“Huh. I still can’t see this as a disadvantage. You’re so smart that the sky is the limit.”

“But the whole point of college and picking a career is to find that limit. Isn’t it?”

“I don’t know.” I never thought about it that way. “I think it’s more than that. It’s about doing something you enjoy, something you feel passionate about.”

“Passionate?” Her head tips to one side.

“You know, isolate the things that make you inordinately happy. Or even angry. Anything that excites you. You could even create a separate list for each subject, listing the pros and cons.”

Her brows furrow. “I’ve been struggling with this for more than a year, and yet you make it sound so easy.”

“It is. You’re already doing the hard part.”

“What do you mean?”

I shift closer to her. “That day, in the housing office, when I took the flyer and ran. You didn’t give up or stay behind. You followed me. When we had to jump in the kiddie pool full of whipped cream, you were green around the gills and pale as a ghost. But you still did it.”

Her mouth pops open and she’s staring at me like I’ve sprouted three heads. But I keep talking. “You’ll be okay. You’ll find your path. Maybe you’ll pick the wrong major, or maybe you won’t. Maybe it will be the best thing you’ve ever done.”

She blinks at me, still processing my words. “Maybe. Either way, I have to pick soon. I’m running out of time.”

Her eyes are dark and there’s a crease between her brows. I want to console her somehow, but I have no more words. I’m about to lay a reassuring hand over hers when Abby’s shrill voice rings out over the din outside. “Where’s the bathroom?”

“She’s still out there.” Reese’s words are ominous, as if we’re speaking of the grim reaper.

“Sounds like it.” I heave a sigh and drop my head back against the wall. “She wasn’t always like this, you know.”

“I would hope so, since you stayed together for so long. But then, you wouldn’t be so quick to give her up, would you? You’re not one to give up on anything you set your mind to.”

I smile. “My momma always says I’m stubborn as a blue-nosed mule.”

She laughs. “Not me.”

“Really? I wouldn’t have thought so.”

“I’m changeable. Or maybe . . . I’m changing.”

She really is. Despite the huddling in the bushes.

A loud bang hits the door.

“Fitz! I know you’re in there!”

We share a look. Abby. Again.

“I’m sorry,” I mouth to Reese. I open my mouth to yell something, tell Abby to get lost or whatever but then suddenly Reese’s hand is there, covering my mouth.

Our eyes meet and she shakes her head before whispering, “Better to let her think she’s wrong and lose interest. If you speak, she’ll dig in her heels. She wants your attention.”

I blink at her and then she removes her hand from over my mouth.