"Not at all. It just got worse. I thought about you even more. I didn't know what would happen with you and Tanner but I knew that if it didn't work out, I couldn't just stand by and not at least tell you how I felt."
"Is that why you broke up with Celine? Was it because of me?"
"No, at least not completely. I think I've told you this before but Celine and I haven't worked for a long time. I was going to break up with her last summer but then decided to keep trying. It wasn't until I met you that I realized Celine and I aren't even close to being a good fit. I realized how unhappy I am with her. I was so used to feeling that way that it didn't seem wrong, but then I met you and it's like a light went off. I finally felt what I should've been feeling with Celine. So yes, you played a role in the breakup but not directly. I didn't end things with her to go out with you. It would've ended even if you were still with Tanner."
I take a moment to think about what he said. I'm thrilled by his words but still completely shocked. This is the last thing I ever thought would happen to end this otherwise horrible day.
"Sophie, would you please say something? If you don't feel the same way, I understand. But even so, I don't regret telling you how I feel." He gives my hand a squeeze as he looks me in the eye. "I've never in my life felt this way about someone, and feeling it this soon, after only knowing you a few weeks? It tells me this is real. That's why I'm here. It's why I had to tell you all this. If there's even a chance you might feel the same way, I need to know."
"I do." I look back at him. "Feel the same."
His shoulders relax and he lets out a breath. "Okay, good, because for a minute there I thought I'd misread the situation. We've had some moments where I thought we felt the same way but I wasn't sure."
"You didn't misread it." I lean closer to him. "Aiden I've missed you so much. I think about you all the time. About us, and what it'd be like if we could be together. Even when I was with Tanner, my mind kept wandering back to you. It wasn't fair to Tanner so I had to break up with him, even if you stayed with Celine. But now that's not an issue."
I smile at him but he looks down.
"Aiden? What's wrong?
He lifts his head, his eyes returning to mine. "Celine might still be an issue."
"Why? What happened?"
"Nothing, but it could. Celine doesn't take rejection well."
"Meaning what?"
"Meaning she might try to get you fired if she finds out we're seeing each other. She'll assume you're the reason I broke up with her. She already accused me of cheating. That's the first place her mind went when I told her we were done."
"Does she suspect it's me?"
"No, in fact, she specifically mentioned you, saying I'd never go for a someone like you."
"Why wouldn't you?" I ask, feeling offended.
"Because of where you're from. She thinks you're not sophisticated enough for me, which isn't even close to being true. It just shows how little she knows about me."
"So what are you saying? We can't be together?"
"We can, but we need to keep it hidden, at least until you're done with the client dinner. Once you're done working with her, she can't do anything that would get you fired."
"Except it may not end with client dinner." I take my hand from his and sit back in the chair.
"What do you mean?"
"Beverly met with Roger. She thinks he can bring us new clients. And it sounds like the place you work for is always doing events. Beverly wants us to be the only event company he uses."
"And Celine oversees all the events," he says with a sigh.
"So if she wants to get me fired, she could."
"All the more reason to keep this hidden. Sophie, I know this isn't what you want. I don't want it either. But I'd rather see you in secret than not at all."
"What if her father finds out? Would he fire you?"
"I doubt it. I've been there for two years and brought in more money than guys who have been there for five. Roger knows it'd be hard to replace me. He's not going to do that just because his daughter and I broke up. But it'd still be best if he didn't know, at least until Celine's had time to calm down. She'll demand that he fire me and he doesn't want to deal with that."
"So what are we going to do? How are we going to hide this?"
He takes my hand again. "Well, for one, I'm going to keep coming up here to see you. We both love it here and nobody from back home will see us. We can drive up on Fridays and come back on Sundays."
"I have to work on Sundays."
"Not if you're picking up trash. Tell your boss that's what you're doing, even if you're not."
"I could, but Bianca won't be happy about it."
"Why? What do you do on Sundays?"
"Mostly just keep her company while she runs around the office."
"She doesn't need you for that. And maybe if you're not there, she'll get used to working on her own and won't keep making you work Sundays." He smiles. "I'd like to be the one spending Sundays with you."
"I'd like that too."
Gus shows up, holding two big bowls of stew. "I don't mean to interrupt but these are a little hot."
Aiden lets go of my hand and leans back. "Go ahead."
Gus sets the bowls down. "I'll be back right with the cornbread." Moments later he returns with the bread and a bowl of whipped butter. "Anything else I can get you?"
"I think
