Spotlight: Chapter 31

“Okay, this is seriously cool,” Ruby says as she walks around the bookstore.

It’s the night of the book signing for the debut mystery author I read and loved. I put so much work into planning the event. I really want it to be a success, but I hadn’t predicted that the rest of my life to be in chaos. It’s a good distraction, at least for a few seconds at a time.

“Jealous?” I ask, arching a brow at my sister.

“A little bit.”

“We’ll throw an even better one for your next release.” I adjust the bookmarks and stickers on the swag table. “Speaking of, did you write the ending today?”

“No.” Her tone goes glum. “The last chapter continues to elude me.”

“Just write a bad chapter and we’ll fix it later.”

She gives me a horrified look. “You know that is not how I work.”

A small laugh escapes my lips. The first one in days.

The first few guests arrive, followed by Sabrina and London.

“You guys came.” I hug each of them.

“Of course. We wouldn’t miss it,” Sabrina says.

“Look at this place. I love it.” London turns in a circle, looking around the store. “I’m not a huge reader, but I have the sudden urge to buy a whole shelf full of books.”

“Well, in that case, let me show you around,” Ruby says with a laugh.

As Ruby and London walk off, I glance around. It looks pretty good, if I do say so myself. We have games and activities; there are chairs set up for a Q&A with the author later, and a reading area for people who want to sit and quietly partake in the night. It’s like an open book club with themed food and fun.

Sabrina moves closer and lowers her voice. “How are you doing?”

Flynn left yesterday for New York to meet with the coaches and GM. He said he didn’t want to decide right away without talking to them, but he’s excited. How could he not be? It’s his dream.

“I’m…good.” I settle on the word because terrible and heartbroken feel too depressing for such a fun night.

She smirks in a way that says she isn’t buying it. She shouldn’t. I’m a terrible liar.

“I can be sad after tonight. For now, I need to focus. I want this event to be perfect.” I think this could be our niche. Maybe we host monthly book clubs or more regular author signings and events. I love the bookstore, but it’s connecting people through stories that makes me happiest. Funny how I’d forgotten that until talking with Walter about his wife’s favorite book. Every year he reads it just to feel closer to her. How incredible is that? Stories are powerful and healing and the closest thing to magic that I know. Tonight, I need to harness that magic for myself.

Sabrina nods and a look of determination etches its way into her features. “Okay, let’s do this. How can I help?”

For several hours, I manage to push all thoughts of Flynn and New York out of my brain. The bookstore is packed and it takes all of us to keep things going. The author is charming and engaging, and he stays after to sign books. They love him and we sell out of our stock.

I’m putting the last box of swag out on the table when an unexpected face walks through the door.

JT Ryan smiles when he spots me. He’s holding the hand of a stunning woman with dark brown skin. Her lips are painted cherry red and she tilts her head toward him in this cute, adoring way as she stands by his side. I walk to them, stunned. I’ve only met JT once, but he has that air about him that makes him stand out in a crowd. He has on a blue Mustangs hat, the same one Flynn so often wears, and his hazel eyes twinkle with a friendliness that puts me at ease as I approach him.

“Hi.” The greeting comes out like it’s a question. What is he doing here?

“Hey. Nice to see you.” His deep voice is filled with warmth.

“You too.” I turn my gaze to the woman. “I’m Olivia.”

“I know. I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Whitney,” she says with a knowing grin.

“You have?”

“Flynn doesn’t shut up about you,” JT says.

“And we’ve run out of new and interesting topics that don’t revolve around diapers, teething, and sleep deprivation.” Whitney shoots JT this adoring look as she lets out a small laugh.

“Teething. Yikes. I remember that.” I suck in air through my teeth.

The three of us share a laugh.

“What are you doing here?” I angle my body so I can glance at the author still signing books on the right side of the store. “Are you a fan?”

“Uhh…” JT follows my line of sight and then looks back to me. “No. Flynn mentioned your bookstore was having a big event tonight.”

“He did?”

“Oh yeah. He made sure the entire team knew. He’s so proud of you.”

My stomach flips and the ache in my chest deepens. “The feeling is mutual.”

“We just wanted to stop by and say congrats. I used to be a big reader. I’m hoping when our little guy starts sleeping through the night again, I might be able to pick it up again.” Whitney’s smile widens. “Now I know where to come.”

“Thank you. I love that and yes, come back any time. I have loads of recommendations for you.”

She nods eagerly. “I will take you up on that.”

JT lifts their joined hands and places a kiss on her knuckles. The gesture is small but sweet and makes me miss Flynn even more. How many little moments like that do we have left?

Ruby calls for me from behind the counter. I catch her eye and hold up my finger to indicate I’ll be there in a minute.

“I better go,” I say. “Thank you for coming. And thank you for the way you’ve welcomed Flynn to the team. He speaks highly of you.”

“He’s a hell of a guy, but I think you already know that.”

I nod, throat tight.

JT’s happy expression dims for only a second and then his smile hitches higher. “Congrats on this. Flynn said it would be packed.”

He steps back toward the front door. Whitney offers me one last smile as she says, “It was nice to meet you. I’ll be back.”

I lift a hand in a wave as they exit.

I have only a moment to sit with the knowledge that Flynn told his teammates about the event and that he expected it to be a success before I jump back into the action.

Our author stays to sign and chat with every single person in line. But even after he’s gone, people linger. Small groups form all around the store. The introverts reading in the corner, the extroverts laughing as they play games, and the hardcore fans are gathered around in a huddle, discussing books in detail.

I almost don’t want to make them leave, but the store needs to close and I’m running out of energy to keep my emotions at bay.

Ruby stifles a yawn.

“Go home,” I tell her. “I’ve got it from here.”

“No. It’s fine.” She yawns again.

“Go,” I say more adamantly. “You need sleep so you can write the last chapter tomorrow.”

She gives me a look but doesn’t argue this time. While she grabs her backpack from the office, Sabrina, London, and I continue to clean up.

Ruby reemerges and hugs me. “This was incredible. I’m so proud of you. Best bookstore in the city, at least according to me.”

“We’ll see,” I say.

With a wave to the other girls, Ruby heads out.

“Well…” London places both hands on her hips. “Is it time to kick them out?”

“Yeah. Unfortunately.” I really hope they’ll come back. I love seeing the store this full.

“Hi, everyone,” Sabrina says, raising her voice in the same way I’ve heard her do in her dance classes. “Thank you for coming tonight. We hope you had a great time. The store is now closed, so please gather your things and head out in an orderly fashion.”

“An orderly fashion?” London asks.

“I forgot they aren’t five.” Sabrina’s cheeks pink a little.

I stand at the door and thank everyone as they go. When the last person is gone, I let out a long breath. We did it. The rush of adrenaline washes over me and even with the sadness creeping in, I take a second to feel happy and grateful.

“I feel like I ran a marathon,” London says as I shut the door and lock it.

“Same.” Sabrina walks behind the front counter and fishes a bottle of champagne from her purse.

“You just carry around booze now?” I ask with a smile.

“I had a hunch tonight would be a smashing success, and we’d want to celebrate.” She pops the top and London grabs paper cups for us.

“To Olivia,” Sabrina says after we each have our drink.

“To Olivia.” London taps her cup against mine. Sabrina does the same.

We walk over to a table with chairs that was used for one of the games tonight and have a seat.

“Thank you, guys, for helping tonight.” Gigi is watching Greer, and I thought it was going to be no big deal without her, but I underestimated the work. I don’t know what I would have done without them.

“You’re welcome,” London says.

Sabrina smiles. “You can repay me by telling me how you’re really feeling. No bullshit.”

“Well, now this feels like bribery booze,” I say but take another sip anyway.

London laughs quietly, then says, “If it’s any consolation, Brogan is really bummed out, too. He’s been moping around ever since he found out.”

Sabrina nods in agreement. “Archer too. He’s happy for him, of course, but I think they’ve really enjoyed having him close again.”

“I feel sad for me but proud of him. This is his dream, and he’s worked so hard for it.” I think of the late nights he’s spent at the stadium, the aches and pains he rarely complains about, and the way he has done all that and still made time for me and Greer. I mean, amidst all this he somehow found time to tell his teammates about tonight.

“You could still visit on weekends and during the off-season,” London says. “During the busiest part of football season, I barely see Brogan and we live together.”

“Does Greer know?” Sabrina asks.

“No.” I shake my head. “I don’t want to tell her until everything is settled, but I won’t be able to keep it from her for long. New York wants him there next week.”

She’ll be sad, just like me, but we’ll get through it. I knew inviting him into our lives was risky, but I still believe the good he brought in was worth it. I hope I was right.

“He asked me if I’d consider going with him.” I glance down at the cup in my hands.

“He did?” Sabrina squeaks her surprise. I can tell she wasn’t expecting that.

“Are you going to go?” London asks.

“We’ve been dating for such a short time. I can’t uproot Greer’s life. Her family, friends, school… everything is here. And the bookstore.” I glance around at this place that has been home as much as anywhere I’ve ever lived. “I can’t imagine leaving this behind.”

A solemn quiet falls around us.

London is the first to break it. “New York isn’t that great anyway.”

Sabrina and I laugh and the ache in my chest loosens.

“It’s late. I think I’m going to leave the rest of the cleanup for the morning.” I stand and then they follow me.

I hug each of them and walk them to the door. Once they’re gone, I head to the back office to grab my stuff and turn off the lights.

The note wall draws me to it tonight. I pick a random spot and read a few of them.

Twenty years. Gosh, what that must be like to spend so much time with someone. I wonder what Flynn will be like in twenty years. Where will he be? Most baseball players have retired from the sport by their late thirties or early forties. What will Flynn do after that?

I have this image of him with a whole brood of kids, taking them to the park and teaching them baseball. Ugh. I have to stop torturing myself.

Since Greer is staying with my grandparents tonight, I head to the apartment by myself. As I approach my front door, a man stands from the top step.

Flynn.

My pulse kicks up as he unfolds himself and aims a smile at me.

“Hi.” He stays where he is, and I’m temporarily frozen in place.

Then I rush to him.