Spotlight (The Holland Brothers Book 4)

The first regular season game is on a Saturday afternoon at Fletcher stadium. Late March in Arizona is gorgeous. The sun is out, there isn’t a cloud in the sky, but it isn’t unbearable to be outside like it will be by June.

“You’re so jittery,” Ruby comments as the pregame festivities are taking place.

Flynn is standing in the dugout, staring out at the field and looking focused and so damn sexy.

“I had too much coffee this morning.”

“Is that the problem?” she asks with a smirk.

“Go, Hotshot!” Greer yells as Flynn walks out onto the field behind the rest of the team.

Ruby chuckles and then joins in clapping and cheering with my daughter.

The truth is I am a nervous mess. I don’t even know why because when I talked to Flynn this morning, he was calm and collected. I guess it’s knowing how much it means to him. I might not want him to leave Lake City, but I still want him to succeed.

We’ve only been hanging out a short time, but I can see how hard he works. Long days of practice, extra pitching coaching, workouts, therapy, and no doubt there are even more things that I’m not aware of him doing.

And somehow, he still makes time to text me or swing by for a few minutes on his way home or take me and Greer out to dinner or ice cream. We haven’t been out on another date, just the two of us, but I look forward to the little moments. Holding hands, flirty texts, Greer making us laugh, and stealing kisses when she isn’t looking.

“Are his brothers here today?” Ruby asks as the cheers and applause die off and the first batter for the opposing team steps up to the plate.

“Yeah. They’re sitting behind home plate.”

“Why doesn’t your boyfriend get us fancy seats?”

A small laugh slips from my lips. “He isn’t my boyfriend.”

“Oh, I see we’re still in denial. Got it.” She tosses a handful of popcorn in her mouth and turns her gaze to the field.

“We’ve only been on one date.”

“So?”

“We haven’t spent enough time together yet to be that serious. We’re still hanging out and getting to know each other.”

“No.”

“What do you mean, no?” Another laugh bubbles up in my chest.

“You are not the kind of person who dates casually. You’re one and done or all in.”

I shift uncomfortably in my seat. She isn’t wrong. Before Flynn and before I decided dating was awful and I didn’t want to do it anymore, I went on a lot of first dates. It didn’t take me long to tell if we had chemistry or had things in common. So many of the guys I went out with I could tell within minutes that they either weren’t for me, or they had a life that would never match mine. I don’t hold any judgment for my friends or peers who spend every night going out and want to pick up at a moment’s notice and travel the world, but it makes their lives the opposite of my very structured, stable one.noveldrama

I work hard to give Greer a life that makes her feel safe and loved, and right now that means less spontaneous adventures and more routine.

One of the things I like about Flynn is he makes everyday activities feel fun and original. He’s steadfast in working toward his goals and maintaining relationships with his family and making time for me, but he reminds me that everything else is just not that serious. It’s why Greer likes him so much too. He plays with her and listens to what she has to say. Nothing is silly or childish. He’ll watch cartoons or play arcade games or play trampoline dodge ball. He’s a good sport in all the ways he’s bent his life to be a part of mine.

Grandpa joins us as Flynn is striking out the second batter. Gigi is working the store today and, honestly, I think she’s grateful to have an excuse to sit this one out. She has sat through a lot of baseball games during their forty plus years together, so I think that’s fair.

“No facility emergencies today?” I ask, smiling at him and then glancing back at Flynn. He’s going through his whole routine, kicking the dirt, rolling the ball in his hand, staring down the batter and shaking off signs from JT.

“If there are, they’ll have to wait until after the game.” Grandpa leans back in his seat and adjusts the old Mustangs hat on his head. He’s been wearing the same one for as long as I can remember. The team made it to the division playoffs that year. I remember Ruby bought him a new hat one year because his was looking old and worn. He thanked her, then hung it up on a hook in his and Gigi’s mudroom, where it still hangs today.

No one has bought him a new one since, and eventually I realized that the hat was a symbol for him. The Mustangs didn’t win that year, but it was one of those years that gave my grandpa, and so many other hardcore fans, hope that we might get back there again.

“Yeah, right,” Ruby says from the other side of me. We both know he wouldn’t be able to enjoy the game if he thought something needed his attention. He takes such pride in the stadium. It isn’t as big or fancy as others, but it’s clean and well-maintained.

We watch the first inning without talking much. It’s easy to get wrapped up in watching Flynn, or at least it is for me.

When the Mustangs get the third out and Flynn starts for the dugout, I let out a breath. I’m clapping and staring hard at him for any sign of how he’s feeling when Grandpa nudges me.

“Your grandmother said Flynn stopped by the bookstore this week.”

I’d been waiting for someone to spill my secret.

My face flushes. “Yeah, he did. He’s reading through Ruby’s entire backlist.”

Grandpa grins. “Oh yeah? I didn’t picture him as a romance reader.”

“I have a small, but loyal male fanbase,” Ruby says.

His smile smooths out into a more solemn expression. “Is it serious? Should I give him the talk?”

“Oh my gosh. No.” Just the thought makes my face flame hotter. “We’ve only hung out a few times.”

My traitorous sister speaks up again. “He texts her every day, little notes like what you do for Gigi.”

“He saw the wall in the office,” I add.

“The kid is stealing my moves.” Grandpa shakes his head, but his smile brightens. “You like him?”

“Yeah. He’s great.” I’m sweating in my seat. I swear I feel like a teenager whose parents found out she had a crush. “And as you can see, he’s already won over Greer.”

She’s wearing a shirt that he gave her with his name and number on the back.

“Hotshot took us to get pizza last night. He ate half the pizza by himself.” Greer says the last part with complete awe in her voice.

“Hotshot, huh?”

Greer nods rapidly. “I made him a bracelet.”

She holds up a pink beaded bracelet. I helped her spell out his name and she used an I and B for his number, eighteen.

“That’s real nice,” he tells her, then turns his attention back to me. “You know, about a month ago before he threw that no-hitter, he told me he needed to impress a girl that was in the crowd watching.”

I blush. “He did?”

He nods. “If I had known that girl was you, I would have messed with him a bit.”

“Does he know?” I ask him.

“That you’re my granddaughter?” He shakes his head. “Not unless you’ve told him.”

“No. I wanted to tell you first.”

It isn’t that I was worried Grandpa wouldn’t like me dating a baseball player, but I did think there was a possibility he might have an opinion on Flynn. And I guess I didn’t want anyone else’s opinion to change mine.

“You don’t owe me any explanations. Your dating life is your own. And Flynn seems like a good kid.”

My stomach dips. “He is.”

“Then I’m glad, sweetheart. You deserve to be happy.”

“I was already happy. I have the best family and friends ever.”

“Then you deserve to have someone to share that with.”

I lean my head over onto his shoulder and breathe in his familiar spicy aftershave and minty gum. “I’m so lucky to have you as my grandpa.”

After the game, Grandpa takes me and Greer down to the field. Flynn spots us and a surprised smile stretches out on his face as he moves our way.

“Congrats on the game,” I say, stepping forward and hugging him. He’s warm and a little sweaty, but I feel a rush of pride when he wraps his arms around me.

“What are you doing down here?” he asks. “Never mind. However you got here, I’m not asking questions.”

Greer squeezes in between us, and Flynn reaches down and scoops her up. My stomach flutters as he grins at her.

“What’d you think?” he asks her.

She thinks for a moment, bringing her pointer finger to her chin. “Nice game. Slow start but you really pulled it together by the fourth inning.”

Flynn lets his head fall back and barks out a laugh.

“I made you a bracelet.” She holds it out to him.

“No way. For me?”

She nods with a proud smile on her face.

Flynn takes the bracelet and slides it onto his left wrist, then holds it out for inspection. “I love it. Thank you.”

He sets Greer down, still smiling at us, then his gaze moves to my grandpa.

“Did you meet Earl?” he asks me, then says in a loud whisper, “He’s my favorite staff member at the Mustangs.”

“I did.”

Grandpa and I share a knowing look.

“He’s my favorite staff member as well,” I say. “And my grandfather.”

Flynn’s mouth hangs open as he looks from me to Grandpa and back. “Seriously?”

“Yeah. I’ve been meaning to tell you.”

His easy smile returns. “I guess it makes sense why he’s my favorite now.”

“I’m not quite as pretty as my granddaughter, but I’ll take credit for all the rest.” He winks at me.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Earl,” Flynn says. “You’ve still got it.”

Grandpa chuckles. “I better get to work.”

I step forward and hug him. “Thank you.”

“See you later, sweetheart.” He hesitates and then glances at Greer. “Do you want to help me this afternoon?”

“Really?” Her eyes get big. She loves going on “adventures” around the stadium.

He nods and clicks his tongue. “Maybe we should make a whole night of it.”

“Like a sleepover?” she asks and immediately looks to me.

I know what he’s doing, trying to give me time alone with Flynn. I’m torn between being excited at the prospect and then feeling guilty about it.

“Please, Mom?” Greer’s voice is all excitement.

“Are you sure?” I ask her. “I can wait while you help Grandpa.”

“I want to have a sleepover with Grandpa and Gigi!”

I meet Grandpa’s expression to double-check it’s okay. He gives me a reassuring smile and nod.

“Okay,” I relent.

“Yes!” She bounces toward Grandpa and takes his hand.

“Give me a hug first though.” I squat down and she comes back to let me hug her. “Be good. Have fun. If you change your mind, tell Grandpa and I’ll come get you.”

I give her a kiss and then she runs back to him.

“You kids have fun,” Grandpa says to us.

“Bye, Hotshot!” Greer waves at Flynn.

Once they’re gone, I turn back to Flynn. “Free tonight?”