Olivia is more than a little freaked out

"Isn't that crazy?" Evan said, taking his phone back.

Olivia Blink, however, didn't reply. For all she managed to say in life, even in her own quirky narrations when she was alone -- in this moment, she was speechless. She stood still, her mouth slightly agape, unable to properly process what she just read.

"I don't think it's crazy at all," Tyler said, moving down the counter, wiping up a small drop of coffee from the counter. "Do you know how common my name is?"

"Yeah, but your full name," Geno said.

"My last name is Jones," Tyler replied. "What the hell is more common than that?"

"But the coffee," Evan said. "And the books."

Tyler scoffed and shook his head. "I've never even read A Court of Thorns and Roses. I know we have it here, but -- Liv, have you read that book?"

Olivia still hadn't moved. She was sort of staring at the floor, but mostly just staring at the spot where Evan's phone had been when she was reading it. Her inner monologue was going while. What was that? she thought. That was like ... verbatim ... the fantasy I had the other night.

She squeezed her eyes shut and then opened them, batting her eyelids quickly, trying to shake herself into action. Finally, she took a breath, and moved. She looked up, catching a quick glimpse of Geno and Evan, still arguing over the TikTok post. She turned, and walked toward, and then past, Tyler Jones.

"You okay, Liv?" Tyler called out.

She moved away from the counter and stood against a bookshelf, perhaps appearing, from a distance and to a stranger, as if she was browsing books. Instead, she was mumbling incoherently to herself and trying to make sense of things.

He ... that story ... that's like literally what I played in my mind. The coffee ... the book ...

"The fucking dimple," she said aloud, completing the thought.

"The what?"

Olivia spun around to find Tyler standing right behind her.

"The dimple," she repeated, looking at him. Her odd behavior was a surprise to him, and a rather cute one, which made him smile. "That one. That dimple right there."

Tyler chuckled. "My dimple?"

Olivia nodded.

"Okay," Tyler said, scrunching his face up, not sure what Olivia was getting at.

Confused, Olivia tried to deflect the conversation. "So, that TikTok post. It's about you? I mean, that's what they think, Kevin or ... Evan, whatever his name is ... I mean, I know him. I know his name, it's Evan. And the other one ... who I also know, but who I can't think of right now because you're standing here with that dimple!"

Tyler looked at Olivia. "Are you okay?" He bent over to look into Olivia's eyes. "I'm a little worried about you."

Olivia nodded. "I, too, am worried about me." Okay, this conversation now, this is not the fantasy, but it's not making the weird coincidence go away!

"Do you want some water?"

"Yes," Olivia replied. "That would be great. Some water. Thank you."

Tyler walked back to the counter. He spoke with Evan and Geno, who glanced back toward Olivia.

Okay, there must be some logical explanation for all this, Olivia thought. Maybe I saw the post before, somehow, even though I don't do TikTok. Maybe I saw it or read it, and then that's why it was fresh in my mind when I ... Her mind flickered back to the night before her birthday, the night that technically already was her birthday, and the brief bit of pleasure she gave herself before falling asleep. I must have seen it when I was looking for birthday messages. But I don't do TikTok, so ...

Tyler returned with a cup of water. "Here." He offered her the cup and small package of cookies. "We don't have any crackers."

"Why would I want crackers?" Olivia asked.

Tyler shook his head and laughed. "I don't know. My mother always gave me crackers when I was sick."

"I'm not sick." Olivia sipped the water. "I don't have a stomach ache. I'm just ... that story."

"What, the TikTok thing?" Tyler asked. "It's ridiculous. TikTok is a waste of time."

"I agree!" Olivia said brightly. "But why is there a story about you on there? And maybe more importantly, how old is it? Was it there several days ago? And was it maybe on Facebook first?"

Tyler scowled. "No, I don't think so. I think it was just from this morning. Maybe yesterday." He suddenly opened his eyes wide. "Oh my god, Liv -- yesterday was your birthday, wasn't it!"

Olivia smiled shyly, blushing a bit. "Yes. Yes it was."

"Happy birthday!" He gave her a hug, and didn't notice how awkwardly stiff Olivia was as she received it. "I hope you had a great day. You didn't have to work!"

Olivia nodded. "I didn't have to work." She thought back on the TikTok post. "It was just from yesterday, then?"

"What?"

"The story."

Tyler sighed. "Oh, forget the story. It was just a stupid screenshot. I don't even know -- it's not me, Liv. There are probably a million Tyler Joneses in the world. And you know what, I bet half of them are Black. It could be about anyone."

Olivia nodded, looking up at Tyler. As she did, he grinned, that one small dimple reappearing on his cheek.

"Yup. It sure could. It could be about ... anyone."