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“If you ever want to talk about it, let me know. I can be a good listener.” She laughed a little.

“Thanks. I don’t like to talk or think about it. But I’ll let you know.”

We reached the exit for the trail and I took it, glad that Sophie hadn’t asked for more details.

Ten minutes later we were getting out of the car and I was checking to make sure I had everything I needed in my bag.

“You good?” I asked Sophie after she’d tossed our trash in a nearby can.

“Yup. Let’s go.”

She set off at a brisk pace and I joined her.

“This is so nice. It’s such a relief to not be in school right now. I mean, I have one class, but it doesn’t start until next week.” She made a face.

“What made you want to go to grad school?” I asked.

“Honestly? I don’t even know. Going out into the world sounded terrifying and I didn’t know what jobs I could get anyway with just a regular English degree so it seemed like the best option. I, um, still don’t really know what I want to do.” I glanced over at her as she cringed. “Is that bad?”

I stepped over a root in the middle of the path. “No, that’s not bad at all. Do you think I know what the hell I’m doing?”

“You seem like you do,” Sophie said.

I burst out laughing. “Soph, I have no fucking idea. I feel like my entire life was all planned for me. All set. It was so nice knowing exactly what I needed to do. Who I needed to be. And then I figured out I didn’t want to be that person and now I don’t know who the fuck I am.” The words burst out of me and I couldn’t stop them.

“I dropped out of school years ago and now I tend bar and I try not to plan anything except for maybe my fanfic and that’s only because I have to. Everything else is completely fucked.”

Sophie stopped walking. “Wait. What do you mean you plan your fanfic?” Shit. This is why I couldn’t just let myself talk. Then I said things that I couldn’t take back.

I didn’t stop. “Nothing. I meant planning my fanfic reading!” I was practically running as Sophie caught up with me.

“That’s not what you said, Reid. Slow down!”

Reluctantly, I did, but I couldn’t look at her.

“You write fanfic, don’t you?” she asked.

“No.”

I could hear the smile in Sophie’s voice. “You do and you don’t want anyone to know. Wait, have you sent me any of your fanfic and didn’t tell me?” Her voice was so excited. I stopped moving and Sophie turned toward me, her face all lit up and her eyes bright.

“Yes, I write fanfic. No, I haven’t sent you any of it. No, I won’t tell you my author name.”

Her mouth dropped open and she gasped. “Why not? Oh please, Reid. I bet it’s so good. I won’t tell you if I hate it. I promise. I mean, I won’t hate it so you don’t have to worry about that.”

Fuck. This was why I didn’t want her to know.

I groaned and looked up at the sky. A couple walking their dog came up behind us so we moved to the side so they could pass.

“Reid?” Sophie asked. “Are you okay?”

Not really. My secret was out, and I didn’t like it.

She touched my arm moving her fingers up and down in a soothing motion. The heat of her finger seeped through my jacket.

“Hey. I won’t bug you about it. I just got excited. I’ve never known someone in real life who wrote fanfic. I think it’s pretty amazing. I mean, I only write shit for school.” Her face turned scarlet, and I seized on that.

“Why not?” I asked.