"We still have Vermont," he says. "We'll go there every weekend, even after you're done with community service. We both love it there and the inn has kind of become our place. Years from now, we'll go back there and celebrate the day we met, or our first date. We'll hike up the trail, have a romantic dinner at the inn, then stroll down Main Street, hand-in-hand."
My heart melts hearing him say that, as if we'll still be together years from now. We've never talked about a future together. It seems too soon to even consider it, and yet I've imagined it in my mind, and in my dreams.
Aiden moves closer to the screen. "Sophie, are you crying?"
"I guess I am," I say with a laugh as I wipe a tear from my cheek.
"Why are you crying?"
"Because of what you just described. I want that so much, Aiden, so to hear you say it, it makes me so happy."
"Were you surprised that I felt that way?"
"Well, yes. We barely know each other. We haven't even really dated. It seems a little crazy to be talking about the future."
"When you know, you know. That's what my grandfather used to say. Tom said the same thing when he told me about meeting Lois. He said he knew from the first day they met that she was the one. Sometimes you just know."
"I didn't. I was furious when you caused me to get that ticket. I was sure you were just some rich Wall Street guy who doesn't care about anyone but himself. And when you acted like I shouldn't be upset, I was even more furious with you."
"So you basically hated me when we met," he says, smiling.
"I wouldn't say hate, but I definitely wasn't imagining a future with you."
"I wasn't either, but I knew I liked you. I wasn't sure why, but I knew I wanted to see you again."
"When did you start imagining us together? In the future?"
"It started the night we had dinner."
"The first dinner?"
"Yes. It wasn't like I consciously thought about it. I was just lying in bed that night, almost falling asleep, when these images came in my head. I could see us together, dating, living together. It might've even been a dream. I'm not sure if I was awake or not. The next day I woke up feeling guilty, knowing I was still with Celine. And then I realized I'd never dreamed of a future with Celine. I hadn't even thought about it. That was enough to convince me that even if my relationship with Celine improved, she wasn't the right girl for me." He sits back on the couch, his legs filling the camera.
"I can't see you."
"Sorry." He sits up again. "So when did you start imagining us together?"
"When I started dating Tanner. I'd be out with him but thinking about you. I tried to stay focused on Tanner but my mind kept wandering back to you. I feel really bad about that. It wasn't fair to him."
"He's fine. He's already moved on."
"He has? With who?"
"A woman he met at a fundraiser last week. She's a scientist. She researches how changes in climate affect ocean life."
"She's perfect for him!"
"I know, right? He might've found his match."
I pick up my tablet and lay back on my bed, smiling at the tiny camera. "Tell me more about this future you imagined."
"Well, we live together but I'm not sure where. For some reason I never see us in New York, maybe because we've never actually been together here."
"Where do you see us?" I ask.
"In a house somewhere, but it's not a big city."
"Would you ever consider that? Not living in a big city?"
"Maybe. I've never lived anywhere but big cities so it's hard to say. How about you?"
"I don't mind a smaller town, but not where I grew up. I'd want someplace different. And a place that's affordable would be nice." I sit up. "I never gave you the tour, did I?"
"Of what? Your apartment?"
"Yes. Here." I turn my tablet the other way and rotate it around the tiny room. "That's it. What do you think?"
"It's even smaller than the place I used to have. But I had roommates so we were able to afford more."
"I can't believe what they charge for this place. I can't even pay—" I stop before I tell him about the eviction notice. I'm embarrassed to tell him, or anyone else, that I can't pay my bills. I just need to get that promotion and then everything will be fine.
"What did you say?" he asks.
"Nothing. Anyway, that's my apartment. Show me yours."
He gets up, taking the tablet with him and walking around to show me each room. His apartment is big enough to actually have rooms. He shows me the bedroom and bathroom and then the kitchen, which is large enough to have a small table.
"It's really nice," I say as he returns to the living room. "I like how you decorated."
"Thanks, but I might've had some help from a friend."
"A girlfriend?"
"We went on a few dates, but it didn't go anywhere. She's an interior designer. She's actually the person who introduced me to Celine, which led to me getting the job at the investment firm."
"Are you still friends with her?"
"I was, but I won't be after Celine tells her about the breakup. I need to stop talking about Celine. Let's talk about something else."
I smile. “I want to know more about this future you see for us."
We spend the next two hours imagining what our apartment would look like, and then our house, assuming we had one. We talk about how we'd spend our time, what shows we'd watch on TV, what we'd make for dinner. It's all imaginary but still fun to talk about, and it makes
