"Miraculously, no, other than the bookstore incident."
"How did you get into trouble at a bookstore?"
I tell him about Ophelia’s fear of birds and the decor, and the place we randomly picked.
Tyler starts laughing."Yeah, Henry told me all about her fear.Did you know his family are—" He searches for the word."—falconers?They rescue and rehabilitate birds of prey.And Ophelia can’t handle birds at all!"
"Opposites attract, I guess," I say, realizing that Ophelia and Xavier are not the only ones feeling something for someone who is so different on paper.Yeah, that’s more than just a book trope.But what if he doesn’t feel the same way?
Rather than say something stupid about being attracted to each other, I continue to tell him about my other research."I did find out that parasailing is out.When I googled it, places come up, but then they don’t seem like they actually have parasailing, just other water sports.I looked some more, and I can do it close to home.There are places off the Cape or in Rhode Island, but I have to wait until next summer.All the New England places are closed until Memorial Day."
"You’re taking this list seriously, then?Like actually trying to do it all?"he asks.
I shrug."Maybe?I don’t know.It feels good when I get to cross things off.Like some of me is being put back together.Slowly."Parts I didn’t even know were broken, but so obviously are.
The Uber pulls to a stop, and we get out, standing in front of the Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop."Let’s get our ice cream."
His face breaks into a wide grin, those blue eyes sparkling.He cocks his head slightly, as if trying to figure out a puzzle.
"What?"I ask, unsure if this was the right thing to do.Maybe he’s tired and wants to rest.
"You … this …" He gestures at the store."It’s amazing.That you thought of this."
I shrug."It’s what you do after games, right?I love that you and your family have this tradition."
Tyler leans in and whispers in my ear, "And I love that you planned this for me.Love."
With his hot breath on my face, my knees go weak and my insides turn into mush, like the bottom of an ice cream sundae that’s been melted with hot fudge.Yes, he’s definitely the hot fudge to my ice cream.
Even though it’s almost ten p.m., the area is still bustling.This place is open until one a.m.on Saturdays.After ordering, Tyler and I take our sundaes to go so we can check out the neighborhood.There’s a comedy club next door, and we’re just in time to slide into the ten o’clock show.
Tyler leans over."I’m doing this for research for my brother.One of these days, he’ll be headlining in Jimmy Kimmel’s club.I just know it."
"You’re pretty proud of him, aren’t you?"
He nods, his face still close to mine."Yeah.What he does takes so much brains and courage.You have to be very smart to be that funny.Most people think humor is easy, but it’s not.Both my brothers are super smart."
The opening act takes the stage, and Tyler sits back, relaxing into his chair.This is not the first time he’s made comments about his intelligence—or lack thereof, especially compared to his brothers.I watch him throughout the act.He’s laughing, his face totally relaxed for once.There’s no tension around his mouth.His eyes aren’t sad and lost.If I thought he was attractive on the soccer field, or wearing a suit, or in those gray sweatpants, it has nothing on laughing Tyler Doyle.This is a side of him I don’t see very often.This isn’t the soccer player.It’s not the ClikClak sensation.It’s him, in his most genuine form.
My heart clenches.It would be easy to fall in love with him.So easy.So stupid, but so easy.
After the show, we’re walking out when Tyler stops abruptly.So abruptly that I run into him, my front slamming into his back.His hands clasp around mine, holding me to him.I peek around his arm to see what has his attention.It’s a poster for a magician who performs at this club every day.
"Do you want to see a magic show?Maybe we can get tickets.What time is your flight tomorrow?I’m flying back on the red-eye.Monday morning is going to be hell."
I look it up, and there’s not a show that will work with our schedule.Dammit.
His trance is broken, and Tyler starts to walk again, keeping a tight grip on one of my hands.We’re holding hands.Walking around Vegas, just casually holding hands, like it’s no big deal.I don’t know that I’ve held hands with a boy since I was in junior high.Dating has never been my thing.
Now, I’m walking around Las Vegas holding hands with a professional soccer player.
How did I get here?
Richie.My sister manifested this for me.Maybe she didn’t have a crush on TJ Doyle.Maybe she picked him forme.Maybe that’s why meeting him was number eight on the list, and then number nine is to have a one-night stand.She knew I wasn’t impulsive, so she appealed to my organized side by giving me a to-do list.
She didn’t want me to be alone.She knew, with our history, there’d be no way I’d ever open myself up to anyone.She knew I’d never be able to trust anyone not to leave me, like she was doing.But still, she didn’t want me to be alone.
Dammit, tonight I’m not going to be.
