Page 51 of The Love Syllabus

“So basically, you love it here, and we’re never gonna leave.” Ari chimes in.

We all laugh as we continue to the community park, which buzzes with activity—dog walkers, Frisbee games, flag football, and kids…lots of kids.

Kerry and I watch the girls’ faces light up. “Hold on, is today the day? The day we finally make friends?” Ari asks, bouncing on her toes in anticipation.

I nod, smiling. “It might just be your lucky day.”

As we take in more of the park, Ari’s gaze locks onto the soccer field, her eyes darting between the kids weaving between cones, dribbling soccer balls with ease. Then, on another field, she spots kids just like her. Some have prosthetics, and others have different mobility aids, but all of them are running, laughing, playing, and having the time of their lives.

She stiffens, her little mind working overtime to piece it all together. Then, all at once, realization dawns.

“Oh my gosh, Dad, are you gonna let me play soccer?” Her voice is a mix of disbelief and pure joy, and before I can even get a word out, she throws herself into my arms, squeezing the life out of me.

I chuckle, rubbing her back. “Would I really bring you here just to tease you?”

She pulls back, eyes shimmering with excitement. But before she can press me for more details, three people approach, and Syd’s the first to notice.

She gasps, pointing. “Ms. Kind, your pretty friends from the video calls are here!”

Serena grins. “Well, hello, Grimes family. It’s so nice to see you all in person for once.” Then her sharp eyes land on me, and her expression shifts to mock disapproval.

I smirk, playing it cool. “I’ve been busy.”

“Yeah. Busy keeping our Kerry hostage,” Kiera scoffs, hands on her hips. Then, she nudges the man beside her, adding, “Victor, this is my husband, my better half, my wounded warrior and war hero, Chris. Chris, this is the man who stole my Kerry away. I only get to see her on the weekends now.”

He rolls his eyes as he laughs, seemingly used to his wife’s antics. He seems relaxed, wearing an ARMY t-shirt and performance shorts. He extends a firm hand and says, “Nice to meet you, bro. My name is Chris, but everyone calls me Hawkins.”

I shake it, nodding in approval.

“Welcome to the family,” he says. “Let me know if, nowhen,you ever get tired of getting ganged up on by the girls. We usually head to the bar or hang out in theman cave at my house while the ladies are off gossiping at their book club meetings or binge-watching whatever new show they’re obsessed with.”

I raise a brow. “That actually sounds like a plan. My brother, Hud, and I have been looking to meet some people out here.”

Before I can get another word in, Kerry, who’s been watching the interaction with amusement, crosses her arms. “Hold on, what? Mr. Antisocial actually wants to make friends? That’s certainly a new development.”

I roll my eyes, and then Hawkins transitions his attention to Ari. “Now, word on the street is that there’s a soccer star in our midst.”

Ari hesitates, her excitement faltering just slightly. Her fingers fidget with the hem of her shirt as she looks up at Hawkins, her brows drawing together.

“And no one’s ever made fun of you for being different?” she asks, her voice small but heavy with something deeper—doubt, fear, the memory of all the times she’s feltothered. “The kids at my last school weren’t very nice.”

Hawkins’ expression softens, and he kneels so they’re at eye level, his voice steady but full of understanding. “Oh, yeah. They did,” he admits. “Plenty of times. Sometimes, my kids even rag on me—calling me a transformer!”

Ari giggles and then blinks up at him, surprised by his honesty. “Really?”

“Really,” he confirms with a nod. “You’re gonna meet my rascals in a few. Some people are light-hearted. Some people are cruel because they don’t understand. Others just like to pick on what makes someone special because they’re too scared to be different themselves.” He places a hand over his heart. “But you wanna know something?”

Ari nods, biting her lip.

“I stopped caring what those people thought because I realized they weren’tmypeople.” His voice dips lower, more reassuring. “You’re gonna meet so many people who are like you. And a whole lot who aren’t. But I promise you, the good ones? The ones worth knowing? They’re gonna see you for exactly who you are. And they’re gonna think you’re pretty amazing.”

Ari stares at him, absorbing every word. Then, she looks down at his prosthetic, the same as hers, before meeting his eyes again. “And youreallydon’t feel different?”

Hawkins smiles, lightly tapping his metal limb. “Ari, I don’t feel different; I feel unstoppable. And I promise you, when you get out there and play, when you feel how strong you are, how fast you can move, you won’t feel different either. You’ll just feel like you.”

Her lips part, and her uncertainty slowly gives way to something brighter, something I haven’t seen in her in a very long time. Confidence.

“And guess what else?” Hawkins grins.

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