“I’m still your tutor, even if I’m your…” Kate trailed off, a blush blooming across her cheeks.
Abby smiled. They hadn’t said it or shared it, but in every way that counted, even secretly joining the other couples in the blue house, they were together.
“Yeah,” she said gently. “You’re that too.”
She scanned the neighborhood for witnesses, and when she found none, kissed her. A quick, too-short thing, that skipped through her chest all the same.
“I’ll see you later?” Kate asked.
Abby nodded. “Yeah.”
She waited to leave until Kate jogged away, aching at what they couldn’t avoid. She didn’t want it to end. Not the season. Not the school year. Most of all, not them.
“We’re moving back to San Diego.”
Abby grabbed Kate’s hand beneath the table. Squeezed it like she might float away as Isla and Luca smiled across from them.
“The princess of Coronado returns.” Abby pushed out an empty laugh. “Your mom must be thrilled.”
“I’m not going for her. I’m going for me.” Isla nodded at Luca. “For us. I think maybe I hid out here long enough.”
Abby’s stomach tightened. She didn’t expect Isla to stick around forever, didn’t know if she would either, but her departure signaled another end she didn’t want. Like everyone around her was moving and changing and Abby wasn’t sure how to join them.
“Have you decided what you want to do after you graduate?” Luca asked as he poured more wine. Abby liked him well enough, found him easygoing in a way that balanced Isla’s prim and proper—even if they did look disgustingly attractive together, like they belongedin a luxury car commercial. “Isla says you might play one more season?”
“Maybe.” Abby shrugged.
“It’s okay to not know.” Isla nodded at her. “Lots of people don’t know what they’re going to do after graduation.”
“Yeah.” Abby slugged back the rest of her wine.
“You must be excited for Berkeley,” Luca said, mercifully shifting the conversation to Kate.
“I already feel in over my head,” she said with a smile.
“No, you’ll be great. The first year is a bear but you’re not expected to know everything. If you can, try to get in with Professor Donaldson. He was my old roommate at Yale…”
As Luca and Kate spiraled into a law school conversation that Abby had little interest in, Isla leaned toward her.
“Help me with dishes?” she asked.
Abby nodded, glad to clear the table, though her throat tightened when it was just her and Isla in her marble kitchen, where they’d shared more meals than she’d expected when she first arrived at Insley.
“There’s one more thing,” Isla said as they scrubbed dishes together.
She diverted her eyes from the sliding glass doors where she’d been watching Kate on the deck.
“You’re pregnant?” Abby asked.
Isla scoffed. “No.” She handed her a pot to dry. “It’s Dad.”
Abby’s hand instinctually became a fist. “Who is this dad you speak of?”
“Audie wants to see you play.” Isla leaned against the counter. “He saw how good you’re doing and thought he might come to a game.”
“Am I supposed to be excited by that?”
“No. I just wanted to talk to you about it first.”
