Page 80 of February

“So, maybe we should just leave it at that one perfect kiss?” Monica suggested.

“One perfect kiss,” Bridgette repeated as she appeared to roll that over in her mind.

“Yes. It’s probably best, right? Save us both.”

“From what?”

“I don’t know; heartache?”

“Your heart would ache?” Bridgette asked.

Monica heard the door open then, and she turned to see Aaron walking out of the bathroom.

“Later,” she said.

“So, how’s the food?” Aaron asked as he sat back down next to Monica.

???

“Mom?”

“Yeah, honey?”

Aaron turned away from the car window he had been looking out of and toward her.

“Will you be okay if I’m at school here?” he asked.

“What do you mean?”

“You’d be on your own in that massive apartment that hardly feels lived-in, and all you do is work.”

“That’s notallI do. I spend time with you, too.”

“And I’d be downhere,” he pointed out. “I mean, I’d go home for breaks and stuff, but Mom has someone, at least. I don’t even hear you talking about friends. Well, now you talk about Bridgette, which is cool, but–”

“Idon’t talk about her.Youtalk about her.” Monica chuckled at him.

“Yeah, right,” he said, turning more toward her. “You brought her up three times today on campus and mentioned her twice over breakfast.”

“I did not.” Monica laughed louder.

“Yes, you did. You mentioned that they didn’t have her favorite toast or something.”

“It’s French toast,” she replied.

“See?” Aaron laughed. “Then, you said that she knows your coffee order. That one came out of nowhere. Something about how she made you walk around a little. I forget the other stuff, but I kept count. It was five times.” He held up his hand with his fingers spread. “You like her. You’re just pretending like you don’t, for some reason.”

“Aaron, I’ll be going back to New York soon. She’s staying here.”

“But you’re like a different person here.”

“I am not.”

“Look at what you’re wearing. I didn’t even know youownedtennis shoes,” he said as he pointed at her feet. “And you’re way more relaxed here. You’ve hardly looked at your phone all day.”

“Grandpa wanted me to take a little vacation while I’m here, and then you wanted to visit, so I’m taking some time off.”

“You look at her, Mom.”

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