Page 22 of Reeling in Love

She’s walking toward me, her eyebrows raised, a questioning look on her face.Move, I tell my body. Look somewhere else, anywhere, I command my eyes. But my senses aren’t controlled by my brain anymore. They’re focused on Nora, the pretty angel in frontof me.

She clicks her fingers in front of my eyes and brings me out of my trance, at least enough so I can hear the words coming out of her mouth and react to them.

“So, is it okay for me to bring my stuff over to your condo for a couple of days, or do you plan to have someone over?”

“Yeah, yeah. Of course. Why do you even ask? Y’know there’s no one coming over.”

“Who knows? You’re Gabriel, the babe magnet,” she says with a shrug and a wink. “Let me get the box, then.”

I follow her to the car and take the box from her hands. Lily and Alex are already backing the car and waving as they go, leaving us alone.

We’ve been alone countless times, but my heart never beat so loudly. Gosh. Why can’t I go back to not seeing her as a woman? This beautiful,sexy woman. Maybe the bar crawl will cure me of this stupid feeling. Once I see other pretty ladies, this image of her will be one among many. Then she can be with a guy she wants and I with some other girl and all will be well with the world again.

I hasten to the elevator. I have to first put the box at home. The sooner we get amid people, the better it is.

I place the box in her room and am ready to leave.

“Give me a sec,” she says, as she pours some water for herself into a glass. A drop finds its way down her lips to her chin and falls on her dress, right over her breasts. I can’t help staring at the silly drop and hoping that I was it. Jesus! What’s wrong with me? I need to cure myself of these super-sappy emotions.

“Be the drop that falls down your lips!” I mean, I’m no poet, but this could well be part of a song.

This is not me. Worse, if Nora knew what I was thinking, she’d probably run miles away from here. That’s the last thing I want. These corny emotions are what she hates. Her friendship is more important to me than anything else and I will not let my thumping heart and crazy brain deprive me of the one good thing in my life.

Thankfully, my phone rings and brings me out of this stupid state. I want to take my eyes anywhere except for the sexy image of Nora drinking water. I quickly pull it out of my pocket.

Ugh! Mom!

“Salut Maman.”

“Ah, Gabriel. You never called me back. Too busy to call your Maman? Anyway, how did your dinner go with Sophia?”

“Good, I think.”

“You like her?”

“She’s okay.”

“Good. Good. I’m thinking of inviting her over for dinner on the coming weekend. You should come. Get to know her.”

“C’mon, Mom. I can see what you’re trying to do.”

“Don’t say you can’t come because you’re seeing Paula. We both know she’s not the one for you. And what’s wrong with Sophia? She’s smart, intelligent, rich.”

“Nothing’s wrong with her. Maybe I’m in love with someone else.”

“Love? And you? Are you saying you love Paula? Don’t lie to me.”

Even I know this lie is not gonna cut it. I don’t even know why I said it. Before I can reply, she continues making her case.

“I know you and Paula broke up.”

“What? How?” Did Paula message Mom about the break-up?

“So, it’s true. Though honestly, I think it’s for the best. I don’t know why you were with her in the first place.”

I let out a long sigh and slump on the couch. How do I escape now?

“Hey honey,” comes a voice from behind me and I see Nora coming closer to me. Her head is so close to mine that if I turn, my lips can touch her cheek. Shit! What am I thinking? “Who’s on the phone? Is it Daphne?” she says.

---