“Victor, will we ever be in a relationship?”

This was left field. I stood there and watched it arc over me. I had no glove.

“You mean a romantic relationship?”

I missed it completely.

She paused. She was thinking. There was something to say that she wouldn’t spit out until she passed it through her tact filter.

“Yes.”

I passed my thoughts through my bullshit filter. I want you here. I wanted you here from the beginning. I didn’t know that I wanted someone to love. You were unexpected. This is who you are.

“Yes, I think so. We’re friends. I want to keep that. Yes, someday, we will. We’ll try.”

No consideration of certainty. No consideration of time. No consideration of the fact that I’m not the only one.

“Okay.”

I was on the balcony overlooking the lawn. It was gray and December-like. I had a bottle of mineral water and nothing else to look forward to.