Page 58 of Try Hard

I laughed. “The straight ones definitely don’t, and at least half of the gay ones don’t either.”

“Incorrect. Did she give you her number?” she asked with barely a breath between the two thoughts, likely in order to prevent me from interrupting.

My insides felt giddy. I didn’t know what it was about being around Ophelia but I was convinced my body and my brain thought we were fifteen again—giddy, hopeful, jittery. Just completely losing my grip on any semblance of sense and dating that I’d developed over the last two decades.

I didn’t mind it. Not with her.

“Actually,” I said, “I gave her my number. And… she messaged.”

Row actually punched the air in celebration, which was a fascinating combination with the incredibly sleek outfit she was wearing. “I knew it! She’s totally into you.”

That was my cue to flop backwards. I held the phone out above me, careful not to drop it on my face again. “I know you’re playing it semi cool with your thing, but, Row, I have no chill at all. She’s amazing. Always has been, always will be. And you havenoidea how much I want that to be true.”

“Then why are you talking to me?” she asked, suddenly outraged. “Go call her instead.”

I laughed at her ridiculousness. “Youcalledme. And I was in the middle of texting her when you did, but I wasn’t going to ignore you.”

“Yeah, yeah, you love me. I love you. Totally platonically, of course.”

“Who is that clarification for?”

“Fia and… well, someone else it might be relevant to at some point in the distant future.”

Maybe it wasn’t so bad being a complete goner for Ophelia. Sure, I knew I was completely hopeless, but at least I was through the awkward first part of realising I had a crush and feeling weird about it. I was fully into theplease spend your whole life with mephase. Not a terrible space to be when there was still hope she might someday want that.

Row glared at me. “I’m going now. And you’re going to go text Fia and tell her you love her.”

“Not doing that.”

“You should. It’s written all over your face.”

It wasn’t. We’d only just gotten back in touch. But I knew wanting to get there with her was written all over my face, so I was going to let that slide.

I simply smiled at her. My best friend who had finally found someone she liked enough to eat beans for. And here she was,pushing me off the phone to text a woman I’d eat literal dirt for if she asked me to. “You should text your mystery woman too.”

“It’s definitely too early. I don’t want her to think I’m needy.”

I frowned. “Row, you like attention from the person you’re with—which is completely normal. Don’t feel like you can’t be yourself to win her over. You need to show her who you are, and I’m sure she’ll love you.”

“I hate it when you’re insightful.”

“No, you don’t,” I laughed. “You’re just anxious about this and that’s okay. But she probably is too, and she’ll appreciate you reaching out.”

Row scoffed. “There is no way that woman is anxious about anything. You shouldseeher.”

I smiled softly. Plenty of people would say the same thing about Row, but maybe we were all just a little anxious when it came to matters of the heart. I wasn’t going to let my nerves stop me from messaging Ophelia.

Chapter Seventeen

Fia

Apparently, Eve knew something was bothering me the instant I messaged her back. I wasn’t entirely sure how she was doing that, but I couldn’t deny that it made me feel tender inside.

Do you want me to call?she asked as my thumb hovered over my screen, debating how much to tell her.

You don’t need to do that,I replied.

I want to.And then,I’ll call in 30 seconds. You can decide whether you want to answer or not. No pressure, no judgement, entirely your call.