Page 34 of Reeling in Love

There’s silence for some time and I have to ask her the question that’s killing me.

“You remember last night?”

“Yeah. Of course. We drank. I flirted with some random guy and gave him my number. You hit on a girl in a green dress. We danced, I think. I’m not too sure. Then came back.”

“You remember nothing else?”

“No. Is there something I should remember? Was I too drunk?” She opens her eyes wide, staring at me, and continues in a whisper. “Shit! Did I come home with someone and don’t remember it?”

I bite my lips and shake my head. “No. Nothing happened. It was exactly like you said. I was testing your memory. Checking how drunk you were.”

She punched me on the shoulder. “You dumbass fool. I actually thought I slept with some random stranger and forgot about it. Ooh. That would’ve been bad. Hashtag shit-level-bad.”

Chapter 14

Nora: #Believe

I remember everything. Everything.

But it’s easier to pretend it never happened than to deal with the consequences. Call me a coward if you will, but that’s me. I hate dealing with consequences of my stupid actions, especially if it means risking the most important relationship in my life. So yeah, if that makes me a coward, so be it.

To be honest, I don’t want to do this fake dating thing with Gabs. I mean, especially after last night, it might not be the best idea. But he needs it, or else Daphne will make his life hell. And somehow, I don’t like Sophia, even though I’ve never met her.

How can you like or respect a woman who agrees to marry a stranger from another country? Maybe she has her reasons, but till I know them and approve of them, I’ve decided to hate her. Makes it easier for me that way.

So how can I, with a clear conscience, allow my best friend to marry a woman I hate? I can’t. I’ll do everything in my power to help him out, even if it’s a little inconvenient or uncomfortable for me.

Thankfully, Gabs has to go for some weekend retreat somewhere, starting tonight. So he’ll be gone all weekend. Next week is super busy for me and I’m sure for him as well, given that he’s starting his work in his new company where he wants to impress and he’ll also be helping Alex transition into MooreGames. So neither of us is going to have any time.

Then it’s just a matter of a dinner. No big deal. I can pretend to be in a relationship for a few hours if it means some peace of mind for my best friend.

Moreover, one week will help clear my head too. I think it was the alcohol last night that did a number on my brain. And the attraction I felt when I sat beside him on his bed right now? Well, I guess it’s the hangover. I can’t really be attracted to him, can I? He’s my best friend, after all. We’ve known each other since school. How can I suddenly want to kiss him again, feel his arms around me, want him in my bed?

Shit! The thought itself makes my pulse quicken and my stomach go all queasy and fluttery inside.

I need to get a hold of myself. I glance at the clock. Time to get moving. I hear the bathroom door unlock. Guess he’s done. I pick up the clothes I’ve chosen for the day, step out of my room, and stand frozen on the spot.

He’s stepping out of the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around him. His hair is wet, water dripping down onto his shoulder and making its way down his chiselled chest and to his perfect abs. My eyes follow the drop of water as it slides down to the perfect V below his navel, to the edge of the towel.

Should I brush past him and loosen the towel?

What? What nonsense is my brain thinking? He’s my friend, for Pete’s sake. A hot, sexy friend with an animal magnetism that is almost hypnotic. Ugh! I’m going crazy. Out of my mind. I think I need to go see a therapist.

“Did I take too long?”

“Huh? What? Um. No. I mean, yeah. You did. What’ve you been doing? Playing dress-up?”

Playing dress-up? Really?

He chuckles. “I’m in a towel. You really think I was playing dress up?”

“Whatever. You took so long it sure seemed that way,” I retort, flicking my hair for good measure to show my disdain. I hope I successfully cover the ultra-steamy thoughts that my brain is having right now.

I hurry inside and shut the door as if that act would shut out the thoughts sneaking into my head. I have a quick shower. The sooner we’re among other people, the better.

Gabs drops me off at MooreGames on his way to his new office. We talk little during the drive. I’m busy scrolling through my social media and emails while he’s humming along with the music he’s playing, some sad French song that he says will help him improve his command of the language.

I’m busy most of the day, but I find my mind occasionally drifting to the kiss. I wonder if it was the booze that made me think I felt so aroused by it. I need to stop drinking. Maybe I’m becoming like Eva, who can’t hold more than a few beer pints down.

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