He gives me a searching look and then kisses my forehead before letting me go.
I march across the pavement with Dylan by my side. His team is up ahead, and Bill is waving at me madly to join him and Lilla.
Dylan points out the hummingbirds on a nearby rose bush.
“Isn’t this area of Arizona the hummingbird capital of the world or something?” he says.
“Really?”
“I read it in one of those hotel brochures they leave in the rooms.”
“I love hummingbirds. They’re always around my apartment in L.A.”
“They’re amazing, how they never stay still,” Dylan says.
Always moving, always safe.
I wave good-bye to him and head for Bill. He greets me quickly and then sends Lilla and me on one task after another: check on the food, check on the drinks, check in with the foster care supervisor to make sure they’re all set. Do this, don’t do that—I feel like my head’s going to pop off.
Every time I finish one thing, Bill texts me immediately and sends me to the other end of the field.
“Football fields are way too fucking big,” Lilla complains as she passes me. “And why did I wear these heels?”
“Maybe this is why Bill said casual,” I say.
“He didn’t say sneakers,” she points out. “I’m wearing pants and a cute top. I thought that was good enough.”
Marcus approaches us. “Hey,” he says to Lilla. “Can you help us out setting up the flags?”
“For what?” she says to him curtly.
“Flag football with the kids,” he says.
She sighs. “Fine.”
As soon as she’s gone, one of the kids runs up to me. “I got Dylan Wild’s autograph! And his picture with me, too.”
I look down into the little girl’s sweet face. “That’s great. Congratulations, honey.”
She beams. “Now I’m going to play football with some of the players—this is the greatest day!”
“It is a good day, isn’t it?”
“The best. Someday maybe I’ll have a mom and dad so I can show them the picture of Dylan and me.”
I bite down hard on my lip. “I hope so, too, honey. Have fun, okay?”
Dylan appears out of nowhere as I’m trying to find a quiet place to sit and hide for a few minutes.
“Hang out with me.” He sits down in the middle of the field and stretches out his legs.
“Just like home?” I tease him.
“Yeah.” He smiles. “Feels good. I miss it. I need the break, though. Especially my body.”
I sit down next to him and look up at the sky. It’s huge and infinite, and I feel so small. Dylan puts his arm around me, and as I start to lean into him, my emotions threaten to get the best of me. He makes me feel safe to be vulnerable, but right now, I need to stay focused on my job so I don’t screw up.
I stand up. “I should go back to work.”
