Chapter 215
Your
Your turn or mine?” Thorne asked again.
Charlene glanced at Jasmine. “Let Minnie decide.”
“Dad, definitely,” Jasmine said confidently. “Mom’s not really into basketball, but Dad’s really good at it.”
Charlene could play basketball, but she kept that to herself.
Since Jasmine had made up her mind, Charlene said, “Alright, your turn, Thorne.”
“Sure thing,” Thorne replied with a nod.
As the sun climbed higher and the temperature rose, Thorne shrugged off his long black coat and handed it to Charlene. “Mind holding this for me?” Charlene took it with a silent sigh and laid it down on the grass beside her.
Thorne raised an eyebrow but let it slide.
Just before the game kicked off, he turned to her again. “Hey, when you’re filming, try to keep up with us, alright? Don’t just stand in one spot.” “Got it,” Charlene replied, rolling her eyes playfully.
The game, called “Ants on a Basketball,” had a simple rule: parents start by pulling a hoop with a rope while dribbling a basketball inside the hoop, and once they reach the turnaround point, the kids take over pulling the hoop, and the parents continue dribbling. The ball has to stay within the hoop’s boundary the whole time.
Charlene had taken Jasmine to play basketball and volleyball before, but back then, Jasmine hadn’t shown much interest. Maybe she was too young, or perhaps she had forgotten those outings. Now, whether it was school teaching or Thorne’s influence, Jasmine was dribbling like a pro when the game began.
Thorne easily kept up with Jasmine’s dribbling as he pulled the hoop backward, and they glided through the first round. The return trip was even smoother.
Jasmine had been right; Thorne was indeed good at basketball. He spun the ball between his hands with ease. As he rolled up his sleeves, gracefully keeping in step with Jasmine, Charlene heard admiring whispers from. the crowd. “Wow, he’s amazing.”
Charlene kept filming, her grip on the phone steady. But as Thorne dribbled, memories of him playing on the school court flooded back to her mind. A few months ago, she could recall his face and stature so vividly. Now, looking at this taller, more mature, and undeniably handsome Thorne, those memories had started to blur.
Thorne and Jasmine were the undisputed champions of that round.
Jasmine was over the moon, jumping up and down with a never-ending smile.
Thorne laughed and lifted her into his arms.
Charlene captured the moment on video, thinking that today, Jasmine was probably the happiest kid in the whole school.
Still, she mused, if Vesta had been the one to join them today for the parent-child activity instead of her, Jasmine might have been even happier.
Some of Jasmine’s classmates’ parents came over to chat with Thorne.
He shook hands and engaged in conversation.
Sally’s mom stood next to Charlene.
As the game wrapped up and Charlene finished filming, Sally’s mom remarked, “Your daughter really has a great bond with her dad.”
FYeah,” Charlene nodded.
Clearly, Thorne and Jasmine had a solid bond, and it looked like it was only going to get stronger.
Sally’s mom didn’t mention it, but it was rare to see such a close bond between a child and their dad, often outshining the connection with the mom. Yet, she could see that Charlene’s husband was genuinely wonderful with their daughter.