Page 119 of Spotlight
Flynn and I get dropped off at my place, then decide we’re hungry so we walk to an all-night diner a block from the apartment.
“I really like your family,” I tell him as we walk, swinging our hands between us.
“They’re pretty great, huh?” His smile is infectious. I don’t think I’ve ever smiled more around another person.
“Just like you,” I cheese, reaching over and squishing his very square and hard jaw together to try to make him look young and cute. It doesn’t really work. His brothers might refer to him as Baby Holland, but he is all man.
Flynn laughs as my hand drops away. He opens the diner door for me, and I step inside. It smells like coffee and greasy food. My stomach growls. It’s nearly empty. A group of women, maybe a little younger than me, sit in the back talking and laughing loudly, and a couple of customers are at the counter.
I nuzzle into Flynn’s side as the hostess greets us.
“Have a seat anywhere you’d like,” she says.
As I’m taking another scan of the place, I spot a familiar face at the counter.
“Is that Walter?” I ask Flynn.
“Yeah, it is.” He sounds as surprised to see the bookstore owner as I am but then takes a step toward the front counter.
“Wait.” I latch on to Flynn’s arm to stop him.
“Come on. You can put your rivalry aside for one night.”
I don’t have the heart to tell Flynn it’s a one-sided rivalry. Walter is kicking my ass with little to no effort, at least that’s how it looks.
I hide behind Flynn as we approach him. Walter has a mug in front of him as well as a book. Half a sandwich and some fries are abandoned on his plate.
“Walter,” Flynn says in a cheery tone.
The older man looks up from his book and swivels to face us. His smile is slow to inch up but does eventually.
“Flynn.” He removes his glasses and holds them in one hand. “It’s good to see you.”
“You too.” Flynn opens his stance. “And you know my girlfriend, Olivia. Her family owns The Book Nook down the street from your store.”
I think it’s the first time I’ve heard Flynn call me his girlfriend. If he’s trying to distract me or butter me up so I’m nice to Walter, it’s working on both accounts. I can’t fight the smile that tugs at the corners of my mouth.
“Hi.” I lift a hand in a small wave.
“Of course. Nice to see you as well.”
“I’ve been meaning to stop by and sign your new stock of jerseys and merch,” Flynn says.
Walter makes a face that shows his indifference on the matter.
“Whenever you get a chance. No rush. Congrats on the game tonight. They had it on earlier.” He points his glasses toward a small box TV on the wall. It looks like it’s been there for several decades.
Flynn’s phone vibrates in his jeans pocket. We’re standing so close I can feel it. His brows pinch together as he pulls it out.
“Ah. It’s my agent,” he says to me.
“This late?”
“She’s traveling on the West Coast with her husband’s hockey team. I better get this. Grab us a table and I’ll be right back.” He kisses me quick on the cheek. “I’ll stop by this week, Walt.”
Flynn hurries off with his phone to his ear and leaves me with Walter… or Walt. Leave it to Flynn to have befriended the grumpy bookstore owner and have a nickname for him.
“I should…” I trail off, hitching a thumb over one shoulder to indicate I should find a table. I pause when I see the book in his hands.
