Spotlight (The Holland Brothers Book 4)

The day of Greer’s kindergarten graduation, Flynn takes off practice early to come with me. Gigi, Grandpa, and Ruby are also in attendance. I’m under strict instructions to send Sabrina and Archer videos and pictures, as well as her dad. Ruby is standing in the back of the gym where the graduation is being held so she can video chat with my parents so they can see it in real time.

The kids still have two more days of school, but it’s almost summer and they are buzzing with excitement for break. None of them can sit still, and I have no idea how the teachers are managing it all.

“Are you okay?” I ask Flynn quietly. His leg is bouncing a mile a minute.

“Yeah,” he says quickly. “Great. Look how cute she is up there.”

He’s been a little off-kilter since his confrontation with his dad over the weekend. I don’t know all the details, but he said that they finally had it out over him continually walking in and out of his life. I’m proud of him for standing up to him.

I lace my fingers through his, resting on his leg, and the bouncing stops.noveldrama

“You did the right thing,” I tell him, not for the first time.

“I know.” He nods. I think he believes that, but I also know it doesn’t make it any easier. Not facing things is easier because you can still believe what you want. Once you force people to commit, you have an answer that you can’t ignore. I’m familiar with that, but I can’t imagine dealing with it from my own parents. My heart breaks for him.

I squeeze his hand a little tighter and then the principal walks to the microphone to start the program.

It’s the most chaotic and adorable hour. Each of the kindergartners walks across the stage in a red cap and gown. There is a slideshow with their picture and a prompt for what they want to be when they grow up.

When it’s Greer’s turn, our entire row stands and cheers. Greer grins big as she hurries across the stage. Her blonde curls bounce under her cap. I’m vaguely aware that all eyes are on Flynn as he yells loudly. His bond with Greer is more than I ever could have imagined.

“Look.”

Gigi points to the slideshow as the principal reads, “When she grows up, Greer wants to be a professional baseball player or a princess.”

The audience laughs and I hear more than a few “awws.” Tears well in my eyes as I smile and clap. Greer accepts her certificate and then skips off to rejoin her class, sitting on the floor in front of the stage.

“Did you hear that?” Flynn asks as he sits down. He could not look prouder. “Baseball player came before princess.”

I lean over and press my lips to his.

As soon as the ceremony is over, we say goodbye to Ruby and my grandparents then Flynn and I take Greer for ice cream to celebrate.

Flynn has Greer on his shoulders as we walk down the sidewalk. I snap a few pictures of them as I follow behind.

He sets her down as we step inside the ice cream shop, then reaches into his pocket and pulls out some money for the claw machine. She takes it eagerly and bounds to the back of the store.

Flynn and I order and then take our ice cream to the same table we sat at a couple of months ago.

“Greer is visiting her dad for ten days in June,” I say. It’s something I’ve been meaning to bring up in hopes we could spend some of that time together.

“That long?” His eyes widen.

I love him for that reaction. Here I thought he would be excited for a kid-free week to do whatever we wanted. I should have known better. That’s not Flynn’s style.

“Yeah. She’s excited. They’re going to Sea World and the beach and…anyway, I was thinking we could have our own adult vacation, so we don’t spend the entire time feeling sad and lonely.”

His brows lift and a smirk plays across his face. “Good thinking. What did you have in mind?”

“A weeklong sleepover where we only leave the apartment for food and mandatory activities.”

“Mmm. Thinking, thinking,” he says playfully as he pulls his phone from his pocket. “Let me ask Everly if I can call in sick to my games that week.”

He holds up a finger as if to signal one second, and then puts the phone to his ear. “Hey, Ev. Good timing.”

His laughter trails off and slowly his expression changes. I scoop another spoonful of ice cream into my mouth and glance at Greer. She has a look of deep concentration on her face as she moves the crane over to a stuffed blue bunny.

“Are you serious?” Flynn’s voice pulls my attention away from Greer.

The happy, playful expression is gone and in its place is one I can’t make out.

“That’s…” He doesn’t finish the sentence. Instead, his throat works with a swallow.

Goosebumps travel up my arms. There’s something in his voice that has me on high alert even though he sounds…happy.

“Okay. Yeah, that sounds good,” he says, nodding. His leg starts bouncing under the table. “Thanks, Ev.”

Flynn moves the phone away from his ear with a dazed expression. He stares straight ahead like he’s completely forgotten where he is in this moment.

“Is everything okay?” I ask.

He blinks and then turns to face me. “A trade offer came in today. The Renegades want to buy out my contract.”

“Next season?”

His head shakes side-to-side. “No. Like…now.”

“What?!”

At my panic, he seems to snap out of it. “Their pitcher is out the rest of the season with an injury. Everly made sure we had a no-trade clause as part of my contract with the Mustangs so I wouldn’t end up in another situation like last season. That means it’s my decision if I want to go or not.”

He stares at me, seeking some sort of reaction.

“That’s…amazing.” I force a smile because it is amazing. This is exactly what he wanted, and he worked hard for it. I wrap one arm around his neck and hug him. I spot Greer and a lump forms in my throat. She’s going to be devastated. Tears prick the back of my eyelids. No. Not now. Later I can be sad, but right now I just want to be the support he needs.

“Congratulations.” The word is barely a whisper. “I knew you could do it.”