Page 47 of Reeling in Love

“You need anything else, sir?” he asks before leaving.

Only for you to have come a few minutes later, I want to say, but shake my head and curse him internally instead.

“I’ll take a quick shower and then get ready,” Nora says, peeping out of the bathroom door.

“You need any help?” I ask and then feel my cheeks heating. “I didn’t mean it like that,” I mumble as she raises her eyebrows.

“I didn’t say you did,” she says, smiling. “But no, I think I can manage just fine on my own.”

She shuts the door, and I hear her locking it from inside. What was I thinking? Have I gone nuts? Do I want our friendship to be over? I really am a relationship killer.

You need any help!

How dumb can anyone be asking something like that?

I open my bag and take out the shirt and suit I plan to wear for dinner. Mom has become quite particular about these parties, expecting me to dress formally. I don’t mind it, so I don’t argue. Dad, however, hates it, but he, too, doesn’t argue. I don’t think it would make much difference if he did. He’d still have to wear it, so he accepts it with humility.

Nora comes out in around fifteen minutes, wrapped in a towel, which comes up to her mid-thighs. I can see part of her cleavage, her wet hair falling around her face, water dripping down her neck, down to her breasts.

I feel a movement between my thighs as blood rushes there, leaving my brain numb and my eyes roving all over her, hoping to unwrap the towel with my eyes.

“I think you better get going if you don’t wanna be late to your own party,” she says, punching me lightly on the shoulder.

“Me? Um, yeah. Right. Um. I need to go and… yeah… have a bath. See you.”

I open the shower and stand underneath it. It doesn’t help, so I go about jerking myself off to the image I just saw. The image that is now imprinted on my brain. I’m astonished at myself, behaving like a teenager in front of his first crush. The one who can’t think clearly, act properly, or speak coherently.

I look in the mirror. It’s me! Gabriel. Women love me. Nay, they adore me. I’ve never, ever behaved or felt like this. Why now? She’s Nora for God’s sake. My childhood friend. Not a celebrity I’ve had a crush on. Get a grip! I hold the counter so tightly that my knuckles go white.

Finally, I dry myself, put on my shirt and trousers, and open the door. She’s sitting on the stool, putting on her earrings. She’s wearing a beige off-shoulder gown, her hair, now dry, is tied in a bun, and her eyes look bigger and prettier than ever.

Once the earring is in place, she stands up and twirls around. “How do I look?”

“Like an angel,” I say, unable to take my eyes off her face.

“I hope it’s not too much for a home dinner party. But your mom usually likes formal affairs, so…”

“You’re perfect. I mean, the dress. It’s perfect.”

I quickly put on my blazer and shoes when Mom calls me on the phone and says that the guests have arrived and we need to go down.

“Shall we?” I ask, giving her my arm. She wraps her hand around mine and I glance in the mirror. “We look good together.”

She nods. “We do. This is an excellent opportunity to make your parents believe we’re in love. So, what’s the plan?”

“The plan?”

“I mean, is any PDA required? Given that we’re a new couple, isn’t that what’ll be expected?”

“PDA? You mean like holding hands?”

“What are we? Twelve? No. Maybe a tiny little kiss in a corner of the room or something when your mom is watching. What say?”

Wow! Of course. Any number of times. We can do a trial run now if you want.

“Yeah, if you think that’ll help,” I reply with as straight a face as I can muster and lead her out of the room.

Chapter 20

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