A few minutes later, he calls back. He'll probably keep calling so I decide to answer.
"Hi, Aiden."
"Sophie, what's going on? Why haven't you answered my calls?"
"I've been busy at work. With the new promotion, I have more to do."
"That's all it is? You've just been busy at work?"
I don't answer, not sure what to say. I want to tell him how I feel but I don't know if I should. I don't want to accuse him of lying to me when I don't know if it's true.
"Sophie, what's going on? I know work isn't the only reason you haven't answered my calls. I know you've been avoiding me."
"I'm just giving you time to deal with all the stuff you have going on. We're both busy. It's hard to find time to talk."
"Not when you really want to talk to someone." He pauses. "I'm sorry I had to leave last Saturday. Roger called me and demanded I get back there for a meeting about this deal I thought was already done. The buyer of the property was going to back out at the last minute unless we explained some of the stuff we found during the inspection. If I hadn't gone back we might've lost the deal, and I might've lost my job."
"I get it, Aiden. Don't worry about it."
"Of course I'm worried about it. I let you down. I told you we'd have two nights together and we didn't. I felt horrible leaving you like that."
"I was fine. I just went to bed early."
"I wasn't fine. I barely slept. I wanted to be back there with you. I missed you. I still do."
If that were true, he'd find a way to be with me, and not just in Vermont but here, in New York. He'd stop worrying about Celine and just let us be a couple.
"Have you seen Celine since you got back?" I ask.
"No. Why would I see Celine?"
"I thought maybe she talked you into going to more events with her."
"She didn't. And she won't. I'm done going places with her."
"She's acting like you two are still together. She talks about you with Bianca like you two are still a couple."
"We're not. If she's saying that we are, she's lying. Is that why you've been avoiding me? Because you think I'm still with Celine?"
I don't answer him.
"Sophie, I am not with Celine. I don't know why you're believing her and not me. Don't you trust me?"
"I want to, but...I don't know."
"What do you want me to do? How do I prove to you it's over with her?"
"You let us be a couple. Here. In New York."
"Sophie, I told you I can't do that until this deal with the inn is done. I can't risk Roger taking it from me."
"Why? Isn't our relationship worth more than some deal? Is this about money? Your status at the firm? What?"
"Sophie, please, just give me more time."
"Then I want time too."
"Meaning what?"
"I think we should take a break from each other. It hurts too much to be with you, but not actually with you. I think we should stop seeing each other until we actually can."
"What are you saying? You don't want me going to Vermont?"
"No." A tear slips down my cheek because this isn't what I want. What I want is for him to agree to be with me, all the time, not just on weekends. I want him to stop trying to hide our relationship and stand up to Celine and her father.
"I don't want to agree to that," he says. "I still want to see you. I need to."
"I'm sorry, Aiden, but I think this is how it has to be, at least for now."
The phone goes silent, then I hear him let out a breath. "Goodbye, Sophie."
"Bye, Aiden."
I end the call and break down crying. Why didn't he fight for us? Why did he pick his job and this stupid deal over us? Why is he letting Celine have all the control?
The rest of the night I lay in bed, crying, feeling like we just broke up. I don't know how we come back from this. I feel like too much damage has been done. Too many words have been spoken. Too much trust has been broken.
I thought Aiden was the one. But he's just another guy who broke my heart.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Sophie
I'm back in Vermont, alone this time. I haven't talked to Aiden since I suggested we take a break. I'm now regretting that break because I miss him more than I can describe. It's even worse when I'm here. Everything reminds me of him. And staying in this room? The one we shared? The one where we first made love? It's almost unbearable.
When I arrived here last night I asked Tom for another room but they were all booked. It's near the peak of fall color and tourists have taken over the inn and the town. Every tree is bursting with color—orange, red, and yellow dotting the landscape in a way that has to be seen to be believed.
It's sad being surrounded by all this beauty without being able to share it with someone. I would love for Aiden to be here right now, but another romantic weekend with him would just make it harder when we go back to New York. My heart can't take this constant back and forth, especially when I'm not sure I can trust Aiden.
It's been a long day of trash pickup so after a quick shower, I head down to the bar for a drink. I should probably eat, not drink, since I've barely eaten all day, but food doesn't sound good right now. Plus, a tourist bus arrived a few minutes ago and filled the entire dining room.
"Manhattan?" Charlie asks, smiling as he sets a coaster in front of me.
"You have anything cheaper?" I ask, picking up the drink menu. "I'm kind of short on funds right now."
That's
