Page 6 of Hometown Touchdown
“Kate?” My face breaks into a smile before I can stop it, and we meet in the middle of the crowd, folding into a quick, slightly awkward hug. I forgot how good it feels to see a familiar face.
“How are you?” I ask, genuinely curious.
She steps back, brushing a piece of hair behind her ear. “I’m good! Your mom mentioned you were moving back, but I didn’t believe it until I saw you standing here in the flesh.”
A little girl is tucked beside her, maybe three or four, with cheeks flushed from excitement and a half-squashed balloon animal clutched in her fist. I do a double-take.
“And who is this gorgeous human?” I crouch slightly to meet her eyes.
Kate beams. “This is Evie. My daughter.”
Daughter.
The word thuds in my chest like a door slamming shut. I try not to let the shock show too hard on my face, but God. How much have I missed?
“I guess I’ve been gone longer than I realized,” I murmur.
Kate nudges me playfully. “Six years, give or take. Evie’s four now.”
I offer my hand. “Hi, Evie. I’m Brynn. Your mom and I used to get in trouble for talking too much in class.”
Evie eyes me cautiously, then slowly places her sticky hand in mine. “Hi,” she whispers, half-buried in Kate’s jeans.
Kate sighs as she notices blue sugar on Evie’s chin. “Oh, dear. I guess the cotton candy took over. One second.” She dives into her mom bag and pulls out a pack of wipes. She tosses me one and starts cleaning Evie’s cheeks like a seasoned pro.
“Cotton candy is one of the best snacks at a football game,” I tell Evie, wiping off my own hand.
She nods, eyes huge and serious. I melt a little.
“You free Sunday?” Kate asks. “Let’s grab lunch at Penny’s. I want to hear everything.”
I nod. “Noon?”
“Perfect.” She effortlessly hoists Evie up onto her hip, and adjusts her bag. “We better head out. Sugar crash is incoming.”
She hugs me again, warm and tight, and I cling to it longer than I mean to.
“I’m glad you’re back,” she says.
I watch her go, Evie nestled into her shoulder. That ache inside me twists a little deeper.
So many things happened while I was gone. Birthdays. Breakups. Babies.
I gave it all up—for what? A scholarship? And then a job? And then a wedding that never happened?
My mom and dad appear a minute later, waving from the stands.
“Was that Kate?” Mom asks, looping her arm through mine.
“Yeah. We’re having lunch on Sunday. She has a kid.” I say it like it’s still catching up to me.
Dad chuckles. “There’s a lot you’ve missed, Brynn.”
Don’t I know it?
Mom gives my arm a little squeeze. “We’re heading home. Want us to drop you somewhere?”
“At nine-thirty on a Friday night? What, is the bowling alley still open?”
