“Yes. Even though we were friends and we’d already made out.”
I shrug. “Making out is fun. It’s the dates that are stressful.”
He grins. “Would you like to leave and make out?”
“No, I’ll eat my crab like a big girl.”
“Good. Because these Mickey pancakes are ridiculously delicious.”
I feel better now that my panic is out in the open. More normal. Normal enough to air the question that has been plaguing me since last night.
“So, not to be too forward,” I say, “but how do we… how would it work, if we were to try to be together?”
He meets my eyes. “I don’t know, honestly. I’ve never dated anyone long-distance. I think we just…try.”
“Would we be, um… exclusive?” I manage to squeak out, even though I’m worried even asking this will make me seem needy.
He just smiles.
“I’d like to,” he says. “But I’ll take you any way you’ll have me.”
Good. I can’t imagine the agony of having to share him.
“I guess we could visit each other, now that flying is viable,” I venture.
“We could go on trips,” he says.
“Do you really have a lake house?” I don’t remember hearing about it before last night.
“I do. I bought it after Sarah and I broke up. So I could hole up like Thoreau and contemplate the nature of existence.”
“Did you know that Thoreau lived like a five-minute walk from his mother, and she would bring him food?”
“Lucky Thoreau. My place doesn’t even have DoorDash.”
“Where’s the house?”
“Lake Geneva, in Wisconsin, about ninety minutes outside of Chicago. It’s pretty small—two bedrooms. But it’s right on the water. Good kayaking.”
“You would not want to put me on a kayak.”
“I would absolutely want to put you on a kayak.”
“I don’t even like sailboats. I definitely do not want to ride in something with oars.”
“You’re in luck. Kayaks don’t have oars, they have a paddle. I’ll take you out on the lake when you visit. Show you some good ol’ wholesome midwestern fun.”
“I prefer Paris and Hawaii.”
“Oh, come on. I’ll feed you cheese curds. I bet you’ve never even seen a cheese curd.”
“The word ‘curd’ has to be among the most revolting in the entire English language.”
“Cheese curds and summer corn and cool dips in the lake on hot days. You’re going to be in heaven.”
I smile at him. That actually sounds wonderful. “I would like to see your place.”
“What are you doing next weekend?”
