Page 126 of Running Home to You
Mick surveyed her with arms crossed, as if the game and fans around them meant nothing. Then after a long sigh, she snatched Abby’s hand and yanked her up.
“What are you doing? Come here.”
Abby startled, then relaxed as Mick smacked her into a hug. A lump filled her throat. She squeezed her back, wishing it could make up for everything she’d ruined. When they released, Abby sniffled, thankful for the shield of her sunglasses.
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you were here,” Mick said.
“I know. I came for work and—” Abby paused as her lips drooped. “And I didn’t know if you’d want to see me.”
“Of course I want to see you.” Mick punched her shoulder. “You really are still an idiot, aren’t you?”
“Some things never change.” Abby forced a smirk even if it didn’t fix the rest.
They sat down as the bottom of the inning started, squeezing next to Tanner, who grinned and scooted down.
“This is Tanner, another scout,” Abby said. “Tanner, this is Mick. She’s the head softball coach here.”
“Nice to meet you,” Tanner said. “Did you play with Abby?”
“Oh yeah, we go way back. Did she tell you she’s the greatest ballplayer in Insley history?”
“She failed to mention that.”
“Because it’s not true.” Abby scoffed, embarrassed but heartened. She didn’t know how Mick still had a kind word to say about her.
“You guys here for Kayson?” Mick asked.
“Yep.”
“He’s a good kid.” She raised a mischievous brow at Abby. “He plays like Hutch, don’t you think?”
Abby swallowed. Of course, he played like her. That was the whole reason she was there. Why she never stopped chasing the game.I miss you so much that I search for you in others.
“Never noticed.” She shrugged.
Tanner left after the next inning and Abby wished he’d stay as a buffer. It left her to do the heavy lifting.
“So, we going to talk about it?” Mick asked.
Abby wrung her hands, keeping her gaze on Kayson. It was enough silence for Mick to unleash her wrath.
“I mean, I know you do this. You disappear, and it was bad enough when you did it to her, but I’ve always stuck by you. What you said, cutting me out for two years? It hurt. I beat myself up at first, but now you come back, and you didn’t even have the decency to tell me you were here? Are we really not friends anymore?”
“Hey, I know, I know. I’m sorry.” She stopped Mick’s flailing hands. “I’m really sorry.”
Mick’s face wilted. Her voice fell beneath the game. “What happened, Abby?”
The crowd cheered as the Eagles smacked in a few more runs. She drew in a ragged breath. “You think we could get out of here?”
“Thought you’d never ask.” Mick punched her shoulder and Abby hissed, never so grateful for the tender spot it left on her biceps.
“This is seriously still your spot of choice?” Abby asked as they stood outside Sunny’s. The bar hadn’t changed in almost a decade. She swore the same beer residue coated the floorboards.
“I thought we could, for old times’ sake.” Mick shook her shoulders. “Plus, I wanted to show you something.”
Tacked up on the wall, among the other immortalized Insley greats, was a photo of their senior fivesome. They sat on the bar in their letterman’s jackets, Mick kissing a trophy in the center, Abby’s arm draped over Kate’s shoulder, Jill and T.K. raising drinks on Mick’s other side.
“I think that was the last time we were all here together,” Mick said.
