Chapter Twenty-six
Razor awoke to the smell of bacon. She threw off the covers and stumbled into the kitchen and found Summer standing at her stove, in a camisole and boy shorts.
“What are you doing?”
Summer startled but recovered without any damage to breakfast or herself.
“Um…I wanted to say thank you for last night, so I’m making us breakfast.”
Razor smiled and watched as she transferred the bacon to the napkin-lined plate.
“Thank you. That’s very nice.”
“Go have a seat,” Summer instructed. “I’ll bring everything out.”
Razor rounded the corner to her dining nook and was surprised to see coffee, juice, and silverware already on the table. A short time later, Summer set a plate piled with eggs, bacon, and toast in front of her.
Once settled, Summer said, “I’m going to eat real quick, then get out of your hair.”
Razor stopped the eggs halfway to her mouth. “How do you plan to get back to campus?”
“I’ll call a rideshare.”
Razor shook her head. “I’ll give you a ride after we finish breakfast.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“We’re thirty minutes outside of town. Not to mention another county. Even if you could get a rideshare out here, it’ll take forever and cost a fortune.”
“Okay, okay.” Summer surrendered.
“Besides, it gives me a reason to go see Coach Sharpe.”
“Is that who you were on the phone with last night?”
Razor wondered how she knew that.
Summer continued, as if reading her mind. “I heard you from the bathroom. The walls in this place are thin.”
Razor nodded and sipped her coffee. “Yes, it was her on the phone. But nothing you need to worry about. Let’s enjoy breakfast.”
They ate quietly for a few minutes until the silence became too much for Razor and she decided to make small talk, hoping to draw Summer out.
“How did you sleep?”
“Not too well,” Summer replied. “I’d wake up, remember what happened, and start crying until I fell asleep again, only to wake up an hour or two later and start all over.” She laid down her fork and folded her hands into her lap. “I feel like a bad person.”
“Because of your dad?”
“Yes and no. I hate how he found out, but I’m also relieved I don’t have to hide anymore. I think if I give him time he’ll come around.”
“In these types of situations, it’s best to follow your instincts.”
“It’s too bad I lost Harper in the process. She’s been so understanding, even though the sneaking around took a toll on her.”
“She wanted you to come out.”
“Yes, but she never pressured me. She’s so kind, supportive, and patient. It’s why I fell in love with her.”
“It’s all the qualities I like about her, too. It’s what makes her a great catcher. That and her tenacity.”
Summer laughed. “Right? She’s the total package. God, she must hate me right now.”
“Actually, she seemed very worried about you.”
“She did?”
Razor nodded. “She wanted me to tell you she was sorry. That she never wanted to cause any issues between you and your dad. She also said she’d understand if you never wanted to see her again.”
“She blames herself? Oh my God. I gotta find her. I have to talk to her.”
Summer stumbled to get up and fell forward into Razor’s chest.
“Whoa, whoa, slow down, okay? Take a deep breath. Why don’t you go get cleaned up. I’ll take care of the mess in the kitchen, then give you a ride back to campus. Okay?”
Summer’s smile split from ear to ear, and she pulled Razor into a tight hug before heading to the bathroom. Razor gathered up their plates and cleaned up the kitchen. Then she moved to the living room and started folding up the sheets. She was hopeful. A new day brought new possibilities.
* * *
No matter how many times Ashton watched the video, the image didn’t change.
She shook her head as Razor shoved the umpire and called him an asshole before marching off the field.
Unfortunately, Nancy didn’t provide video of what provoked Razor into such an aggressive reaction.
Hopefully, Razor would give her the insight she needed.
Her doorbell rang. Ashton jumped up and flung open the door. Razor was standing there, haphazard looking and smiling weakly, and Ashton launched herself into Razor’s waiting arms. They stood on the porch, content in the embrace, until Ashton pulled back and looked Razor in the eye.
“Are you okay?”
Razor ducked and didn’t respond. Ashton ushered her inside.
“How’s Summer?”
Razor smiled. “Doing better. I dropped her off at her dorm. She’s still torn up over the way her dad left. I told her to give him a couple days to calm down and then reach out.”
“That’s good advice.”
Razor stuffed her hands in her pockets, a sheepish look on her face, and Ashton knew she was thinking of doing something bold. “I think I’m going to go over tomorrow and see him,” Razor said.
Ashton’d pinned it. Her face must’ve given away her skepticism because Razor immediately went into defensive mode.
“I know what you’re going to say. I should follow my own advice and let it be.”
“Yes, you should,” Ashton said, her arms crossed and her stance rigid. “This isn’t Gary. You’re not breaking up an assault, Razor. You’re messing with a father–daughter relationship.”
The words clearly landed hard because Razor stumbled and gazed at her, shocked. But Ashton had to say it, knowing what was on the line.
Razor took a couple of deep breaths then said, “You’re right. This isn’t like Gary. But my gut tells me this is all a big misunderstanding.”
Brown eyes pleaded for compassion. Ashton’s stance relaxed. She sat on the couch and patted the spot beside her. Razor accepted but looked straight ahead.
“Tell me why you think this isn’t as dire as it looks.”
Razor explained, “I’ve talked with Bill.
I’ve hung out with him. He’s a very level-headed person.
Also very compassionate. I saw the look in his eyes yesterday.
He didn’t look mad at Summer. He didn’t berate her, disown her, or behave according to the standard angry parent script in reaction to her news.
He said he was disappointed. That’s it. If anything, he looked sad. ”
Ashton looked at Razor. Even in profile, she recognized a crisis of conscience.
Razor added, “I’m not going to push him. If I get there and he throws me off his property, I will leave without protest. But”—she turned to Ashton then, the turmoil more pronounced—“I have to try.”
Ashton sighed and clasped Razor’s hands.
Normally, she wouldn’t sanction such a bold, aggressive move.
And if this was the same Razor she’d met earlier in the year, the one who took matters into her own hands without thinking through the consequences, she’d do her best to talk Razor out of it.
But this Razor, the one who showed her vulnerability and worried if she really was making the right choice? Ashton supported her.
“Okay,” she whispered.
Razor startled. “Okay?”
“Yes,” Ashton replied. “You’ve obviously gone back and forth on whether you should do this or not, and I can see you’re still on the fence.”
“I am,” Razor admitted.
“Then you need to try. But if he slams the door in your face…”
“I will come straight back, I promise.”
Ashton rested her head on Razor’s shoulder when they embraced. She was concerned about the outcome, hoping for the best, and praying Razor was prepared to accept the worst. When she pulled back, Razor was smiling.
“Now that we’ve got that out of the way, we have bigger things to discuss.”
“What’s that?” Razor asked.
Ashton grabbed her phone off the coffee table and handed it to Razor. “This is the video Nancy sent me.”
Razor watched intently, brow furrowed. Then her eyes widened. When the video reached the end, Razor set the phone back on the table and clasped her hands in front of her mouth.
“That video doesn’t show the whole story, Ashton.”
“I figured as much. But I know you. And I know you don’t attack people for no reason. Can you fill in the blanks for me?”
Razor stood and paced over to the fireplace.
“I had an altercation with him in the parking lot prior to the game, but I didn’t know he was the umpire until the game started.
He was verbally abusive to me the entire time, and right before he got clocked, he grabbed the strap on my chest guard.
I didn’t even realize I’d hit him until after the game ended. ”
“Did he assault you?”
Razor stopped her pacing. The distress in her gaze called to Ashton, and she jumped up and pulled Razor into a comforting embrace.
“I’m so sorry that happened to you,” she whispered.
Razor hugged her back, but Ashton was surprised by how calm she seemed. When they pulled apart, all that showed in Razor’s gaze was indifference.
“There’s nothing to be done about it now. I hit him, and even though he ejected me because he thought I did it intentionally, it was a total accident. Everyone at the game is a witness.”
Ashton cupped Razor’s cheek. “Are you going to do anything about the incident in the parking lot?”
Razor shrugged. “I honestly don’t see a way I could. There were no witnesses. It would be my word against his.”
Ashton nodded and wrapped her arms tight around Razor’s neck, burying her nose in the pulse point. Razor’s loose embrace tightened, and her hands flattened on Ashton’s back, pulling her in until they were practically melded together.
“I just want to forget and never have to worry about it again,” Razor mumbled.
Ashton sighed and squeezed her eyes shut. “For your sake, I hope that happens.”