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“Good, good. I’m glad.” He paused. “I should have called sooner. Things have been a little crazy around here. Practice, and Dylan had to come home early, and...”
“Yeah, I get it.”
He paused, then spoke again, his words low. “I’m trying to apologize, here, Abby.”
“Really? Because it sounds like you’re making excuses.”
Scott slumped against the wall. “Whoa, okay, then.”
The silence stretched taut between them. Then, her quiet voice came down the line. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“No, it’s okay. I shouldn’t have waited so long to call. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.” Her tone gentled. “I understand.”
“No, it’s not fine. I was frustrated last week. I shouldn’t have said the things I did, shouldn’t have taken it out on you. I’m sorry, Abby.”
“Me too.”
“No, you didn’t do anything.” Scott ran a hand through his hair, tugging the strands at the end, a knot of tension building in his chest. He didn’t want to share these things with Abby. Didn’t want to burden her with them. “I’d been on the phone with Lindsay and...well, it doesn’t matter. I shouldn’t have said those things.”
“Yeah, no, I understand. It’s okay.”
“Thanks. For understanding.” He pushed on before the pause could turn awkward. “How’re things?”
“They’re, umm, quiet?” Her words were an odd cross between a question and a statement. “I’m still working on the business plan for the therapy dog school.”
He pushed off the wall and dropped into a chair, grateful the conversation seemed to be normal. “Do you have a name yet?”
“Not yet. Nothing seems right.”
“Well, when you’re done, I could take a peek at it. If you wanted.”
“Oh, no,” she said, quickly denying the possibility. “I wouldn’t want to... Well, you’re so busy right now.”
He laughed. “Abby, you know I have a business degree, right? I even graduated with honors. I’d be happy to help out any way I can. Unless you’d rather I didn’t. I know this is still new for you.”
When she didn’t answer right away, Scott wondered if he’d overstepped. Then, he heard a ragged, indrawn breath.
“Yeah, that would be great. When I’m done.”
He nodded, though she couldn’t see him. “What else is new?”
“I had to shave Gen because I thought she had some hot spots, and she did, but none big enough to justify how uncomfortable she’s acting. And shaving her hasn’t helped. I’m thinking it might be time for a vet visit.”
“Is she okay?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe? It’s probably the heat getting to her. I know I don’t want to eat, either, by the end of the day, and I don’t even have fur.”
“Well, if you need to, Lauren and Dylan are home. Drop by the house, use the pool, enjoy the A/C...” Scott trailed off, wishing he’d thought to give Abby a key to his place before he’d left. “I know Dylan misses you guys.”
“Th-Thanks...” He wasn’t sure what caused her to stutter, or why her voice filled with some kind of deeper emotion.
“I mean it. You should go by this evening.”
“We’ll see.” He heard her shift through the phone, the creak of a chair, or maybe the couch. Toenails clicked in the background. “So, how’s practice going?”
“Eh, as well as can be expected.” He didn’t like talking about training camp, or even pre-season. He didn’t want to risk jinxing it. “Starting to gel a bit, hitting the targets, running the plays. One day at a time, you know.”