Page 137 of Running Home to You
Abby grabbed Mick into a headlock, and for all her new poise, this was what Kate remembered and missed. Her sarcasm, her edgesand laughter. She chuckled as Haley scolded them for roughhousing and riling up the dogs. Enough to distract Kate from the twinge that came with Abby deciding to leave for the night rather than stay. The same twinge that had her walking Abby to the door after she said good night to the others.
“So, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow,” Kate said.
Abby nodded as she stood on the porch step, everything pitch-black behind her except for a splatter of stars. No buildings or headlights. Just a choir of owls and crickets. Just them, alone in the woods they’d once peered up at from the field.
“This was nice,” Abby said.
“Yeah.” Kate’s mouth betrayed her, lips pursing with a smile she wanted to suppress.
Abby grinned. “What?”
“Nothing. You’re just—” Kate paused and squinted at her. “You’re just really mellow now.”
Abby groaned. “Oh, you mean boring.”
“No!” Kate chuckled, then shook her head. She leaned against the doorframe and crossed her arms. “No, it’s nice. Calming. You were like this before sometimes. In college.”
Her cheeks twitched with a half smile. “When we were together?”
Kate nodded, slow, remembering that same Abby from not so long ago.
“You’re different too,” Abby said.
“How?”
“Well, you’re way…bigger.”
Kate’s mouth dropped. “Excuse me?”
“No. I mean, you take up more space,” Abby said as the single porch light put shadows across her dimples. “It’s nice. Like you were always supposed to.”
Kate’s heart filled her throat. The knee-jerk reaction to reach out tempted her, but she didn’t. Not yet. Not when they were still so new to each other. She reached out with what weighed on her chest instead, from the moment she’d seen the clarity in her eyes.
“I’m proud of you. Really proud,” Kate said. “And I think maybe I didn’t tell you that enough.”
“Maybe I didn’t give you a reason.” Abby frowned. “Especially the last time I saw you.”
“No, but you did. All those years playing, never afraid, no matter where it took you.”
“Even if it was just running away?”
“No. Don’t do that.” Kate shook her head, aching at how Abby shirked the kindness, especially with how deeply she meant it, how desperately she wanted her to know and feel it. “You didn’t run. You played. You were the best, and I wish I could’ve seen it. I mean, I finally let myself look you up. Italy, Japan, Canada, Puerto Rico—who can say they went that far for it?” Kate swallowed an overly sappy knot, eyes glistening with pride for all Abby had been before and all she was now. “It was never just a game. It was always you. It’s like no matter how bad things got, you never lost your faith. It’s really beautiful.” She finished with a whisper and a tear in her throat.
Abby’s smile wobbled as she tilted her head. “Thank you.” She leaned against the doorframe, opposite Kate, inches separating them, but neither of them reached. They just breathed for too many beats, until it didn’t make sense anymore. “I better get to the hotel.”
“You really don’t have to. I can take the couch.”
“No, I have some things to do in the morning.” Abby pulled back, and Kate pretended she didn’t care. “This is technically a scouting trip anyway.”
“Oh, right. Kayson Cannon?”
“Oh no. He’s old news. I’m looking at a four-foot, fifty-pound, right-handed first baseman.” Abby grinned. “Junie Farrelly. Never too early to scout new talent.”
“Smart.” Kate laughed. “At this rate, you’ll have fifteen years to convince the front office to draft a woman. That should be enough time.”
“Ah, not a chance. Oceans will rise, but hell still won’t have frozen over.” Abby winked. “Maybe enough time for you to take them to court though.”
“Don’t tempt me.”
