Page 50 of Running Home to You
“All good,” Kate said, growing impatient. “What’s this about?”
Coach Whitley frowned. “I know you’re struggling up at the plate and I’m just wondering if something else might be going on.”
“Nothing’s going on.” Kate adjusted her visor, unable to stop her gaze from settling on Abby. The real reason for her slump. Her firstterrible outing, her first game of strikeouts that she couldn’t shake, followed Abby’s letter. The one with the haunting postscript:I don’t know if I’d associate love with my summer relations.
Kate contemplated the line, felt ill over it, for the rest of the summer. What did relations mean? Was Abby dating someone? Was she sleeping with someone? But she couldn’t bring herself to ask. Not in her letter back. Not when she saw her coasting on the river like she had wings, controlling the wind and waves. Not when her knees wobbled as she landed in her arms or when she glimpsed her bare stomach and the rise of her breasts that she usually turned from. She didn’t know desire could be so exhilarating, excruciating, or embarrassing, but mostly humbling. No wonder she couldn’t hit.
“I’m trying. I really am,” Kate said.
“I know and I’m not trying to punish you. I want to help.” Coach Whitley sighed. “Which is why this weekend, I’m going to have Palamino hit leadoff.”
Kate snapped her head back to her. “W-what?”
“It’s just for the weekend. I’m shifting you to the middle of the lineup. It’s less pressure and it’ll give you a fair go against these pitchers. Get your confidence up.” She patted Kate’s shoulder. “It’s just for the last few games of fall. They’re just practice games, really.” Coach Whitley nodded at her. “You’re still the captain of this team.”
It was a new title, one unanimously given to her after tryouts. Even Mick, who was a strong contender as their catcher, stepped aside.
“I know there’s a lot of pressure on you—on the field and off it. You’re doing exceptional and if you need someone to talk to, I’m here.”
Kate nodded at her, appreciative but certain she wouldn’t take her up on the offer. “Thank you.” She shifted back to the field to hide her trembling lower lip, and the unshakeable sense that no matter how hard she worked for it, the game she loved so much was destined to slip from her fingers. And the person she loved so much, the one unwittingly responsible for her recent failures, was destined to too.
“I’m moving her to third base,” Coach Whitley said.
Kate’s eyes bulged. “Who? What?”
“Cruz. Now that Seaborn’s gone, a waste of that arm of hers at second,” Coach Whitley said.
“Did you tell her?” Kate’s heart sank lower than she thought possible. No more turning two with Abby. No more moving as one. No more of that perfect harmony, in which they’d found so much more than a game.
“She wanted me to tell you before I made it official.” Coach Whitley pursed her lips. “Did you know she could’ve gone back up to Division I this year?”
Kate shook her head.
“Half a dozen programs offered to pick her up and she chose to stay here. Hard to believe after last year’s rough start, huh?” Coach Whitley smiled as she put her hands in her pockets and backed away to leave. “I have no doubt that’s thanks to you. You did a good thing, Hutchins.”
Kate lingered, too stunned to reply. While it wasn’t a solution to her slump, she found a sliver of hope in those words. Abby chose to stay. And while it was likely for the team, and for Isla, and to finish her degree, Kate also knew it was for her too.
The Senior Camping Trip
The clouds broke in November, casting weak light through the orange and burgundy leaves. Abby leaned against Jill’s mud-splattered SUV, smoking a cigarette as she studied the sky. Not a single cloud. She grumbled. The perfect forecast squandered any chance of canceling the senior camping trip. While she didn’t have anything against her teammates or Coach Whitley, sleeping outside wasn’t her style.
“Make yourself useful.” Jill chucked her a sleeping bag.
Abby caught it and groaned. Kate staggered out of the blue house garage behind her with additional gear. After dumping it at the car, she plucked the cigarette from Abby’s mouth.
“Hey.” Abby scowled. “That’s my last one in civilization. Maybe ever. Have you seenThe Blair Witch Project?”
“No.” Kate squashed it beneath her hiking boot. “Are you really afraid of camping?”
She shook her head. “I’m not afraid.”
“You are, aren’t you?” Kate grinned.
Abby smiled back, her cheeks reaching for the corners of her eyes. “I am not.”
“Can you two stop flirting and help me?” Jill grunted as she maneuvered gear into her trunk.
Kate blushed and started loading sleeping bags. Abby franticallyhefted up a cooler, thankful for the distraction of T.K.’s Mercedes swerving to a crooked park job along the curb.
