Page 112 of Spotlight
“You’re Flynn Holland,” he says loud enough that the entire class can hear.
Little heads turn to him.
“Oh my goodness.” Mrs. Kadia beams. “I thought I recognized you. You pitch for the Mustangs.”
“That’s right,” Flynn says with all the abashed charm of a man who wouldn’t normally want to draw this much attention to himself.
“Greer was telling the truth,” another kid says.
I look right at poor Sara whose face turns red. Everyone else flocks to Flynn. The kids ask him questions like, “How tall are you?” and “Can you stay and play kickball with us at recess?”
He stands behind Greer and places both hands protectively on her shoulders as he answers every single one. It’s only when the first bell rings that Mrs. Kadia instructs everyone to say goodbye to Mr. Holland. He offers the kids high fives, and they go to their desks with big, awe-filled smiles.
Greer is the last one with him. He squats down in front of her. I can’t hear what either of them says, but it ends with her hugging him and me feeling like I might cry.
Emotion clogs my throat as I wave one last time to Greer. Flynn and I leave, and Mrs. Kadia calls the room to attention.
In the hallway, I wait until we’re out of sight of the kids and then hug him. He’s taken by surprise, but his arms circle my waist, and he hugs me back. I squeeze him hard, still fighting back tears.
“That was really nice of you.” The words are muffled into his chest.
His grip on me loosens and I peer up at him.
“It was mostly selfish.”
My brows pinch together.
“I couldn’t stand the thought of anyone thinking Greer is a liar. Nobody picks on my favorite little girl.”
Now I’m the one laughing while he looks like he wants to march back into the classroom. I get it though. Nothing makes me angrier than when someone hurts Greer. It’s nice to have a partner that loves my daughter as much as I do. She’s lucky. We both are.
Stepping back from him, I lace my fingers with his. “Come on, Hotshot. We’re both going to be late for work.”
26
FLYNN
The first month of regular season games goes by in a blur. When I’m not pitching, I’m sitting on the bench antsy to get back out there. Working with the coaches here has been good. Between them and little tidbits I pull out of Earl, it’s made a difference. I’m finding my way and starting to be the pitcher I knew I was capable of being.
Unfortunately, my performance hasn’t kept us from losing. We’re coming off back-to-back losses on the road and I desperately want to get us another win at tonight’s game. It’s a big game for a lot of reasons, but for me it’s the first time I’ll be facing the Twins since they let me go.
I get to the stadium hours before the game starts. I take my phone with me to the training room. The trainers are here, but I’m the first player to arrive.
I tip my head to them and move to a corner of the room. The game is late tonight, so Olivia and Greer aren’t making it. Archer and Brogan will be in the stands though. They come to every game they can. Knox and Hendrick too. Knox even made it to see me in Texas. He had a race the next day nearby. I appreciate them and the way they always show up for me. I don’t know what I would do without them.
The more time I’ve spent with Greer, the more I’ve thought about that. I know my brothers have a hard time with my relationship with Dad, but the truth is I didn’t feel his loss the same way they did because I had them. I didn’t need a dad because I had them, but I stillwantone.
I click on his contact to call him and then put the phone to my ear. He answers on the third ring.
“Hel-lo.” He always says it that way, emphasizing each syllable. The background is noisy with lots of people talking.
“Hey. Where are you?” I ask him.
“Took a little drive up to Sedona.”
I guess that answers my question if he’s coming tonight. He still hasn’t been to a game this season and it’s starting to get to me. I know it’s early in the season, but it seems like he could have made it to at least one. Last season he was at nearly every game. I don’t get it. What’s changed?
“Oh.”
