Page 78 of Spotlight
“All I’m saying is I don’t want to see you make things harder for yourself. Right now, you have no one to answer to but yourself and that’s a beautiful thing.”
I fall quiet, mulling over his words. After a moment, I shake my head.
“I hear what you’re saying, but I don’t see it. Maybe because I was that kid who had other people filling the role of parent, but I can’t picture Greer as an obligation. She’s a freaking blast. I’d be lucky to spend more time with her and Olivia.”
Knox studies me carefully, then his lips part with a smile. “You have it bad, little bro.”
I huff a laugh. He’s not wrong there.
He tips his glass to me. “I’m happy if you’re happy.”
Within the next hour, my brothers start losing interest in brotherly bonding time. Archer says he needs to help Sabrina with something at the studio and takes off; Brogan goes with him while practically foaming at the mouth to see London; Hendrick starts talking about heading back to Jane and the bar, and Knox thinks he’s being sly, but I see him texting Avery nonstop.
“Thank you, guys, for coming today,” I say when Hendrick pulls up in front of my apartment to drop me off.
“We’ll be back,” Knox promises as he gets out of the vehicle and hugs me. “First regular season game. I expect a no-hitter now that I know you’re holding them back for bets.”
“What now?” Hendrick asks as he comes around to hug me next.
“I’ll tell you about it later,” Knox says to him.
“Love you guys.” As Hendrick pulls back, I put my hand on the top of my head and move it out to show him I’m taller now. He hates it, and it makes me laugh every single time.
When they’re gone, I head into my apartment. I pick up Dick and carry the potted plant around with me as I heat up some leftover pizza and then sit in front of the TV.
I have some texts from friends that are going out tonight, and Freddie is having a few people over later, but the only thing I really want to do is see Olivia.
I lie back, sinking into the couch, and place Dick on my chest. “What do we do now?”
18
OLIVIA
Sabrina sits on the balcony across from me as I repot a Monstera plant. I can see Greer through the sliding glass door in the living room. She has the tablet propped up in front of the TV as she video chats with her dad. She’s currently showing him all the new sign language she’s learned, which makes me smile.
“Have you heard from him at all?” Sabrina asks, pulling my attention away from my daughter.
I spent the past hour telling my best friend everything that happened with Flynn.Everything. From Flynn showing up with bags of food and medicine the night Greer got sick, to that amazing first kiss, followed by an even better second kiss, how I’ve spent the past week dreaming of said kisses, and finally him planning to leave at the end of the season.
“No, and I hate that I’m so disappointed.”
“Then reach out to him.”
“I can’t.” I shake my head as I add a little soil to the pot and then smush it down with my fingers.
“Sure you can. Here, let me help.” She clears her throat and then does a high-pitched voice that I’m pretty sure is supposed to be me. “Hey, Flynn. How are you? I’ve been, like, thinking about you for days. I can’t focus. Food has lost all flavor, and I find myself staring out the window daydreaming of your body. Can you please come over and kiss the crap out of me? Naked.”
My face flushes. I reach into the soil bag and pinch some between my thumb and pointer finger, then fling it at Sabrina.
Her jaw drops. “How dare you.”
“Serves you right. That was a terrible impression of me. And I’m eating just fine. I finished off two cartons of ice cream in the past few days.”
“You’re sort of proving my point for me.”
“Which is?”
“You want to date him or at least kiss him some more.”
