Page 46 of The Hot Shot

“Where you from, Chess? You’ve never said.”

“Neither have you.”

“La Jolla, California,” Finn says with pride.

“Wow. Surfer boy, eh?”

“How do you think I developed my awe-inspiring balance and sense of timing?”

“That ego of yours inspires something, but I believe it’s heartburn.”

He slings an arm around my shoulders and gives me a squeeze. “We’ll get you an antacid inside. Now, tell me where you grew up.”

“Brooklyn, New York.”

“No shit?”

“Yep, but my dad is from here. He bought my loft as an investment property, but gave it to me after I graduated.” It is the one big surprise from my parents that I found myself extremely grateful for. Usually their gifts were well-meaning, but involved some sort of drama that I’d need to clean up. “I took out some equity on the loft to pay for my camera and equipment, which really helped as well.”

“Your parents still in New York?” Finn asks.

“No. I think they’re in Oregon right now. Or Idaho. I can’t remember. They sold their town house and bought one of those tiny houses that you can tow all over the place.”

A startled laugh escapes him. “Really? You ever watch that show with the tiny house buyers?”

Cringing, I can’t meet his eyes. “Mom and Dad are on an episode.”

“Holy shit. Which one?”

“Nope. Not telling.”

“I’ll just do a search on their last name,” he warns.

“Damn it.”

Snickering, he gives my shoulder another squeeze before he looks me over. “So, Brooklyn, I’m guessing you know how to handle yourself in a rowdy crowd.”

There’s something in his tone that has my steps slowing as we reach the main aquarium lobby. “What are you up to, Mannus?”

He hesitates, rubbing the back of his neck. “Nothing much. Just that you’ll have a couple of chaperones on this outing.”

By a couple, he means thirty. Ranging from the ages of six to thirteen, the crowd of schoolchildren gives a big cheer and cries, “Manny!” when we round the corner.

For his part, Finn gives them all high fives, learning each one of their names. He turns, surrounded by kids, the tallest one barely reaching the center of his chest, and beams at me. “Guys, meet my friend Chess. She’s never been to the aquarium, so we’ll have to make sure she doesn’t get lost. Let’s give her a big welcome.”

Feebly, I wave as all of them shout, “Hi, Chess” with various levels of enthusiasm. Finn winks at me before turning his attention back to the kids. I grin like a loon because he’s adorable with them, like an overgrown kid as excited as they are at the prospect of seeing a shark or maybe petting a stingray.

A blonde woman in skinny jeans and a T-shirt with a schoolhouse logo on it comes to stand by me. “I’m Ally, the program director. Thanks for joining us.”

“Sure. Although I don’t really know what all of this is about.”

“We’re an after-school sports program for children, sponsored and funded by Mr. Mannus...” She flushes a bit. “Finn, I mean. He keeps telling me to call him Finn. Anyway, this outing is one of many Finn takes the kids on throughout the year.”

We chat as Finn leads his crew to find the sharks. As soon as we stop, I find myself pulled into his orbit. His big hand engulfs mine as he tells the kids that his favorite shark is the hammerhead. This is met with much approval.

“What’s your favorite, Ms. Chess?” a boy, who’s probably around eight, asks me.

“Hmm...” I pretend to think about it. “I’m going with the whale shark.”