Ophelia pauses, taking a long sip from her milkshake."Says who?"
"Says him.He said it like ten times.It was the friend zone to end all friend zones.Unequivocally.Trust me, he doesn’t think of me as anything other than a friend."
"Trust me, he does.He looked at you the way you’re looking at that ice cream sundae in front of you.I know romance.I know lust and longing, and boy does he have it bad for you."
That … that doesn’t seem right."Are you sure we were looking at the same thing?Tyler?TJ Doyle.Are you sure he wasn’t just looking at the chips and salsa?Those were pretty damn good.I myself have experienced significant lust and longing over chips and salsa before."
Ophelia insists over and over that she’s right.She offers to text Xavier and ask him, but I don’t want to be the fodder for gossip.And as much as I’d like to believe what Ophelia says, I don’t think I can trust her judgment.I’ve seen her ClikClaks.
The next day we’ve got time to kill before the game.I want to text TJ and tell him about our wild night that wasn’t.He’s got to be focused on the team.I can’t be distracting him.
Since the casino life isn’t for us, I suggest we find a bookstore.It’s much more on brand for both of us.We take an Uber to one called The Writer’s Block.It looks so cute.This time, the bright neon lights don’t bother me one bit.There is stuff crammed into every single corner, with vines and plants and birds hanging from every conceivable surface.The owners must have a serious obsession with birds.There are plush birds and taxidermized birds and animatronic birds and sculptures of birds.It’s so cool.
I could spend all day in here.
That is, until I realize Ophelia isn’t behind me.I look all over but can’t find her.Where is she?What if someone grabbed her?My heart begins to pound as my neck begins to sweat.With shaking hands, I pull out my phone to call her.
Ophelia: I’m outside whenever you’re ready.
I rush to the door.It’s about a million degrees, and Ophelia’s standing out here, sweating.She looks pale, though, instead of flushed from the heat like I’d expect her to be.
"Are you okay?"
She shakes her head.I know that headshake.I know that expression.I’ve felt it a million times.
"Sit down," I order, taking charge like Gram would for me.We both sit on the step.Jesus, it’s hot out here."You know, the first time TJ ever drove me anywhere, I started to have a panic attack in his car.I didn’t even have to tell him what was going on.He just knew.I’ve been having panic attacks since I was a kid.Everyone tells me to calm down."
"As if it were that easy."Ophelia laughs.
"Yeah, well, I have a new secret hack, thanks to Tyler."
"Tyler?"
"TJ," I correct."He told me that friends call him Tyler."
She bumps her shoulder into mine."Right.Friends.So what is this hack your friend told you?"
I tell her the secret of "I Gotta Feeling," and by the end, we’re laughing.She looks more relaxed."You better?Wanna go inside?It’s hotter than Satan’s balls out here."
The color drains from her face again as she shakes her head."I can’t go in there.Too many birds."
"Birds?"
Ophelia nods."I hate birds.I’m irrationally afraid of them."This is the worst place in the world for her, short of an aviary.
I stand up."Alrighty then.Who am I to judge anyone’s irrational fear?I have random fears for no reason.At least you know what your trigger is.Let’s get outta here and into someplace with A/C."
A few minutes later, we’re in the Uber on the way back to the hotel when I spot a sign through the window."Pull over!"I yell."I need to get out here."I have no idea how far we are from the hotel, but I need to stop.
Ophelia looks at me."Are you okay?"
I nod."Yes.I … I have to do this.I’ll understand if you don’t want to come with me, but I have to."
Ophelia considers for a split second."Okay, I’m in.I like not being the crazy, impulsive friend for once."
I have to laugh.I’m not crazy.I’m not impulsive.That was Richie, not me.All this is for her and her list.
We step out of the Uber and shade our eyes, looking up at the sign.Las Vegas Shooting Center.
