Page 56 of Spotlight
“Here’s your ball,” she says.
“It’s all yours,” I say and instantly that adorable grin is back.
She clutches it to her chest protectively. “Thank you, Hotshot.”
“Welcome, munchkin.” She really is the cutest dang kid.
I open my stance to meet Olivia’s gaze.
Her arms are crossed over her chest, but she’s smiling. “That isn’t how double or nothing works. You already got your date.”
“Then go out with me because you want to.”
She glances over at her daughter holding her pink bouncy ball and then back to me. “Okay, Hotshot.”
“Really? That worked?” I clear my throat. “I mean, of course it did.”
She laughs, shaking her head. “Text me this week?”
“I’ll text you tonight.”
13
OLIVIA
“You are starting to make me nervous,” Ruby says as I pace in front of the counter. Gigi had an early dinner date with a friend, so my sister is watching the bookstore while I finally go out on my date with Flynn. It’s taken two weeks and a lot of planning between his schedule and mine.
“I should cancel. This is a terrible idea.”
She looks up from her laptop. “Want me to go instead? He’s pretty cute. Plus, he likes my books.”
I glare at her, and she laughs.
As I pace away from my laughing sister, I unlock my phone and call someone who will be more reassuring.
“Hello?” Sabrina answers with a smile in her voice.
“HELP!”
“Is this an actual cry for help or are you panicking about your date?” she asks with a chuckle.
My nervous system is a wreck and there’s a pit in my stomach that’s growing as the time inches closer to Flynn walking through the door. “Why can’t it be both?”
“It’s going to be great. Flynn’s a good guy.”
“I know but…” My words trail off and a heavy silence hangs between us. I know it’s just a date and that he’s a good guy and that there are a thousand other reasons that to anyone else this feels like no big deal, but it’s huge for me.
The way I feel around him is beyond a typical first date. I don’t know if I can handle another heartbreak and I know, deep down, that if I open myself up to him, I’m only going to like him more. That night in New York was…magical.
The music in her dance studio breaks through my spiral.
“How’s Greer?” She’s watching her tonight while I’m on my date. I dropped her off at dance class an hour ago and she’s going to hang there with Sabrina until she’s done teaching for the day.
“She’s an angel, as always. She’s helping Miss Beth teach tap to the three-year-old class.”
I smile as I picture that.
“I think you might have a little dance teacher or choreographer on your hands,” Sabrina says.
