Page 27 of Reeling in Love

We’re outside by now and waiting for a taxi. I don’t even want to look at his face for fear he’ll see what’s going on in my sick head. I mean, it’s Gabriel! And I’m getting these weird desires about him that are so crossing the lines of friendship. To be honest, this relationship of ours is one of the most important in my life, and given both of our past romantic histories, what I’m thinking cannot end well. That is, even if he is okay with it, which he probably won’t be. Hell, he might think it’s okay for Daphne to believe what she wants as long as he has a warm, sexy body on his bed tonight.

“Okay,” he says.

“What?”

“I think you’re right. We should lay off other people for some time and play on this fake relationship thing between us.”

A taxi pulls over and we settle inside the warm car.

He grins. “So what all does this fake relationship include? Do we, y’know, ding-dong?”

I can’t keep in my laughter as I hear him say it. “Ding-dong? What kind of expression is that? And no! It’s just for the world.”

“Ah. Of course. I know that. I mean, I wouldn’t really wanna ding-dong you!”

“As if I’m dying to sleep with you. I’d much rather die.” Yet, even as I say it, I feel my body pulsating and heating between my thighs.

Chapter 10

Nora: #NotSoPlatonic

Ditching our usual haunts, Gabs directs the driver to take us to The Beat, a trendy club known for its vibrant dance floor and eclectic music. As we approach the door, the heavy bass of the music spills out onto the street, mingling with the laughter and chatter of the crowd.

I’m a little unsure of this entire arrangement now. Maybe we should go home, sleep it off. I’m sure my stupid feelings will disappear by tomorrow. I turn my head to tell Gabs we should go home.

“Ready to dance the night away as my date?” he asks, his eyes sparkling with excitement. He looks effortlessly stylish in his fitted black shirt and jeans, his hair slightly tousled.

His date!

“Absolutely,” I reply, feeling a sudden thrill. Ah, well. It’s just a stupid feeling. It’ll be such a waste if we don’t even dance a little after coming all the way. Right?

And I don’t really feel anything for him. I mean, I was literally flirting with another guy not an hour ago. As if I would’ve done that if I felt anything other than a simple friendship for Gabs. It’s the alcohol.

He leads me inside with his hand protectively placed on my back. The energy hits us like a wave. The room is packed with people moving to the beat, the air thick with a mix of perfumes and colognes, and the lights flashing in time with the music. Gabs guides me through the crowd to a spot near the center of the dance floor.

We’ve barely found our space when the DJ transitions into a high-energy track, and the crowd erupts in cheers. Gabriel grins at me, his hand still holding mine. “Let’s show them how it’s done.”

We lose ourselves in the music. The rhythm takes over, and we move in sync, our bodies communicating in a language only we understand. He twirls me around, and I laugh, feeling the music pulse through my veins. The energy is infectious, and every time our bodies touch, I feel a connection with him beyond our usual friendship.

We go for some tequila shots. I’m not sure Gabs has any, but I’m in a wild mode today. “More!” I scream and have three more shots.

“That’s enough, Nora. C’mon,” he says, laughing and pulls me to the dance floor again.

The DJ switches to a slower song and the mood shifts. He pulls me closer, his arm around my waist, and we move together, swaying gently. The world around us seems to fade away, leaving just the two of us connected by the music and the moment. His eyes never leave mine. They’re like a magnet holding my gaze in place.

So this is how the women he gives attention to feel. It’s electric. It’s addictive and I want more and more of it.

Rick never made me feel like this. Even when we danced at parties or clubs, his eyes roved around the room, looking at other couples, how they were behaving, how they danced. He would compare our dance, or more often, his dance, to others. Now, Rick is an exceptional dancer, no doubt. Practice with him has made me good enough, too. He made sure of it. But he was so busy comparing and trying to be better, the best, that he forgot the real purpose of the activity.

“Nora,” Gabs murmurs, bringing me back to the moment, his deep voice vibrating in my ear. “I’ve always loved dancing with you.”

I peer into his eyes, the flashing lights casting shadows and highlights across his lightly stubbled face. “Me too, Gabs. Since we learned to dance together in your garage before our prom night till this day, I’ve loved dancing with you.”

He smiles and holds me tighter. “Yeah, we had our moments, didn’t we?” he whispers into my ear.

I feel an overwhelming sense of happiness and belonging. It doesn’t matter what tomorrow brings; tonight, we’re free, together, and exactly where we’re meant to be. I’m not his girlfriend, but I am his closest friend. And that is enough.

The lights dim further. We have somehow moved to a corner of the room, still holding onto each other, grooving to the soft music, embracing each other, his hold tightening further. My back is to the wall, and he is standing in front of me like a shield to protect me from anything that comes our way.

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