Page 80 of Reeling in Love

“Just remember one thing. Chances don’t keep coming in life. If life gives you a chance at happiness, take it. If life gives you a chance at love, grab it. Don’t let it go because of what you think you know of my life. I had my share of happiness, till it lasted. Even now, if I were given a chance, I’d do it again, because of the immense happiness I experienced in the early years of being together with your dad. The happiness that I’ve received by being a mother to you and Carla. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Being in love and marrying the person I love was not my mistake.”

“Really?”

“Yes. My mistake was in not being independent, in not trusting myself. It never was very easy and simple with your dad. But you aren’t me. You’re you. Nora. The independent, smart woman who I look up to everyday of my life.”

Carla butts in. “Enough of your sappy remarks, Mom. She’s in Paris. Hey sis, where are you? It seems quite noisy and vibrant in the background.”

“Right outside the Eiffel Tower.”

“Wow! Then what’re you doing chatting with us? Forget this old woman. She’s become super-chatty nowadays. I think giving motivational lectures can be an alternative profession for her.”

“I agree,” I chuckle. “Maybe we can explore starting a blog or podcast for her. Agony Aunt to your rescue or something.”

We both laugh and I hear Mom yelling something like “Shut up both of you” from the background.

“Anyway, you have fun, sis. See you when you’re back.”

Gabs is at the front of the line by the time I step back.

“That was Carla and Mom. Carla has kicked Kevin out. No surprises there,” I say in response to his raised eyebrows. “Rest is all fine with them. Carla, of course, still feels like shit about what we had to go through because of Kevin.”

He simply nods but says nothing. Perhaps he’s still upset with Carla. I make a mental note to tell Carla to apologize to Gabs directly instead of through me.

Without another word, he leads the way into the elevator. I notice a few women’s eyes drifting toward him as he passes them. He doesn’t even stop at the first level and immediately gets into the second elevator that’ll take us further up. He seems preoccupied. Normally he’d talk to me when he’s upset. Have things already changed between us? I hope not.

“Are you okay? You’re looking a bit off,” I say, holding his hand and stopping him in his tracks.

“Me? Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Are you still upset with me? I’m sorry, Gabs. I know I shouldn’t have called up Daphne and Sophia. Is that why you’re behaving so weirdly?”

“Upset? No. I mean, I was. But not now.”

“Then what? Is it all the things your grandmother told you? Is that what’s on your mind?”

He shakes his head. “It was, but I’ve made my peace with it. By the way, this dress suits you. It looks kinda cute and sexy.”

He tilts his head to the side, his lips curling into a smile. I love it when he smiles, the way it lights up his face. He looks like the old Gabs again, my best friend.

“Wow! I didn’t know you ever paid attention to my clothes. Last year, when I asked you how I looked at your parent’s anniversary party, you didn’t even remember what I wore.”

“In my defense, you asked me some days after the party,” he retorts, returning to his usual self.

“Days after? It was the next day. And I was still wearing the same dress. But you hadn’t even noticed me.”

“Um. Really? Maybe I wasn’t well. Or maybe you hit me on the head or something and I lost my memory. You’re known to be quite violent with me.”

I scoff. “Yeah, right? You were busy with Grace, I think. Or was it Gwen? I don’t even remember who you were dating then. You didn’t have eyes for anyone else.”

“Well, I’m a gentleman. When I date a woman, I’m one hundred percent hers. I don’t notice or check out anyone else. I thought that was an excellent trait in boyfriends.”

I roll my eyes.

He looks me straight at me, holding my shoulders, a twinkle in his eyes and a faint smile playing on his lips. “See, since we’ve been together, I haven’t looked at anyone, not noticed anyone but you.”

He’s now so close to me I can feel his breath. He bends his head, his lips almost grazing my ears, and whispers, “You’re the only woman I have eyes and ears for, Nora.”

I can’t hear anything except his words reverberating in my ear. It’s as if the entire place has gone suddenly silent. My heart is pounding so hard that I think it’ll pop out any second. My breathing has become faster, and I have a powerful urge to fall into his arms. But I don’t. He means the fake relationship, fake being the keyword.

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