when I’m the one that’s been interacting with them since the start of the school year, but I love that I can just be present without feeling like I need to be on.
When the conversations start to die off, we head back out to check on Greer. We flash our wristbands to the teenager at the gate and he lets us into the jumping area.
“This is awesome,” Flynn says.
“You brought me roller skating, so this seemed right up your alley.”
“If I’d known this was here, I might have brought you here instead.”
“Next time,” I say.
“Why not now?” He bends down to take off his shoes and then walks over to a small trampoline that’s currently kid-free.
I watch him as his face lights up more with each bounce. He is such a big kid. I like that about him.
“Come on.” He waves me over with both hands.
I glance over where the other parents are sitting with no intention of participating. Some have their cell phones out, one even brought their laptop.
While I’m deciding, Greer and three of her classmates have spotted Flynn and run over to join him. My daughter’s face is full of the same carefree excitement as my date’s. She bounces in front of him, holding on to his hands. He makes her go higher by jumping opposite of her and she is living for it.
I kick off my shoes and join them. We go from one area of the park to the next. There are small trampolines and bigger ones, a zipline, dodgeball, and basketball hoops. The kids adore Flynn. I think it’s a combination of his height and how playful he is with them. He challenges each one in the jousting area over a foam pit. By the time Ben’s dads call the kids over for cake and ice cream, I’m sweaty and my face hurts from smiling so much.
Flynn and I follow slowly, stopping at a bench inside the park to put our shoes back on.
“I think you’re the hit of the party,” I tell him and mean it.
“This was a blast. I’m so glad you invited me.”
We haven’t talked about the elephant in the room, him eventually leaving town and my hesitancy to get involved, but tonight feels like we’ve taken a step past it.
“I missed you.”
“Same.” He bumps his shoulder against mine and his gaze drops to my mouth.
Butterflies swoop low in my stomach as he leans down and kisses me. It’s not the all-consuming, toe-curling, make-out session style of our first two kisses, but it leaves me lightheaded all the same.
“I’m not sure how good I’m going to be at this,” I confess.
“This?”
“Dating and not thinking about the future.”
“Planning ahead is always a gamble. Nothing goes the way we think it will or want it to.”
“That’s true, I guess.”
“It’s not even a given that I’ll leave for another team. I might be with the Mustangs for the rest of my career.”
I know he doesn’t believe that or if he does, then it’s because he’s feeling like he’s far away from his goals.
“Yes, it is.” I nod. “You are going to do amazing things and every team in the league is going to want you. But for now…”
