Page 18 of Running Home to You
“Yeah, trust me, I know. I know you’re only doing this because Coach made you. I’m just a charity case.”
“That’s not true.”
“I’m sure you’d rather be studying to be a lawyer or playing with your perfect boyfriend.”
Jill covered her mouth, eyes darting between them.
“What does Blake have to do with anything?” Kate asked.
“He doesn’t!” Abby shouted.
The tension of the last few weeks burst to the surface. “Then why are you always mad at me? I’m the one who should be mad at you!”
“Guys, maybe no one should be mad,” Jill said.
“Why should you be mad?” Abby asked Kate.
“How about for you coming here and gunning for my position? And now I’m expected to help you and you’re not even grateful!”
Jill joined Mick on the sofa and reached for the popcorn. “Give me some of that.”
“I am grateful!” Abby’s eyes bulged. “I’m probably going to pass all of my stupid classes because of you!”
Kate’s heart rattled up her throat. “Good!”
“Yeah. Thank you!”
“You’re welcome!”
Abby stood, chair squealing on the hardwood as she swiped the study guide. “And thanks for this too. I’ll see you in class tomorrow.” She snatched her backpack. “Have a good winter break.”
“You too,” Kate said, roiling with confusion. She wanted Abby to leave and simultaneously wanted to yank her back down to stay, even if it meant screaming at each other. “Merry Christmas.”
“Yeah, Merry fucking Christmas.” Abby slammed the back door.
“What the hell was that?” Mick asked.
“I don’t know,” Kate whispered. She stayed planted in her seat, her chest heaving, skin burning despite a small portable heater being the only source of warmth in their thin-walled house. Kate didn’t like the spat but despised the emptiness that replaced it. She stared at Abby’s chair, rubbed her throat, and shivered.
The morning of the final, Kate glanced at Abby endlessly. In fact, she caught herself doing it so often that she worried Professor Cruz might accuse her of cheating. Her mind drifted to their bickering and what she’d say to Abby now. Should she apologize? Shouldn’t Abby apologize?
Kate finished the exam first, even with the distractions, nodding briefly at Professor Cruz, who wished her a nice winter break. She paced in the hall, debating whether to wait for Abby. Her bus left in a few hours, so they could still talk, maybe grab coffee, though they’d never done that before, and Kate envisioned Abby rolling her eyes and saying no. She bit her lip, infuriated by the imagined situation, but even more deflated by the thought that they wouldn’t speak at all for the next few weeks.
“Forget it,” Kate muttered after ten minutes. She departed, unaware that Abby left the classroom a few seconds later, clenching her teeth to stifle a call after her.
Winter Break
For the first time ever, Abby dreaded winter break. Probably because for the first time she didn’t have a true home to return to. Isla did her best to fill in the gaps, inviting Abby to her condo, a glass tower too industrial and chic for its place in the trees.
“You really don’t want to be with your family?” Abby asked, craning her neck back to admire the high ceilings.
“No, this is exactly where I want to be. Mom is on a cruise with number four.”
“Number four?”
“Stepdad number four,” Isla said on the way to her kitchen, all open shelves with terra-cotta cookware and an herb garden in the window. Abby followed before she disappeared into a walk-in wine cellar. “White or red?”
“Uh, whatever’s fine.”
