Page 24 of Resisting the Running Back

I settle on a long, flowing dress with flowers on it, and I pair it with a denim jacket. It’s casual but trendy at the same time, and I slip on a pair of white sandals.

This will have to do.

Just before I head downstairs, my phone rings. I check it, and it’s Brooke, one of the teachers in my department and my closest female friend.

Or…my former department. Maybe my former friend. God, this is complicated.

When I graduated from Arizona State University, most of my friends scattered. Over the eight years since we graduated, life moved on. Some of my friends got married and started havingkids, and others moved on to one failed relationship after another. And by “others,” I meanme.

Regardless, we grew apart, and we made new friends wherever we landed. For me, it was Cactus Valley High School, the place where I’ve spent my entire career teaching.

I made friends. Teachers came and went, but Brooke started the same year as me, and we’ve been through all the ups and downs of this career together.

Until now.

I glance at the clock. She’s on her prep hour, and that’s why she’s calling me now.

I should’ve called her when it all went down, but I didn’t. I called Miller instead.

“Hey,” I answer a little weakly.

“What the hell is going on?” she demands. “Where are you?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Spill it, Summers.”

I blow out a breath. The truth is, well…I haven’t even told her about my secret pen name. Literally only Tyler and Miller knew.

I guess I’m good at keeping secrets.

“I broke up with Tyler.” Best to start at the beginning. I’m not sure whether I want to admit the rest.

“So you took the day off? I gotta tell you, babe, rumors areflyingabout what’s going on with you.”

“I’m, uh…” I trail off, not sure where to go next, but ultimately I settle on the truth. “Can you promise you won’t tell this to anyone?”

I have a feeling she’ll say she promises but won’t follow through, and I’m not even sure how much it matters at this point.

She’s probably my closest girlfriend, but between my job and my hobby, I haven’t exactly nurtured friendships the way Ishould have. But maybe she deserves the truth even if we aren’t working together anymore.

“I’ve been secretly publishing romance books under a pen name for a few years, and Tyler knew. He posted about it on my student message board after I broke up with him. Elizabeth called me to let me know I was on administrative leave until they could investigate, and rather than sit through a lengthy investigation that would only out my pen name in one of the most conservative communities in the state…I resigned.”

“Jesus, that’s a lot to unpack.” She’s silent a few beats before she murmurs, “You resigned?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh my God, Sophie. Are you okay?”

I feel the heat of tears pinch behind my eyes, but the truth is…yes. I am okay. And even if I’m not, I have Miller to be okay for me, just like he told me yesterday. "I’m okay.”

“Where are you now?” she asks. “Can we grab lunch and talk this weekend?”

“I’m actually in San Diego right now. I called a friend, and he invited me to stay with him while all this blows over.”

“He?”

I clear my throat. “My friend Miller.”

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