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I was so lost in the chaos surrounding me that I didn’t notice we’d made it to half time. I’d barely glanced at the field, and it was only slightly on purpose to avoid the pain of seeing the guys.
“What are you doing?” Kitty looked at me with wide eyes and pointed to Jesse’s back as it slipped past people’s knees. “He just took off!”
My heart lunged into my throat and I jumped to my feet. “Jesse!”
I watched in horror as he climbed over the railing. I couldn’t get to him fast enough. I screamed his name and watched him grin at me before disappearing.
60
***Olive***
Jessehadmanagedtoslide down the wall and land on his feet. He waved at me and then took off running towards the field. I climbed over the railing and jumped down without a second thought. I chased after him, calling his name all the while.
He’d never done anything so crazy. He sprinted onto the field and ran straight to the middle. There were no players on the field, thankfully, but I could hear the crowd laughing from every direction. I’d never been so embarrassed in my entire life.
Jesse stopped once he got to the middle and turned towards me with the biggest smile on his face. He pointed up at the giant screen where we were being displayed way too clearly for my liking. “Look, Mom!”
I stopped in front of him and picked him up as fast as I could, scared he’d make a run for it again. “You are in so much trouble, little boy. I can’t believe you just did that.”
He cupped my face in his hands and pressed my lips into a fishy face. I was acutely aware of the cameras casting my puckered lips at giant sizes. “You’re going to have boyfriends, Mom.”
I’d already started walking back towards the stands when the lights in the stadium went out. I froze and held Jesse tighter. “It’s okay, Jesse.”
“I know, Mommy. I’ve been practicing.”
“If everyone could pull out their cell phones for us, we’re trying to get some mood lighting going.” Caleb. His voice filled the stadium.
My body erupted in tingles and then Jesse’s words registered. “You’ve been practicing? What have you been practicing?”
As people raised their phones, my breath caught. In the dark arena the phones looked like flickering candles.
“Thanks, guys.” Caleb’s voice lowered and the effect was warmth filling my body. “So, I’m going to tell everyone a story.”
I spun around when the school band started playing a soft tune. I held Jesse like a protective layer when a spotlight lit up the ground all around us. I moved over and the light followed us.
“Nuh-uh, sweetheart. Mike Ford is working the spotlight and he’s been bribed handsomely to follow you to the end of the earth with that light if he has to.”
Jesse wiggled free and looked up at me. “I’ll be right back!”
I tried to catch him but he slipped away and I found myself all alone in a wash of light. I spun in a slow circle, looking for the guys.
“I’m going to have some help telling this story. He’ll be here in just a second. He’s got short legs so be patient.” Caleb laughed and then Jesse’s voice joined his.
“Hey, Mom!”
“Alright, little dude. You’ve got the beginning part.” Caleb’s voice shifted warmer when he spoke to Jesse, like he was just naturally gentler for my son.
“Mic check.” Jesse giggled. “Is this thing on?”
I covered my mouth with my hands and laughed.
“I taught him that. That laugh was mine, sweetheart.”
“Okay, I’m going to start so everybody be quiet.” Jesse didn’t react to everyone laughing if he noticed. “Once upon a time, a princess wanted to run away. The castle she lived in was cold and everyone around her was a dragon. Except Aunt Lydie. Aunt Lydie was probably a frog.”
Caleb cleared his throat to cover a laugh. “I didn’t write that.”
“Shh, Caleb. It’s not your turn.” Jesse’s teasing tone filled my heart. “I was there, too. I wasn’t a dragon, though. I was just a boy. I bet that would’ve been so scary. The princess didn’t like it, either. She packed her bags and ran away with me. And sometimes Aunt Lydie. She brought us here and I did something bad.”
