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“Whoa. Stop what you’re doing,” Larison said, pointing at me.

“I’m not doing anything,” I snapped. “Sorry.”

“Sophie. Just talk to her.”

“Ugh. Fine. I’ll talk to her. But if this goes bad, I’m blaming you. I’m going to drive there and I’m going to blame you.”

“Oohhh, I’m scared,” she said, wiggling her fingers.

“Hey, I could take you,” I said.

Larison laughed. “Oh, that’s cute. You couldn’t, but it’s adorable that you think you could.”

She was right. She would absolutely wreck me if it came to a physical fight. I’d be too scared to hurt her, and she’d be scrappy and use dirty tricks. It would be over in a few seconds.

“Now, circling back to what we were talking about, go talk to Reid. Not knowing is the worst part.”

She was right. Larison was almost always right. It was really annoying.

“Stop trying to mom me,” I told her, pretending to glare.

She snorted. “Sorry, can’t help it.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

I sent Reid a message the next day asking if we could talk in person on Friday.

I can do it in the evening. I have my first therapy session in the afternoon.

I really was proud of her for doing that. I had no idea if it would be helpful for her, but I hoped so. Having a good therapist had helped me so much. It wasn’t for everyone, but Reid seemed to have so much bottled up that she needed to get out in a safe environment. She needed someone to validate her anger and her other emotions. And maybe help her with some coping skills if she needed help handling them.

Are you nervous? I asked.

Honestly? Yes.

So I told her about my own therapy journey in the hopes that it might ease her mind.

Thanks for all that. You’re right, it’s the not knowing what to expect that’s the worst part. What if I hate it?

I’d had all the same fears. Then you leave. You don’t have to be anywhere you don’t want to be, Reid. You’re an adult. If you hate it, leave. And maybe try a different therapist.

Thanks, Soph. All of this means a lot to me. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.

She hadn’t told me what time her appointment was, but I kept my eye on the clock and couldn’t stop looking at my phone during my shift at the library. I didn’t have her fanfic with me because if I did, I wouldn’t be able to do my job. Everything else would fall by the wayside and I’d get fired for ignoring everyone who wanted to check out a book.

I was getting back when I got a message from Reid.

Therapy done. I survived. On the way back with cupcakes. See you in fifteen?

See you in fifteen I responded.

I ran around my place, tidying up and just generally freaking out like this was the first time Reid had ever come to my place.

Her knock on the door was crisp and prompt.

“Hi,” I said, yanking the door open and wanting to hug her immediately. I held back, and not just because she had a box of cupcakes held out between us.

“Hey,” she said. Reid looked wrecked. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her face was pale. She had been through the wringer today.