Chapter 2: Ophelia

Chapter 2: Ophelia

If there was an award for going after guys that are totally out of my league, I’d be the MVP.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a solid six. If I bothered with hair and makeup, I could probably make it to 7.5 or even an 8. But that’s a lot of time, energy, and motivation that are hard for me to muster up on a regular basis.

And since my mom likes to remind me that I’m "not getting any younger," I’ve decided to take a different, well-thought-out approach. A plan, if you will. This time, I’m being smart about it. No more flying by the seat of my pants. No more impulsive decisions. No more online dating—oh man, the stories I have from that. I know for a fact that Trent Carson is a real person, not someone hiding behind a profile waiting to catfish my trusting, hopeful soul.

He’s everything I could want in a man. Not too tall. I’m only 5’2" so I don’t like to feel overpowered and overshadowed by a hulking presence. Trent’s 5’8", so we look cute together, not like a miniature poodle and Great Dane.

I’m sure he has other redeeming features, but they’re escaping my brain currently.

Trent and I have known each other for years. We first met when we were in college, me at Boston University and him at Northeastern. Nothing but friendship happened back then, but we always stayed in casual touch.

Although there was that one drunken make-out session, where he got to second base, but that’s not important. The bottom line is that when we graduated college eight years ago, we didn’t see each other in person anymore but moved our relationship over to Instagram.

When COVID hit, Trent ended up back in Boston. He’s an athletic trainer, working for the US Soccer League. His team was sidelined (well, they all were). That meant that we started hanging out, and one thing led to another.

It brought new meaning to staying in touch. We’ve been sort of together for over a year now.

We’d totally be together if the world were still shut down.

But now that it’s opened back up and sports have resumed, Trent’s back on the road. Also, he’s now based out of Maryland and working for the Baltimore Terrors soccer team.

It plain sucks.

He’s out having a real life again and I’m still here, in my apartment.

After that disastrous publication on Wattpad, I lost my writing flow, and even though story ideas plague me, when I sit down to write, nothing comes out. It’s got to be because our relationship is stagnant.

Or non-existent.

I’ve decided that if I want to make this relationship work, I have to turn it into the stuff of romance novels. I need to step out of my comfort zone—which is my apartment—and do something drastic.

Trent only comes to Boston twice each season, which is dismal as soccer has a freakishly long season. We’re never going to reach the Bridgerton level of passion at this rate.

I miss him dreadfully. I mean, I miss having him here and having someone to hang out with.

Cue a grand romantic gesture.

It’s been four months since I’ve seen him. July seems like it was years ago. So, I’m going to visit him.

Get this: he has no idea I’m coming.

To be totally honest, I didn’t know I was going either until I cruised the internet three days ago and found a Columbus Weekend special flight for $39 to Baltimore. How could I pass that up?

It’s like the Universe is trying to reunite us. The only sign to make it clearer would be John Cusack and his boom box.

This is going to be great.

At least that’s what I try to convey to my best friend Marley.

"Ophelia, are you sure?"

I want to tell her that I need support and not doubts about Trent. She says her concern is because he was a dog in college, but those days are long past. I mean, it’s not reasonable to expect that he’s the same person he was a decade ago. We all grow and change. It’s not like I’m still trying to force boys to kiss me like I did with Bobby Daniels. I’d hate to think he still thinks I’m like that.

It’s called maturity, and Trent is plenty mature.

I, on the other hand, may not be, as I stick my tongue out at my phone. Unfortunately, we’re on FaceTime, so Marley sees this.

"Real nice. What was that for?"

"For doubting Trent. For doubting me. I mean, this is the kind of thing I live for. Grand romantic gestures. Flying halfway across the country to surprise him. Do you know how hard it is for me to do something like this?" I shove my makeup bag in on top of my clothes. It’s a tight squeeze in my rolling carry-on. I’m not sure what he’s going to want to do while I’m there, so I had to bring outfits for every possibility.

"Baltimore is hardly across the country … "

I ignore her as I shove in the new lingerie I bought from Yandy months ago. The move to online shopping has been a real boost. Never ever in a million years would I have had the nerve to go into a store and purchase a sexy little French maid costume, complete with props, but there they are, in the bottom of my bag. I try to get something new every time I see him, but this is the first time we’ll be delving into role-playing if all goes according to plan. I’m ready to act out things I’ve only read about in some of my spicier romance novels. I’m willing to bet Trent is going to love it, so long as I don’t fall and break a leg on the stilettos I can barely walk in.

Clearly getting frustrated that I haven’t responded, Marley repeats, "Baltimore is not halfway across the country from Boston. They’re both on the east coast. It’s not even a two-hour flight. But I suppose I’m impressed that you’re setting foot outdoors. You probably won’t even melt in the sun or start to shine like your skin is made up of diamonds."

"I told you never to bring up Twilight again. I’m still upset that Bella chose Edward over Jacob."

Her response is a frown, her ebony curls bobbing as she shakes her head slowly.

"What? Jacob was clearly the more stable choice. Edward was too controlling." Marley and I will never see eye to eye on this one. She’s a fan of the domineering alpha male, while I much prefer a cinnamon roll beta hero, like Hugh Grant in, well, anything.

"I’m proud of you for putting yourself out there again, but are you sure it’s the right thing to do?" Marley asks again. "I … I have a bad feeling about this."

I laugh. Marley’s feelings about things are akin to my fear of birds. Totally unfounded and irrational. "It’s going to be fine, Marl. In fact, it’s going to be better than fine. I’m going to document the whole thing on ClikClak, so you can watch it happen practically in real time. This trip is going to be a turning point. I know it without a doubt."

I don’t mention that I’m hoping to use this trip for inspiration for my novel. I’m always on the lookout for real-life plot bunnies. Folding in realism is the best way to make my novel seem legit, provided I ever get my mojo back and can start writing again.

I’m pretty sure I see her roll her eyes. "You’d better get going if you’re going to make it to Logan in time. Are you taking the T?"

I shake my head. I love FaceTime. I don’t have to actually say anything, and she still knows what I’m saying. Honestly, it’s one of the reasons I’m addicted to ClikClak. I can use sound bites and emojis and GIF graphics to help me find the words I need to communicate my thoughts and feelings. When it comes to actually talking, I have a habit of being … well, awkward is the adjective that comes to mind.

"I’m taking an Uber. Getting all hot and sweaty on the T is not a great look for me. It’s not romantic to smell like a locker room."

"He works for a soccer team. I’m sure it’s a familiar smell for him."

I wrinkle my nose. Eww. "If that’s what turns him on, the whole trip is doomed."

I pretend not to see Marley’s smirk as I disconnect. She really doesn’t like Trent, but she’s not dating him, I am.

I hurriedly pull out my phone and open the ClikClak app. Taking a deep breath, I record the most personal video I’ve ever done. And since I’ve already done my hair and makeup, I don’t even need a filter. My bangs, freshly trimmed thanks to a ClikClak tutorial, are on point. It would be criminal not to document a good hair day like this. Sundance, the big oaf, takes his customary perch on my shoulder, his yellow tail wrapping around my neck.

Okay, so I’m doing something crazy. Once sports started up again, my boyfriend moved to Baltimore because he works for a major team there. I only get to see him once or twice during the season, so I’m flying down to surprise him! He already told me they don’t have a game until Sunday night, so he’s having some friends over to his place. Can you imagine the look on his face when I walk in? OMG, he’s going to be so happy! I’m going to do a series on the weekend, so make sure you tune in to see his reaction! Kisses and hugs, ’bye!

Removing Sunny from my body, I assure him that he has plenty of food and water, and that it’s his job to watch the house. He responds by licking his butt. Classic.

I haul my suitcase and backpack down the long driveway and out to the street to await my Uber. I take the opportunity to add a kissy sticker and my "XOXO" trademark onto the video before posting. In addition to the trending hashtags, I add my own, including #xoxo, #liainlove, and #romanticsuprise. And then I post.

I have a small following of about a thousand people. Trent isn’t one of them. At least not on ClikClak. I don’t think he’s even on here. But still, other people follow me. It’s nothing to write home about, and my most popular video involved an unfortunate incident between my cat’s weak bladder and my computer. Like I said, I generally don’t have the guts to post anything really daring. The documentation of my trip is pushing me out of my comfort zone.

The bright side is that since Trent doesn’t follow me here, as long as I don’t post a clue on Instagram, he’ll have no idea I’m coming!

Once my car arrives, I record another video.

I’m in the Uber, on the way to Logan. My flight leaves in just over two hours, so four hours from now, I’ll be walking through my boyfriend’s door, surprising the hell out of him. I totally love romantic surprises, and I know he will too! Are you getting excited? I am! Kisses and hugs, ’bye!

By the time I land at BWI, I have three more videos filmed and scheduled for release. The next one will be me, walking through Trent’s front door.

This is going to be epic.