My mind is spinning with possibilities. I won’t be able to do it all myself—I might have to use my trust fund to establish the school. And I’ll have to hire other like-minded teachers and get students to, you know, enroll. I don’t want to have to charge much, if at all, so I’ll have to look into getting nonprofit status and potential ongoing funding from the school district, but I’ve got time. And for the first time, I have a glimmer of hope that I’ll be able to do something important with my life. Something where I can continue to learn everything I want about different subjects and also help people who are as different as I am.

But in order to meet this goal, I have to get over my fears. I’ve already started, but I’ve got more work to do. No more hiding. No more avoiding people.

Outside the building, I spy Duke heading in the opposite direction.

When we reach each other, he stops to talk to me. “Hey. You look happy.”

“I picked my major. Well, double major.”

“What did you settle on?”

“Math and physics.”

“Wow.” His brows lift in surprise. “That’s amazing. You’re pretty smart, huh?”

My face heats in sudden embarrassment. “I guess.”

“No, don’t be shy. You should own your talents. It’s great. And you’re gonna need those smarts to win the competition tonight because I have my money on you, Einstein.” Duke smiles again and his dimple winks at me and he’s very cute and attentive but . . . my mind flickers back to yesterday in the barn with Fitz.

Duke doesn’t make my heart race like Fitz does. And he can’t possibly be attracted to me like that. Maybe he just needs a friend. A weird one. Or help with calculus. He looks like one of those guys who’s just a big flirt and friendly to everyone. I’m sure it means nothing.

“Where are you headed now? Are you hungry? I’m heading over to the grill for an early dinner. Want to join me?”

I hesitate.

“My treat, to celebrate your new life plan.”

The old me would have run away from this whole conversation. Avoiding any possibility of being around people I barely know and—heaven forbid—socializing with them. But that was the old me. I’m turning over a new leaf. No more hiding.

“Sure. Sounds great.”

14

Every hero doesn’t do this great big hero thing. They do the simple thing over and over, and they stick to it.

—Matthew McConaughey

Fitz

“Did you tell Abby to call Martha? She still hasn’t heard from her.”

I put the last box of my stuff in the back of my truck and close the tailgate. I can’t look at her with a lie on my tongue. “I told her.”

I didn’t. I forgot. During my last conversation with Abby, I wasn’t exactly thinking about our mommas.

“She’s okay, right?”

“Of course. She’s good. Busy with school and stuff.” I turn to face her.