She couldn’t stop staring through the ceremony. While she sat with Blake and other CAC members, her gaze constantly drifted to Abby sitting with the upperclassmen. It distracted her so fully that she nearly missed her own name as the athletic director took the small podium at the front of the ballroom to announce an award she didn’t expect.
“It is my great privilege to give this to a young woman who embodies kindness, spirit, and generosity, not just on the field but off it. She puts her teammates first, constantly pushing them to not just be the best softball players but the best versions of themselves. She is a top shortstop not only in the conference but in the country, a future team captain, and one of our brightest students. This year’s Rich Aldren trophy for sportsmanship goes to Kate Hutchins.”
While the room erupted with applause, Kate instinctively searched for Abby, whose grin made her forget about the award, the crowd, Blake, and the rest. She just wanted to hug her. She just wanted her.
“What are you doing? Go get it.” Blake nudged her from her seat, squeezing her arm as she passed.
Kate tried to recover, but to no avail. Not when Abby accepted a plaque for her broken records, sheepishly nodding at the athletic director and hurrying back to her table as quickly as possible. Even as Blake accepted his Insley Male Athlete of the Year award, Kate veered to her. And every time, Abby’s stare waited to receive her.
After the trophies, accolades, and speeches, the softball team gathered together. Kate joined them as Blake met up with his own teammates.
“Okay, enough of this country club shit.” Mick grinned. “I think it calls for a little celebration.”
“Sunny’s?” Jill asked.
“Hell yes.”
“I thought half of you got blacklisted.” Kate glanced at Abby, Courtney, and Lauren.
“I’m friends with the bouncer.” T.K. wiggled her tongue suggestively.
“Ew.”
“Okay, let’s go.” Mick clapped her hands. “Come on! Move, move, move.”
Kate bit her lip and glanced over her shoulder at Blake.
“You coming?” Abby asked her.
“I don’t usually go out,” Kate said.
“It’s one night.” Abby followed her gaze. “I’m sure he’ll be okay.”
Kate turned back to her, heart banging unbearably. She couldn’t possibly say no.
A line of people snaked around Sunny’s when they arrived, but T.K. made good on her dalliance with the bouncer, who allowed them to slip under the velvet rope and into the overflowing bar. Students elbowed to order drinks. Rotating rainbow hues illuminated the dancefloor where people danced and shouted in corners. Kate, Jill, and T.K. stood at a slick table while Abby and Mick got drinks.
“Everyone get in here!” Mick distributed tequila shots. Lauren, Courtney, and the other graduating seniors joined as well. Abby squeezed next to Kate, wrapped an arm around her waist to hedge in close. “To our best season yet. Thank God DeHaven and Seaborn are out of here, so we have a shot next year.”
“Fuck you.” Lauren ruffled Mick’s hair.
They clinked their drinks and tossed them back. Kate winced. She rarely, if ever, drank.
“Are you okay?” Abby leaned in, still hooked around Kate’s waist, her mouth perched at her ear. Kate nodded, heat rising in her stomach, loosening her shoulders, like she’d waded into a hot tub, sending her subtly slackening against Abby’s chest.
“Yo, Abby! Abby!” Mick shouted. “We still on?”
Abby rolled her eyes. “Do you really need my help?”
“Yes. You’re on friend duty, so I can land this thing.”
Kate glanced between them. “What are you talking about?”
Jill stopped sipping on the dangerous looking fishbowl of booze she shared with the on-again Dylan Farrelly. “Mick asked Haley Stewart out.”
“The intern? From the athletic trainer’s office?” Kate shouted over the music.
Everyone nodded, and she battled the familiar feeling that she’d been left out of their secret club. The club of dating and sex.
