In the kitchen, Toby barks out the window at a squirrel and she laughs. “Do you have a dog?”
“Yeah. He’s my best friend. Do you like animals?”
“I do but I don’t have room in my small apartment. It wouldn’t be fair.” Her voice trails off and her image frowns.
“What’s stopping you from getting a bigger place?” I hold my breath, wondering if I’m being too personal, too fast. But I can’t pretend we never met.
“I live in the city. It’s all I can afford.”
“Would you ever consider moving to a small town?”
“Maybe. If someone asked.”
I reach out to take her hand and the virtual-me mimics my action. Small talk was never my strong suit and yet I’m certain this is a pivotal point in our conversation, the do or die moment of the rest of my life.
“Danni. I screwed up. Come back.”
“Why?”
Goddammit. I should’ve been better prepared for this. I want Danielle, not some cockamamie dating application. I forget the camera is on and she sees my displeasure.
“Listen, Cole. We don’t need to do this. I appreciate you volunteer-”
“No, wait. Please don’t go, Danni. I fucking love you, alright?”I suck at this.
“What did you say? You were too loud and it distorted.”
“I said I love you and I want you to marry me and have kids with me and live in my house. You can hide in Middlebury just as easily as in the big city. I promise, if you never want to leave my bedroom, it’s fine with me.”
Her avatar has a broad grin but her voice breaks, like she’s crying. “I thought you wanted me gone.”
“Baby, no. Why would you think that?” I remember every word of our last conversation and still haven’t got a clue.
“In the hospital, I waited for you to ask me to stay. I gave you every opportunity.”
“Danni. I’m a guy. We’re not real good with subtleties. If you had asked me, I would’ve said anything. What I heard was your final goodbye. You slayed me.”
“Wow. I had it all wrong. Cole. I love you, too. I have since high school, but when I saw you again, everything came back. How you never wrote. How you broke my heart.”
“I was eighteen. I thought I was doing you a favor. I didn’t want you to have to wait for me. I had to do my duty, and after, go to college. No woman should have to postpone their lives, especially you.”
“You should’ve asked whatIwanted.”
“Yeah. I realize that now. Is there a way to get out of these virtual suits and talk in person?”
“Take off your headset.” I do and she pops up on my computer monitor.
“I wish I could kiss you right now.”
“I guess my dating app works.”
“In all honesty, it’s amazing. When do you meet with your money guys?”
“Next week. After, I’m coming home for good.”
“I can’t wait. Can I text you? Call?” I’ve given up playing games. I want this woman and from now on, I will tell her every day for the rest of my life.
She smiles. “Sure. Will you forgive me if I need to log off? I have more virtual dates to monitor.”
