Page 20 of Stolen Kisses
He had a football he kicked with his little legs.
I was shocked when he kicked the ball to Maria and she ran to kick it. The kid laughed in the cute way most kids did, ran up to her, and hugged her legs.
As far as I knew Maria hated kids. I heard her talking once to Christina, telling her she never planned on having any, because she couldn’t risk getting stretchmarks on her perfect body. It was her who gave Christina her first pack of condoms and told her better to have it and not need it, than be without.
No way would I think this kid was hers, but she held the boy like he was.
She released him and kicked the ball again. He ran to get it, coming closer to where I stood, and kicked the ball again so hard it bounced and spun all the way over to me.
It was me who stopped it from bouncing into the road. I blocked it with my foot and picked it up.
The kid ran to me with a bright smile on his face.
“Thanks Mister.” He bubbled. I stared at him and narrowed my eyes.
He looked like her, but he also looked like someone else I knew too.
“Hey kid. You got a good leg on you,” I complimented him and crouched down to look at him properly. “Do you play for a team?” I knew how to talk to kids.
This little guy looked like he’d been given the best compliment in the world.
“No, Mama taught me to play.” He replied proudly.
“Did she now?” I asked asMamacame rushing up to us.
“Flynn,” Maria said, face filled with an etch of worry. I seriously hoped she didn’t think I would hurt him, because I wasn’t that kind of man and she should know better.
“Mama, I could play for a team. I’m that good,” Flynn told Maria.
“Yes, you are sweetie,” Maria looked from me to Flynn completely uneasy.
“Not going to introduce your oldest friend?” I had to ask.
She gave me a tight-lipped smile. “You aren’t my oldest friend.”
If she was talking about age, then I guessed I probably wasn’t; that was Luc.
“No, maybe I’m not.” I gave Flynn a curious look that she saw and must have known straight away what was on my mind.
Dark hair, bright blue eyes, olive skin.
Flynn looked like he was about five. Maria had been gone for five years. As far as I knew five years ago before Luc got with Amelia, he had been with Maria.
Could it be?
“Flynn, this is Dante. Dante this is my son, Flynn.” Maria said.
I was too fixated on the bright smile Flynn gave me to indulge on the curiosity.
“Dante, like in Ninja Warriors.” The look on his little face brightened even more.
I chuckled.
“Yes baby,” Maria lowered and kissed the top of Flynn’s head. “Why don’t you go play in the sand pit and I’ll be over to join you in a minute?”
“Okay Mama. Goodbye Mr. Dante.” He waved his little hand.
“Just Dante buddy, call me Dante,” I offered. It would be weird if he called me Mr. Dante.
