"Yeah, well, I ain’t never gonna be a rose scholar."He winks at me.Winks.
"Rhodes," I correct automatically.As soon as the word is out of my mouth, I instantly wish I could grab it from the air and shove it down my throat.
TJ doesn’t seem to mind.Instead, his face breaks into a wide grin, perfectly straight white teeth gleaming."You proved my point.Why is my name on your paper if you’re not stalking me?"
This again?I’m tired of it.Something in me snaps.No one is content to let me be in a vegetative state, yet when I try to go out, I’m getting critiqued.
I slam my hand down on the table in protest."I was here first, buddy.This is my neighborhood coffee shop.I like it here.There are swings, and the cinnamon roll is orgasmic.So if you have a problem with me being here, I suggest you find another place for your smoothies and egg white protein bowls."He’s not eating an egg white protein bowl, but I assume that’s what someone with his physique would eat.Probably a lot of vegetables too.
He stares at me, all expression gone.
Okay, maybe that rant was a little excessive, especially the orgasm part.I can’t believe I said that to him.I feel the heat fill my face, and I know it’s now beet red.Great.If I didn’t think it would totally destroy Gram and Gramps, I would die right here and right now of embarrassment.
"How can this be your neighborhood coffee shop?This is my neighborhood coffee shop," he says, clearing his throat.
"It’s pretty clear that, by some great cosmic coincidence, we live in the same neighborhood.So, we’re apt to run into each other.Please stop accusing me of stalking each time it happens.I swear, yesterday was a series of un—" I stutter, almost saying unfortunate.But none of it was unfortunate.No, yesterday was the best day I’ve had in a very long time."Unplanned events.Like this, right now."
"You could say it’s all a coincidence."
I nod in agreement.I don’t think it’s the right time to tell him that there’s a chance my sister is pulling the puppet strings from the great beyond.
"So why is my name on your paper then?"TJ raises an eyebrow, the devilish glint back in his eyes.
Gah, he won’t let this go.I might as well fess up."It’s my sister’s list."
He frowns."Your sister’s list?"
Doesn’t he remember?"Yeah, her to-do list?"We just had this conversation the night before.
"Oh, right.I didn’t think it was an actual list.More like things she might have said to you.Who writes all that stuff down?"
"Someone who knows she’s dying and won’t make it to her twenty-seventh birthday, but who, despite being the younger sister, is bossy."That’s Richie in a nutshell.
His voice softens."I’m sorry.Can I see it?"
I’ve never let anyone read it.It’s mine, and sharing it with someone else feels too vulnerable and raw.On the other hand, besides a random chance meeting here at Lawadessa Cafe, it’s not like I’m going to see him regularly.He’s not going to be a part of my life.He means nothing to me.If anything, I think Richie would be delighted that this man, who meant so much to her as to be on her bucket list, is interested in what she wanted to do.
What can it hurt?
Chapter 12: TJ
I’m dying to know what’s on that list.I don’t know why.Maybe it’s because I spend so much time scrolling ClikClak that I am used to getting the inside details of complete strangers’ personal lives, and it’s made me nosy.Who knows?
I have to see that paper.
I want to know what else would be on a list that includes meeting me.I’m still trying to process that someone thought about me, thought I was worthy enough to include on their dying wish list.
Also, that someone actually took the time to write it down.Weird.
Rachel is looking at me with those big, sad eyes.She also has some of the frosting from the cinnamon roll on the corner of her mouth.I can’t stop staring at it.Thoughts of how to remove it dance through my brain.
All involve touching her, and some involve my tongue.
She’s totally not my type, so I don’t know why my brain is going there.
"You can’t laugh at it.Richie wrote this for me."Her hand is shaking as she holds the paper out."I can’t believe I’m doing this," she mutters softly.
Tell me about it.When I walked into Lawadessa and saw her sitting there on the swing, I did not have control over my feet.They moved directly to her.Why?I have no idea.I would typicallyneverseek out a crazy fan.In fact, most times when I’m out in public, I try to conceal my identity with a baseball hat and sunglasses.
