Weather is nice, isn’t it.
How was the luncheon with your mom?
I try to keep everything neutral. With the photo that just came out that clearly looks like me, I’m not sure what is the right thing to do or say around Aidan. Any conversation could land me in a minefield.
“I bet you are wondering why I asked you here…” he says. My head screams:obviously. I purse my lips and fidget with the sleeve on my coffee cup. I nod, with a “Yeah,” trying to keep my replies simple.
“This morning, I saw the article—” He pauses, trying to assess if I will have some kind of reaction. I remain strong.
For all of ten seconds.
“Before you say it, I just want you to know it’s not what it looks like. I know people say that all the time, but this time it is true. The media is cruel. I would know, since I work in the field.” All my hand gestures are on full display as I say each word.
Skye whispers, “Smooth,” behind my ear. I clear my throat. As if I didn’t already know how easily I am crumbling. I promised I wouldn’t give myself away so easily. I force a quick smile while my eyes avert from his.
I am ruining this in a matter of ten seconds. I didn’t even kiss Holden, so I don’t know why I am acting this way.
“Someone’s squeamish that Holden Strauss wants to date them,” Skye announces to the entire shop. Luckily, I’m the only one who can hear her.
“Baby, you’re fine. I knew it was you. I thought you looked beautiful.” His head tilts ever so carefully to the side, flashing a grin. A small velvet blue box is sliding over to my side.
“Go on, open it.”
His smile is contagious, because now I am wearing one, hearing my own pulse as I open the hinge of the box.
“It’s, uhhh—” I pause, holding up a key.
“Move in with me, Charlotte.”
My silence hangs there. The words beg to come out, but I’m falling short.
“For a while, I never asked because I thought we were good with where we have been. I didn’t want to mess it up, like having bills or chores to share and now…”
“And now you want me to move in?” I say skeptically. “I thought you couldn’t sleep in the same bed as me?”
“I’ll adapt.”
“What about my place?”
“We will sublet.”
The gold key feels like a trumpet moment for us. After four years, it’s finally happening. I don’t know why I’m not frantically jumping up and down with a definite yes blurting out of me.
“You don’t have to give me an answer now. Just think about it when we are on our trip.”
“Our trip?” I echo.
“We have that event at the Hamptons, remember? Tomorrow. I could really use your support there. My mother is even letting us stay in the same room this year.” He is beaming at this fact, since past stays at their estate had us in separate guest rooms.
I try to keep my facial expression neutral, since I had forgotten all about this party he reminded me about weeks ago. The annual one I’ve been to since we started dating…
Aidan returns to his phone to show me all the upcoming flights. I grit a smile when he looks at me for reassurance. His kind eyes that ask,Is this okay?My phone screen lights up and my smile drops fast.
A preview message appears on my phone:I’d really like to see you.
From NDAs to a golden key… I flip my phone screen to face the table.
“What time are we leaving?”
