"So what are you going to do?"
"I don't know, but I have to at least let Sophie know what's going on."
"You can't see her. You know that, right?"
"Maybe not in the city but..." I don't finish the thought, knowing he'll be against it.
"But what? You'll arrange to see her somewhere else? Like where?"
I don't answer him, picking up my whiskey and taking a drink.
"That place in Vermont?" he says. "The inn?"
I look at him. "It's the perfect place. I have to go back there anyway for work and Sophie has to go there to do her community service."
"Do you know when?"
"No. She hasn't told me."
"I don't know, Aiden. It seems risky."
"Why would it be risky? There's no way Celine would ever drive up there and find us together."
"She might, if she really wants to prove she was right about you having someone else."
"When is the last time Celine left the city? Like ten years ago? And that was for her aunt's funeral. Her mom forced her to go. And it was only two hours away. This is four, and Celine doesn't like driving. There's no way she'd show up there."
Pete shrugs. "If that's what you want to do." He motions the bartender over. "I'll have another."
"What are you saying? You don't think I should?"
"No matter what I say, you're going to do what you want."
"You think I should stay away from Sophie."
"For a few weeks, yeah. There's too much at stake. Your job. Sophie's job. Your friendship with Tanner."
"You just said Tanner would get over it."
"He will, but that doesn't mean he'll like it. And I know you think your job is safe but there are plenty of good sales guys out there. Roger could replace you with someone else if that's what it takes to get Celine to quiet down. I know you say he puts business before his personal life but Celine's going to demand that he fire you and she won't give up until he does. As for Sophie's job, she's just an assistant. It'd be easy for them to let her go."
I finish my drink. "Let's talk about something else."
"Aiden, I'm serious. You need to—"
"I got it," I say in an angry tone. "Just let it go. Talk about something else."
He tells me about work and a story he's doing for the magazine about a new type of road bike.
As he talks, my mind keeps wandering to Sophie. I go back and forth with wanting to call her and telling myself I shouldn't. I probably should take Pete's advice and stay away from her for a few weeks but that doesn't mean we can't talk.
Two hours later, Pete settles up with the bartender as I get up to leave. Despite all the whiskey I had, I don't even feel drunk.
"Want to go get something to eat?" Pete asks.
"No, I'll just eat something at home." I look at my phone and see a message from Sophie, sent an hour ago.
"What is it?" Pete asks, noticing me staring at my phone.
"A text from Sophie."
"What does it say?"
I open the text and read it. "Her community service starts this weekend. She's working all day Saturday. Going up there Friday night."
"Don't do it, man." Pete puts his hand on my shoulder. "As your friend, I'm telling you, it's a really bad idea. Don't go up there. It's too soon. Celine knows all the people you know. There's a good chance she'll find out you left town."
"Yeah? So? What's she going to do about it?"
"Just give it a couple weeks. What's the rush? You don't have to see Sophie this weekend."
But I do. I can't take being away from her. It's been almost a week since I've seen her and I miss her. I can't stop thinking about her.
I'm single now, and so is she, so why can't we be together? Nobody we know will be in Vermont. Nobody will see us. And I really should go up there to meet with Tom again.
The decision is made. I'm going to Vermont.
Chapter Fourteen
Sophie
I haven't heard from Aiden since I sent him a text telling him I was starting my community service this weekend. He texted back, apologizing once again for getting me in this situation. That's all he said, and I haven't heard from him since.
Now it's Friday and I had to leave work early to make the long drive up to Vermont. I'm almost there but I can barely keep my eyes open. I'm exhausted. I had a horrible day. Celine kept calling me about every little detail of this dinner I'm now in charge of. Celine doesn't think I'm capable of managing the event on my own. She keeps calling Bianca instead of me, and then Bianca gets annoyed and blames me for why Celine keeps calling her. I just want this event to be over, and when it finally is, I better get that promotion. If I don't, I'll be saying goodbye to New York.
After work I raced home to get my overnight bag and was greeted by an eviction notice taped to my door. Last week I gave the landlord five hundred dollars, which isn't even a third of what I owe him but at least it's something. I thought the money could buy me some time but it didn't, and now he's giving me until the end of the month to pay up or get out.
Then, when I went to pick up the rental car, they couldn't find my reservation. The only car they had left was a minivan, which cost twice as much as the car I reserved. Luckily, I found the reservation on my phone and the place was forced to give me the minivan for the cheaper price but the van will cost me more in gas.
I'm at the point
