Page 32 of Reeling in Love

Chapter 13

Gabriel: #FamilySucks

“You’re a good man, Gabs. A good, sexy man and if you weren’t my best friend, I’d ride you like a …,” she mumbles before passing out.

Shit!

Am I having a heart attack? The way my heart is thumping, it sure doesn’t seem natural. Somehow, Nora is having an effect on me that no one, not even Nora in the pre-I-see-her-as-a-woman-era, has ever had on me. This is completely unfamiliar territory.

I mean, I’ve slept with my fair share of women, many of them super cute and some beautiful in the classic sense. There were some who were intelligent and others not so much. There has been a good variety, I’d say. I thought I’d seen it all, felt it all, and therefore this—whatever it is I’m feeling now—is alien and has taken me by surprise, and I don’t know how to deal with it. She’s my friend, for God’s sake, not just some woman. I can’t mess it up. Can’t afford to lose her.

But even as my thinking brain advises me against treading in that direction, my not-so-thinking brain comes up with images of how she’d ride me like. She thinks I’m sexy, at least when she’s drunk. What would it feel like when she rides me? There’s a rush of blood between my legs and a quick glance at my sleeping friend is enough to make me feel like a predator.

How can I have these thoughts for my best friend? It’s like crossing the line that must never be crossed. I’m probably the worst friend there could be. She said it in a drunken state. She doesn’t mean it. Or does she?

No. No. No.

I beat a quick retreat and make a beeline for my room. I don’t think I’m in a mental state to be around Nora right now. A good night’s sleep might do the trick.

Unfortunately, I’m still stuck with these thoughts when I wake up the next morning. I can’t get her slurry speech before she slept out of my mind, nor can I forget the feel of her lips or the sound of her moan.

Have things changed between us? It sure felt that way last night. More importantly, does she feel the same or is she regretting it?

I peep into the other room. She’s still asleep. I walk in and sit down beside her. There’s a red line on her cheek, most likely pressed by the pillow or cover, her hair falling around her cherubic face and a stray strand inside her mouth. Careful not to wake her, I pull the strand out of her mouth. Her lips spread into a smile, the faintest traces of her dreams still lingering on the soft curves, and she turns and faces the other side.

I want to keep sitting here and watching her before I realize how stupid that is. I almost feel like slapping this dewy-eyed-schoolgirl version of the man I’ve become. Watch someone sleep? I mean, it doesn’t get more maudlin or cheesy than that.

I march right out of her room, stealing a glance at her before leaving, and brew some coffee while I wait for her to wake up. I’d like to understand her take on last night before deciding anything.

I take my coffee cup and make myself comfortable on the couch. I pick up my phone that I’d left here last night and notice a few messages from Mom.

“Don’t forget the dinner next Saturday at home. Bring Nora too if you like.”

Then another that she sent five minutes later.

“Let me know if Nora will be coming. I’ll make preparations accordingly.”

And another.

“Your Dad says you must bring her. It’s been a long time since we’ve met her.”

I let out a sigh as I remember the lie Nora had told Mom yesterday. Was it only yesterday? Jesus! It seems like weeks ago. If she’s uncomfortable faking it all, we can call it quits and tell Mom she was joking. She’ll buy that, quite happily, in fact. The only problem would be that I’ll have to deal with the Sophia thing. But that’s okay. I’d never want to put Nora in an uncomfortable situation.

Sophia, I’ll somehow manage.

Just then, there’s a call from Dad.

“Morning Dad,” I say as I pick it up.

“Morning, son. So you’re going to the new office today?”

“Yeah,” I say, remembering now. Wow! I’d almost forgotten about it, what with last night and everything.

“Excited?”

“Um, I don’t know. I guess. I think it’ll be just for a few hours today.”

“Don’t think that it’s something you have to do. Tell you what, son, even if your mom’s family owns the company, you still have to earn the respect of the people you’ll work with. So my advice to you—take it as any other job. Prove yourself before thinking you’re entitled to anything. And I’m sure you’ll do well.”

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