Page 66 of Unmasking Love
“No, my mom got us a stay at a resort in The Keys in a couple weeks. She’ll be at her new husband’s house for Thanksgiving this year, I’ll be here. How’s your dinner?” I ask, changing the subject. Hopefully he lets me get away with it. I’m not going to push emotional vulnerability on a first date for myself or Aiden.
Thankfully Aiden goes with the shift in conversation. “This might be the best eggplant parm I’ve ever had.”
I preen like I cooked it myself. “Yeah? What’s your favorite food?”
“This is going to sound, well, I dunno, pretentious, but my favorite food is fresh antipasti meals in Italy. Tuscany specifically. I’ve done bike tours through the region and the food is the best I’ve ever eaten.”
“Wow, that does sound very fancy. How many times have you been to Italy?”
“I go to Europe every summer for a few weeks. Italy, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Andorra.”
“That’s amazing, I’ve never been to Europe. I have a passport but it has only gotten used for Cancun, so far.”
“Stick with me Harper, I’ll take you to Europe this summer.”
I blush. He likes me enough to invite me on a trip eight months from now? I’ve never had a boyfriend plan something more than a week out. And here Aiden is, inviting me on a vacation like it’s nothing.
He must have noticed my mental processing of his willingness to plan into the future with me because suddenly he’s backpedaling. “Or not, I should have asked. Do you like traveling?”
“Yes!” I reach across the table and place my hand on top of his. His hand is warm and after only a moment he turns his palm and grips my fingers in his fist. “Yes, I’d love to travel more. I didn’t when I was younger and if I wasn’t saving every commission for my renovation I’d probably have gone to Paris by now.” I pull my hand away and tuck my hair behind my ear. "It’s just a lot." I admit. "I have a contractor sort of lined up and the plans are mostly done." I shrug. "So, you know, someday."
“Harper, I love that you have such a clear vision of home.” Aiden's expression turns softer. I can see the admiration in his eyes. But there's nothing special about what I'm planning.
“Yeah, thanks, well,” I laugh at myself, “someday being the keyword.”
“What's the hold up?”
“The biggest problem is I have nowhere to live during the project because they’ll be redoing all the electrical and plumbing and that means I can’t stay there."
“Stay with me.” Aiden says before I've even finished my sentence.
“What?”
“Yeah, why not? I’m on the road every other week at least and the apartment just sits there. You could live with me while the work gets done.”
“Aiden,” I start and then stop. This is all moving really, really fast. But there is a loud part of my brain sayingyes, that makes total sense!
“Harper,” this time he’s the one to lay a hand on mine. It’s soothing like a weighted blanket. “I know this is our first date but I’ve never wanted to hang out with someone as much as I want to with you. To me, it makes sense you’d move in with me." He smirks and says. "I can charge you rent if that’ll make you feel better about it.”
I smile. “But I’m not even your girlfriend and you want me to live with you?”
“Do you want to be my girlfriend?”
Is this a trick? Yes, I do, but nothing with Aiden is going how it usually goes. There’s no drinks only date, followed by a lunch date two days later. There isn’t the limbo of texting each other and floating that I don’t have plans for the upcoming weekend, hoping the guy invites me out.
“I, um, yes?”
“Are you asking me if you want to be my girlfriend?” He grins and I hate that he calls me out on the fact that providing a straight answer makes me nervous. My cheeks flush and I wipe my palm on my leg.
“No.” I answer.
“So youdon’twant to be my girlfriend?”
“No, I mean, yes, I do. I meant, no, I’m not asking you.”
“You’re not asking me to be your boyfriend?”
“Shut up, Aiden,” I toss my napkin at him but, I forgot, he’s an NHL goalie and he snaps it out of the air. He stands, steps over behind my chair and lays the napkin back across my lap.
