Page 16 of Fall Hard

“Right,” I said vaguely and then stopped at the end of the pathway when she did. Oh. Class. “I’ll, um, see you at home then?”

“Sounds good.”

I waved as I turned, walking at a much more sedate pace than the wild run I’d maintained when I’d chased her down.

“Liv!” Bryn still stood in the same spot and I raised one hand in an air-borne shrug until she called out again. “Make a list!”

Screw this. I wasn’t going to scream at her from half-way up the path. I pointed at my phone and then continued walking as I typed out a message.

Liv: A list of what?

Bryn: All the things you’ve ever wanted to do.

It felt like Bryn was underestimating just how much stuff that might be, so I sent back a flood of question marks and then stared at her reply.

Liv: ?????

Bryn: Xoxo

I wasn’t sure what making this list was going to accomplish, but I’d asked her to help me and I’d meant it. Now for both Jamie’s sake and mine, I just had to hope this worked.

There was a soft breeze running through the air as I made the walk back to the apartment slowly, enjoying the feel of it cooling my sweaty skin. A few other college students walked past in the opposite direction to me, heading for campus, and I looked away awkwardly when one guy stared at me for a bit longer than was strictly comfortable.

By the time I got home, I was mostly dry and my breath only burned in my throat a little but I still took an extra puff of my inhaler just in case. Running in the heat was just not good for me.

I kicked off my shoes and stowed them neatly on the rack by the door before moving into the living room and shrieking when I found Kat waiting for me.

“Holy shit! You scared me.” I pressed a hand to my chest as I sucked down a breath. My poor heart was going through the ringer today. “What are you doing here?”

“I used the key,” Kat said as she relaxed back against the gray fabric of the sofa.

“Okay,” I said slowly and she threw me a look that made me wince. Great, she was mad. “Is everything, um, alright?”

“You tell me—you’re the one who ran out ofThe Boxlike your ass was on fire.”

“I had to—”

“Talk to Bryn, yeah. You said that already.” Kat folded her arms across her chest as she locked me in her sights, green eyes glinting challengingly. “Did you really have to talk to her? Or were you just avoiding Jamie?”

“Both,” I said honestly and Kat nodded for me to continue. “Okay, fine. I didn’t tell you before because it’s not a big deal, but I might get kicked off my course and I just don't know what to do with my life or whatIwant—because I never really had the chance to choose before, you know? And then my dad called and I stayed in bed for like an entire day and Bryn is going to make all my decisions from now on.”

Kat’s mouth was hanging open as I rambled and I clicked my own shut to give her a chance to process. When she said nothing a few moments later I cleared my throat as I hesitantly sat down next to her on the couch, it helped calm me a little—I felt less like I was being interrogated now that I was beside her instead of under a proverbial spotlight.

“When-when you say Bryn is going to make all of your decisions for you…”

I nodded. “She’s in charge. But I have veto powers.”

“And this is going to… help?”

“I hope so.”

“How?”

I stared at the baby pink wall opposite us as I thought her question over. “I don’t know. She told me to make a list of everything I’ve ever wanted to do.”

“I don’t see how this will fix anything,” Kat said carefully and I saw nothing but concern on her face when I turned to her.

“Maybe it won’t.” I laughed but it sounded wrong. “But I need to do something, I don’t want to feel like this forever.”

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