Page 43 of Running Home to You
Abby smirked. “I don’t know. Would it bother you?”
Kate’s mouth fell. “No.”
Abby inched closer. “I know we didn’t talk about it, but I’m sorry about what happened after Isla’s.”
“It’s fine.” Kate glanced away, as if a single look might reveal that Abby’s affections that night resulted in her first climax.
“I know I made you uncomfortable.” Abby twirled the thin straw in her bourbon. Kate’s heart pounded as Abby brought her mouth to her ear, her words vibrating into her cheek. “I just feel something when I’m with you.”
Kate nearly dropped her drink. She didn’t fully know what Abby meant, but her gaze said the rest. The same as in the car.Sometimes I wish I could have more of you.“We can’t.”
Abby sighed. “Because of Blake.”
“And because I’m not—” Kate couldn’t finish the sentence. She wasn’t afraid to say it, but in light of recent events, she didn’t know if she meant it.
“Right.” Abby nodded, a faint frown pulling down her mouth.
Kate didn’t know if the booze or their closeness inspired her, but she blurted a confession as if she might drown beneath it. “I feel confused when I’m with you.”
“Good confused or bad confused?”
“It depends.” Kate paused. “It feels good, but it scares me. I’m not supposed to.”
“Not supposed to what?”
“Want you.” Kate shuddered. She felt lightheaded. Someone bumped into her, and she nearly toppled over before Abby braced her.
“What if I wanted you too?” she whispered with hands around her forearms.
Kate bit her lip. “It wouldn’t matter.”
Abby opened her mouth to speak when Blake interrupted. “ ‘Adios,Abby Cruz! It’s outta here! ’ ” He topped off his unwelcome arrival with her father’s catchphrase. “Get it? It’s like Audie but it’s Abby.”
She released Kate. “I’m not drunk enough for this,” she muttered.
Kate frowned. “Don’t get too drunk.”
“You seem a little tipsy yourself.” Blake wrapped an arm around Kate and kissed her. When their lips parted, she caught Abby as she scowled and tossed back the rest of her drink.
What had the potential to be a great night, a night with Abby’s undivided attention, transformed into an awful one. Kate wished to disappear, wished she hadn’t come at all. Especially as Mick joined them with Haley Stewart and her friend.
“Hey, guys!” Mick bounced on her toes, hands twitchy as she gestured. “You know Haley, right?”
“Good to see you again.” Kate smiled for Mick’s sake. Her friend stared at Haley like she’d pinned the moon in the sky. And Haley shone as if she had, eyes reluctantly breaking from Mick.
“Good to see you too.” Haley nodded at the group, rested a grin on Kate, Abby, and Blake. “Congrats on the season. And on the draft, Blake.”
“Thanks! They’re projecting eighteenth round now. Brewers are interested.” He grinned.
The blonde at Haley’s side cleared her throat and Mick scrambled to introduce her.
“This is Haley’s friend Zoey.” Mick hastily pointed out Kate and Blake, but nearly shoved her at Abby. “Zoey, this is Abby.”
Kate tensed as Abby shook her hand.
Zoey’s crimson lips curved with a smile. “Mick was saying you broke some school record?”
“Was she?” Abby smirked. “She’s my biggest fan.”
