I sat back in my chair with my beer in my hand. “You know, I really do. For the first time in a long time, I feel like a whole stack of worries have just blown away in the wind. I can pay off the debt. Aunt Rita will be able to retire early, and I think William’s company and the mayor have a pretty good plan for the town.”
“So, things with William are still going well?” Veronica asked. Her sunglasses had slipped down her nose slightly, and she was peering at me over the top of them. “The art gallery was amazing. That doesn’t seem like something you do for someone unless you’re really into them.”
I nodded. “I think we’re in love.”
Veronica sprung forward and slammed her beer glass down on the table. “Are you two already saying the L-word?”
I nodded. I felt my face turn pink.
“This is a big fucking deal! You waited almost a year before you even considered saying that to Matt,” Veronica said, still stunned. “You and William haven’t even dated long enoughfor the moon to make one full orbit around the earth, and you two are already telling each otherI love you.”
“Okay, it’s been longer than one lunar cycle,” I said, rolling my eyes. “And I don’t know if it makes sense to compare Matt to William. Being with William doesn’t feel anything like it did with Matt.”
Veronica asked, “Um, elephant in the room. Do you think William will stay in Creekstone long-term?”
I bit the inside corner of my mouth. “No, I don’t think he will.”
Veronica softened her voice, and she said, “Have you told him how you feel about long-distance relationships?”
I nodded. “We talked about it a few days ago. William is accepting a new job, and he’ll have to move to Atlanta full-time relatively soon.”
“Would you move? For William?” Veronica tried to hide the surprise in her voice by taking a bite of the warm pretzel.
I looked at Veronica and shielded my eyes from the sun. “We’re actually going to look at places this week while I’m in Atlanta.”
“Are you two going to move in together? Or are you looking for separate apartments?” Veronica asked, trying to find some sliver of a timeline she could approve of.
I shook my head, looking down at the beer glasses on the table. “I mean, we’re practically live together now. It seems silly for me to get my own place.”
Veronica scoffed. “Kit, you’ve been saying for years that you love living in Creekstone and that it’s what you’ve always wanted. You wouldn’t even consider moving before. And now you’ve been dating William for a month, and you’re saying you’re in love and you’re going to give up your job and leave Creekstone for him.”
“I didn’t say that,” I said looking ahead to avoid the sun in my eyes. “I just said…”
“Kit,” Veronica cut me off. “You’re moving too fast.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think we are. We’re in a good place as a couple. I would rather move to stay near him than try to be in a long-distance relationship.”
“Do you even know how he feels about marriage? Having kids?” Veronica said with an exasperated sigh. “Does he have a history of cheating? Have you met anyone in his family? Any of his friends?”
“Veronica, come on,” I said. “I have time to learn these things. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll move back to Creekstone, or I’ll figure it out.”
“It’s always fun in the beginning, Kit, but that’s a huge sacrifice for someone you really don’t know,” Veronica said, crossing her arms and leaning back in her chair. “It just seems like you’ve changed your mind about a lot of things since you met William.” ?
“Veronica,” I said with a warning tone.
“Kit, I’m just worried about you. What happened to being more assertive and not just going along with what other people want you to do?”
“It seems like you’re only okay with me doing that when you approve of my decisions,” I said.
Veronica’s jaw dropped. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Come on, Veronica.” I rolled my eyes. “I’ve seen your looks and the things you mutter under your breath. You say you’re being supportive, but you’re being judgmental. You still think I am going to get back with Matt, and I’m not.”
“That’s not fair,” Veronica pushed back. “I’ve never said I think you should get back with Matt.”
“Veronica, I know you don’t get what’s going on with William and me. It’s not the same as Matt and me. It’s not like you and Gus. We aren’t college sweethearts. I’m not on some traditional cookie-cutter timeline with William. So, it might look wrong to you, but it feels good to me.”
Veronica and I sat silently for a few minutes. We had fought once during college, and we’d never really argued again. I always let Veronica say what she wanted without calling her out, even if it bothered me. I felt like I had to because I didn’t really have anyone else, but it was different now. I had William.
