Page 127 of Running Home to You
Abby nodded, caught between a smile and a frown. “We’d won the regional title. Left for nationals a few days later.”
“The four of us came back for graduation, but it wasn’t the same without you.”
Abby gritted her teeth and pivoted to the patio. “Let’s sit outside.”
“Sorry,” Mick said as they plopped to a splintered picnic table. Abby took the spot across from her and stretched her legs across the bench. “I didn’t mean to bring up old shit.”
“I guess it’s unavoidable,” she mumbled. “But if we could ease into my failures, that would be appreciated.”
“Well, maybe this will help.” Mick waved at the server. “We’ll do a pitcher of beer.”
Abby shook her head and blushed. “Uh, just a Coke for me, please.”
Mick’s eyebrows shot up. “Yeah, scratch that. I’ll do the same.”
“You can drink whatever you want,” she said when the server left.
“No, it’s fine.” Mick narrowed her gaze. “I’ve never known you to turn down a drink.”
“Well, I turn them all down now.” Abby pushed out a grim smile. “Two years sober.”
Mick’s mouth fell. She let her take it in, catch up on the math and new context. “When did this happen? How?”
Abby picked at her napkin as the waiter dropped off their drinks. “Not long after I was a total dick to you.” She winced. “It was mostly booze, but I got tied up in painkillers after my injury. I messed a lot of things up, which we can talk about later.” Abby sighed. “The main thing is, I’m here to say sorry to you.”
“Oh, shit. Am I getting an amends?”
“Yeah.” Abby furrowed her brow. “Why are you smiling?”
“It just, it seems official. I’ve never had one of these.”
“Oh my God.”
“Can I record it for Haley and Shupe?”
“No!”
Mick snickered. “Did you write me something?”
“No. No, I was just going to talk to you.”
“Like a speech?”
“No, not really. Can you just try to take this seriously?”
“Ugh, fine. Go ahead.”
Abby laughed at how things hadn’t changed. Mick certainly hadn’t. Her straw hair still pointed out with a cowlick at the back of her pixie cut and her hazel eyes favored green over gold. Her big smile, round head, and husky, huggable build never failed to remind Abby of a cartoon character. She wondered, now, sitting across from her, how she’d ever been afraid to come back. Worse, how she ever managed to hurt her.
“I had time to reflect on the last few months I saw you. The way I treated you before I got clean.” Abby frowned. “First, I’m sorry for ruining your wedding.”
Mick waved her off. “You didn’t ruin my wedding. It was a little broken glass, and you already apologized for that.”
“Well, I’m still sorry. To Haley too. And your folks. I’m sure they hate me.”
“Are you kidding? My parents still ask about you every Christmas.”
Abby cracked a smile at the memories, then let it fade at what she nearly destroyed.
