Page 23 of Reeling in Love

“Is that Nora?” Mom asks.

Nora takes the phone from me and puts it on speaker while I sit there, speechless. I don’t know what’s happening here. Why’s she calling me ‘honey’, and why does it feel so sweet coming from her mouth?

“Hi, Daphne. How’re you doing?” Nora says.

I can hear Dad’s voice from the background. “Say hi to Nora from me.”

“George says hi. What’re you doing there?”

“Um… me?” Nora says with a sheepish giggle as if her secret just came out. “Uh well. Y’know?”

“Oh dear God! Are you two seeing each other?”

“We’ve actually kept it a secret, y’know. To see how it goes. You’re really the first to know.”

My eyes go wide. As if anyone in their right senses would believe Nora and I could be a thing. What is this girl getting me into?

“Oh! Ok. Well, that was quick. I mean, after his breakup with Paula.”

“Well, you know how these things are. One day you suddenly realise that the thing you wanted has been right in front of you all along.”

I can imagine the shock this must be for Mom. Poor thing. She can’t process it. “Well, if you both are happy, then of course we’re happy, too. I mean, yeah. Good. I’ll talk to you both later. I’m getting another call,” Mom says and disconnects.

Nora bursts out laughing. “Well, you can thank me later. But didn’t that give her a shock?”

I shake my head at her enthusiasm. She’s always the one to act first and think later.

“Why did you do that?”

“To save your ass. Why else? I figured you wanted an out from whatever she was planning. Why else would you lie that you’re in love? I mean. We’re talking about you! Gabriel, the babe magnet, or whatever. You and love don’t go together. I believe a ‘thank you’ is in order.”

“Yeah, whatever. Thanks for nothing. How am I going to maintain this lie of yours?”

“Easy. I’m already staying here. We’ll post a few pics on social media and bam! Everyone believes what we want them to.”

She comes up behind the couch, bends a little so her head is close to mine, turns her head a little toward me, and takes a selfie.

“See, something like that. Easy peasy, man. Don’t worry about it, my dear social-media-challenged friend. You’ve got me, and lucky for you, I’m in a generous mood and will help you out of the mess your mom wants to throw you in. I’m your savior. Your superhero. The SocialMediaPowerGirl. Nope too long. The SocialStarlet. The ReelRuler. Wow. I’m good!”

I can’t stop a tiny chuckle from escaping my lips.

“Yup. The ReelRuler. So, my savior, can you tell me how Mom knew that Paula and I broke up? I don’t think Paula was that close to her to tell her such things.”

“’Course I can.”

Nora flicks her phone toward me. There’s an Insta Reel of Paula tearing me out of a common photo and burning it with a lighter.

“Wow! That’s… I don’t know,” I say, as the reel plays all over again.

She takes the phone from my hand and gives me a quick hug. “I’m sorry,” she says, pulling away.

“How did you see it? You follow Paula?” Does she follow all the people I date? Could she be jealous of my girlfriends?

“Nah! Why would I? She’s tagged both of us. I guess that’s how Daphne also knew about it. She’s pretty active on social media, your mom. Even your grandmom, for that matter.”

She takes a seat next to me and I take a deep breath and smell her perfume.

“Are you okay, Gabs?”

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