Page 30 of Anything (Mayberry University #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

“Spill. I’m so behind.” I curl up next to Sophie on the lounge sofa. “We’re always with other people, and I still haven’t heard about phase four.”

Classes are over for the day, and I can usually find her in here during the lull between classes and invitations to hang out. She’s stayed hush-hush about the Leo thing, and I’ve been concerned she’d get the wrong idea over text.

“Phase four was actually talking. Like, an entire conversation before break. It was a big leap.”

“And?”

“We talked about his shirt. It said ‘Where There’s a Will, Hey! There’s a Whale.’”

That Sophie-sized grin lifts my shoulders to my ears. I’m thrilled for her.

“It’s kind of an inside joke now. Oh, and for phase five I gave him my number. ”

“Sophs! He was going to get there! In like phase twenty-six!”

We giggle.

“I was ready to skip ahead.”

“Did you text over break?”

“Totally. I let him text first usually. Unless I see a funny pun because I have to share those, obvs. He sends lots of whale emojis now. It’s hilarious.”

“Aww! This is amazing.”

“I know, right? I thought you would be the only one to end up galloping off with your guy.”

Except … no galloping here. My memories are still angry protesters, screaming and raising picket signs, but my heart is running off without my consent. I study the pine trees out the window, trying to make sense of my thoughts. “God takes care of everything so much better than we could,” I say.

“It’s not like he cares about this thing with Leo,” Sophie says.

That pulls me back. “Of course he does.”

“You bring up God more than anyone else I know.”

“Thank you,” I say with feeling.

She snorts. “I didn’t really mean it like a compliment as much as just a fact, but sure.” She leans on her elbow. “Okay, but I do have a question though. Do you ever get like a strong feeling that you should say something?”

“Definitely.”

“Is that just like your gut, or do you think it can be God telling you to say it?”

So cool. Give me the words.

“Sometimes I know it’s God,” I say.

“Because…?”

“It can be hard to tell. I think the key is to get to know him so well from his Word that you know if it’s something he would say.

Practice helps too. And I think we should always be cautious if we’re going to attribute a feeling to him.

But absolutely, he gives us words to encourage each other.

And sometimes to confront.” Oh. Like Mia a couple weeks ago. And Ayumi .

“Okay well, this isn’t really either, but I feel like I’m supposed to tell you that I talk to a counselor sometimes. Like on Zoom, ’cause she lives I don’t even know where. She started as a Christian trauma counselor or something but I talk to her ’cause I struggle with depression off and on.”

“Oh, Sophie, I had no idea.”

“I know. Anywho, I’m doing fine right now. But I said it, so”—she directs her gaze upward—“there ya go!”

Something stirs in me, wants to ask questions, but Sophie is already bouncing off.

You want me to know that Sophie has a counselor?

The mind of a person plans her way, but I direct her steps.