Kayla almost skipped the hometown reunion, and ten years away had been clean with a new city, anew job, and no reminders. Then the invitation sat in her inbox too long, and she bought the ticketanyway.The gymnasium looked smaller, and the same banners hung on the walls while the sticky floor smellsat under the fresh floor wax. She spotted Mr. Donovan near the punch table before he saw her, andhe looked older with thicker shoulders and gray starting at the temples. He still carried that easyauthority that used to make the whole team straighten up.He saw her, and the smile came slow.“Kayla.”His voice hadn’t changed.“Look at you.”They talked about safe things first, including her job, his retirement from coaching, and who still livedin town. Someone handed them plastic cups of cheap wine, and the wine tasted thin and sweet. Thenstronger drinks appeared while the room got louder, and people drifted away in pairs and smallgroups. Kayla stayed near him.Later he said the hotel
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