Page 37 of Running Home to You
“Thank you.” Blake clapped her shoulder, and she barely withheld a growl. “If he ever comes to a game, I’d love to meet him.”
“Sure, but he’s really busy. I doubt if he’ll make any this season.”
“We should get to the library,” Kate said.
They scrambled to leave, but not before Blake pecked Kate’s lips goodbye. Abby rolled her eyes behind her sunglasses and squashed her cigarette into the pavement, grounding her shoe into it far longer than necessary.
“Sorry about that,” Kate said, as they walked to campus.
“Don’t worry about it.” Abby adjusted the backpack on her shoulder. “How’s he supposed to know about Audie?”
“When was the last time you saw him?”
She bit her lip and considered not answering. Kate would have let her get away with it too. Let her light another cigarette and stew. Which is probably why she told her anyway. Why she always ended up telling her.
“I was eleven. He showed up at one of my softball tournaments. Cheering louder than everyone.” Abby kicked a rock down the sidewalk. “He and my mom got into a screaming match in the bleachers. I wanted him to see me play, but not with how upset it made her.” She shoved her hands in her pockets. “He was around sporadically before that, but I never really knew him. And the blowups my parents would have…that was far worse than missing him.”
“What about now?”
“He called after Mom, but I didn’t answer. It’s been ten years. I don’t need him.”
They strolled in easy silence. The one that belonged just to them.
“You never try to make me go in,” Abby said after a beat.
“You don’t want to.”
Abby stared at the pavement, searching for another rock to kick. “You don’t think I need saving?”
“Do you?” Kate asked.
She shrugged. “I think it’s a work in progress.”
“It usually is.” Kate smiled before handing her a stack of laminated note cards. “Quiz me?”
Abby smiled in return, but a smidge of shyness held it back, like if she grinned too big, Kate might detect how much she adored her. “You know, at this rate maybe I should take the LSAT too.”
“You should,” Kate said, and Abby knew by her cheerful lilt that she meant it.
“How’d you know you wanted to be a lawyer?” she asked as they crossed the quad.
“I guess I’ve always been passionate about fairness. That we all deserve an equal shot.” Kate’s gaze shined brighter at the topic. Just like when she played shortstop. Like her entire heart lived in it. “When I was little, I never understood why my brothers got to play on my dad’s field and I couldn’t.”
Abby nodded. “That’s right. He coaches baseball?”
“Yep. Two decades now. He calls it God’s game.”
“Oh, how American of him. I always imagined God would be more of a soccer fan though. More global appeal.”
Kate released a peeved, stifled laugh that Abby knew meant she didn’t want to admit she found it funny. She shoved her ever so slightly, and Abby chuckled before nudging her back. And for a few perfect, heart-stopping seconds, Kate left herself leaning against her shoulder.
“I think it pushed me into playing harder,” she said gently. “Holding on to the game tighter. And now, making sure no one is left out. At least that’s what I hope to do.”
Their gazes met as their steps slowed. Abby hated that Kate drew back. Hated that she stopped talking. Hated that they’d reached the library steps.
“You’ll make a great lawyer,” she said.
“Thanks.” Kate bit down a smile and cleared her throat. “Now, quiz me already.”
