32

Seventeen Years Old

MORIAH'S HAND IS LOCKED in mine. We're walking towards the exit of the Autumn Festival. We've been here for a couple of hours. We've ridden some of the rides, played a lot of the games, and eaten more fair food than anyone should ever ingest in a lifetime.

That's when I see Ophelia.

And Milo.

Every time I see her with Milo, something in me grows a bit angrier. He's got a bad reputation and a worse attitude about it. He doesn't care what people think. I think he's just careless about all of it. But she's been hanging around him a lot.

I see him take her hand and spin her gently. Words are exchanged—and then she kisses him. I freeze. Beside me, Moriah stops walking and looks up at me. She follows my gaze, seeing Milo as he kisses Ophelia again.

"Oh, wow. Good for her. I'm glad she's finally moving on."

"Moving on?"

Moriah shrugs. "She had a crush on you back when we were all friends."

That… is news to me.

"Aren't we all still friends?" I ask her, genuinely puzzled.

Moriah runs her free hand through her hair as we continue to walk to the exit. "I don't know. Ophelia hasn't wanted to talk to me lately. I think she's mad I'm the one dating you."

I watch Ophelia and Milo as they run towards the food stands. But I don't watch long.

If he's kind to her, that's all that matters.

How did I not know my best friend liked me as more than a friend?

Moriah leans against my arm. "Besides, she's clearly moved on. When was the last time you actually hung out with her?"

"Well… there were many times we were supposed to, but it always fell through." Because of me. Because I put Moriah first.

I'm starting to realize that may have been the wrong thing to do. Ophelia stopped reaching out to me. And it's my fault.

Moriah sighs. "Sometimes people fade into the background of our lives. And maybe we've faded out of Ophelia's life. Her attention is on Milo now. Best if we just let it be. She'll come back if she wants to."

Something doesn't sit right about any of that, but I don't say anything about it.

I DRIVE MORIAH HOME from the festival. I pull up in front of her house, and she leans over the armrest and places her hand on my face, turning me to look at her. Her lips find mine in a slow, gentle kiss. She pulls away, smiling. "I had a great time tonight. Thanks for taking me."

"Of course. I'll see you later?"

"Always, baby. Always."

She gets out of my truck and I wait until she's safely inside to pull away.

My mind is on Ophelia.

And my heart is full of regret.

Something inside of me is torn between listening to Moriah's words and paying attention to my own feelings. Maybe I should reach out to Ophelia…

When I pull up in front of my house, I decide that it's my fault Ophelia's pulled away from us. If she really did like me, and she really was hurt that I chose Moriah, I need to make things right. I pull out my phone.

Me: hey do you think we can talk soon?

Ophelia: about what?

Me: I've been a crappy friend

Ophelia: I can't argue there. When do you want to talk?

Me: tomorrow?

Ophelia: okay. Text me in the morning and I'll let you know if I'm free

Me: okay. See you then