I should just tell her. I trust her to keep a secret. And she wouldn't have to keep it for long. I'm going to end things with Celine this week, maybe even tomorrow. I can't keep putting it off. It isn't fair to her, or to me.
"I'm going to tell you something," I say, "but I need you to keep it between us, at least until other people know."
"Of course." Concern crosses her face. "What is it?"
"I'm breaking up with Celine."
Chapter Twelve
Sophie
I stare at Aiden, wondering if he really said what I think he said. Is he really breaking up with Celine? Why? And why now? Did I have anything to do with this decision? I hope not. I don't want to break up a relationship. I've been trying the best I can to hide my feelings for Aiden, and I've avoided him, but it hasn't changed how I feel about him.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Aiden asks.
"I guess I'm just surprised." I glance down at the napkin in my lap, smoothing the wrinkles that aren't even there.
"Well, what do you think?"
"Aiden, it doesn't matter what I think. This is your decision."
"I actually made it last summer. I just haven't done anything about it."
Last summer? Hearing that, I feel some relief. His decision had nothing to do with me. Their relationship had issues before I even came along.
I look up at him. "Why did you wait?"
He shrugs. "I just kept hoping things would get better. I even went online and read articles about how to fix a relationship."
"But they didn't help?"
"She wouldn't even read them. She thinks our relationship is fine. I started thinking maybe she was right and that I was expecting more from the relationship than I should. But then..." He shakes his head.
"Then what?"
The waiter appears. "Ready to order?"
I haven't even looked at the menu. Dinner is the last thing on my mind. My focus is on Aiden and his news about breaking up with Celine. I might actually have a chance with him!
I thought for sure he was going to propose to Celine. She made it sound like that's where they were headed. She's going to be shocked when he tells her it's over. I feel kind of bad for her, but she had to know it was possible. It sounds like Aiden told her last summer that things weren't going well and she brushed him off.
"I'll have the pot roast," Aiden says.
"Me too." I hand the waiter the menu.
"I'll be right back with some rolls."
When he's gone I look back at Aiden. "So what happened? What changed your mind?"
"I'd rather not say. We should talk about something else."
"Aiden, I won't tell anyone. I promise. This is just between us."
He doesn't respond.
I nod. "I understand. It's private. I shouldn't have—"
"It's you." He looks me in the eye and I feel my pulse racing and a flutter in my chest.
"What about me?"
He pauses. "I met you. And I started to see things differently."
"What do you mean?"
"I just..." He looks down, then back up at me. "I think you're a really good person. You're easy to talk to, easy to be around. You see the best in people. You're able to find the good in even the worst of situations, like what happened in court today."
"I appreciate you saying that but I don't know how that affects you and Celine."
"I realized she's not the girl for me. I knew it last summer but I wasn't sure why. Celine had me convinced there was nothing wrong with us. She said it's normal for couples to like different things, have different interests. And she's right, but it was more than that. Our personalities just don't click. We're attracted to each other physically, but beyond that, there really isn't anything more to our relationship."
"And you realized that because you met me?" I ask, still trying to understand what he's saying.
"I realized there are women out there who share my interests and actually want to spend time with me. Women who would love coming to a small town in Vermont and spending the weekend at a country inn. Women who could throw on jeans and a t-shirt and go hiking on a dirt trail."
He's talking about me, but not in a personal way. It's more of an ideal, the type of woman he's looking for. He's listing out traits, instead of saying I'm the woman he wants.
"I'm sure that woman is out there," I say. "You just have