I smile, looking down at her.
"Deal. But let's get them your eyes."
We continue our banter, but something has shifted. A layer has been peeled back, revealing a future neither of us had openly acknowledged before.
When we return to my place, the air is thick with excitement and a hint of anxiety. It's as if the day's events have opened up a world of possibilities—impressive but daunting at the same time.
"So, are we really doing this?" Lauren asks as she takes off her coat and sits on the couch.
"Yeah, I think we are," I reply, sitting beside her. "Let's talk logistics."
Lauren grabs a notebook and pen from the coffee table.
"Okay, logistical mastermind, where do we start?"
"First, we need to decide where we're living. My place, yours, or somewhere new altogether?"
"Good question. Your place is closer to your office, and I can work from anywhere."
I nod.
"Alright, so we're leaning towards my place. What's next?"
"Furniture?" she suggests.
"Keep, sell, or donate," I say. "We'll have to take inventory of what we both have and then decide."
She writes that down, then looks up.
"Pets?"
"No restrictions in my building, so that's an option."
"Great, because I always wanted a dog," she says.
"Perfect. Now, the financials. We should have a joint account for shared expenses but keep our own separate accounts, too."
She scribbles in the notebook.
"Makes sense. And chores?"
"We could alternate or split them based on what we each hate the least," I offer.
"Deal. Oh, and boundaries. Let's not forget we both need space, even if we're in love and all mushy about it."
"I couldn't agree more," I say, relieved she's as realistic as she is romantic. "Scheduled 'me' time is essential."
She jots down the last point and closes the notebook.
"This is going to be quite the adventure, isn't it?"
I look at her, captivated not just by her beauty but by the way she's thrown herself so fully into this idea of 'us'.
"The best kind of adventure," I reply.
Lauren places the notebook back on the table and turns to face me.
"So, we're really doing all this together, right?"