Page 82 of Reeling in Love

Finally, her mom replies. “The iron is hot. Strike now.”

Ugh! If this is hot iron, I wonder what a cold one would look like.

Anyway, this is my chance and I need to take it before she tells the entire world, or whoever’s interested, that ‘us’ was indeed fake.

Nora’s standing by the glass, marveling at the beautiful Paris skyline. The number of people is slowly reducing as the night wears on and the last elevator ride up finishes.

I stand beside her and we walk all around, taking in at the night lights of this beautiful city from atop the tower. But my mind is like a lake where kids are continuously throwing pebbles. There’s not a moment of stillness or calm. With the people slowly decreasing, hurrying to get down before the last ride down, the uneasiness in my heart increases.

“Maybe we should leave. I think everyone’s going to the elevator now. I don’t want to be stuck here,” she says, close to twelve forty-five.

She’s right. It’s almost time for the last elevator ride down. But that’s the plan.

I wink at the liveried man asking everyone to leave, and he gives me a thumbs-up as he escorts the others into the elevator.

Nora scans the room nervously. “Shit! Did we miss the ride down? What are we supposed to do, walk down some stairs or climb down the sides?” She paces all around the viewing deck, examining the walls for helpline numbers. “Is there a number we can call for help?”

“Relax, Nora,” I say, my voice somehow steady, belying the tempest that’s surging in every cell of my body.

She pauses and looks at me, her eyebrows raised.

I hold her by the shoulders, more to calm myself than her. “He’ll be returning in some time for us. Don’t worry.”

“What? I don’t understand.”

“Nora, you’ve been my best friend since before the time I understood the concept of best friends. You’ve been by my side whether or not I asked you to. I’d like to believe that I’ve done the same for you.”

I pause for a bit. She seems confused. “Yeah. But is this the time to talk about all this? Shouldn’t we be panicking a little being left alone out here?”

I ignore her questions. I need to say my part before I lose the courage.

“I know we’ve often said we don’t believe in soulmates. We don’t believe in forevers. But in a way, haven’t we always wanted us to be forever? In whatever capacity, but I’ve never imagined a life without you in it. You have been the one constant, the lighthouse for me, guiding me through the storms of my life.”

I see her eyes go wide, a different type of panic settling in her expression. She knows where this is going. I can’t stop now, whatever the result.

“The past few weeks, even though we were supposed to be in a ‘fake’ relationship, it never felt fake to me. Hell, it’s been far more real than any relationship I’ve ever had. I’ve never felt so complete, so at ease. I can be myself with you with the assurance that you’ll always have my back, whatever happens.”

She nods. “Of course. Just like I know, you’ll have mine. But—”

I can’t let her cloud her or my mind with doubts right now. Not before I’ve said my part, so I stop her mid-sentence.

“I’ve always liked you, Nora. And I know what I feel for you now is more than ‘like’. I want us to be more than friends. I want to be with you every day and not pretend to be in a relationship with someone else when all I want is to talk to you. To be with you. You’re the one for me. You’re the one for who I can do anything. I’ll fight the entire world for you and never question or regret it. I know you might think I never cross the six-month mark in any relationship. Well, that’s true, except for one relationship. And that is the one with you.”

I get down on one knee, much to Nora’s surprise, and hold out a ring. It’s a basic ring, something I bought from a vendor downstairs when she was on the phone with her mom.

“Nora, my best friend, my soulmate, my fake girlfriend. Will you marry me?”

Nora’s eyes are fixed on me. An unwavering gaze.

“I don’t know Gabs. What if what you feel for me now, this love, changes with time? I don’t think either of us even knows real love.”

“Oh, but we do. It is the person you can wake up at 3am to talk about your dreams, fears, desires and hopes. It is the person who is your priority when a hundred other people and things are vying for your attention. It is the person who is always in your thoughts, no matter what you’re busy with. Whose single call is enough for you to leave whatever you’re doing to be by them, if that’s what they need. That’s the love of your life. That’s your soul mate. And for me, for as long as I’ve known, that person has been you, Nora.”

“C’mon, say yes,” comes a voice from behind. And we see the elevator operator still standing there with a bunch of people.

Nora’s gaze never leaves mine, even for an instant.

“Your mom will never agree.”

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