Page 40 of Always, Axel

I set my cell face down on the table after being called out. “I’m sorry.”

Glancing at Kiran across from me, I made a face, and his lips twitched. Our mothers loved to commandeer the conversation and were always quick to tell us how much more difficult life was when they were our age.

However, I would gladly suffer through the stories because tonight, my mother was glowing as she continued to chat it up with everyone at the table. Seeing her smile warmed my heart. I could hear my phone vibrate again, but I ignored it, trying to be polite and stay present in the conversations at the table. Kiran and I talked about the classes we’d just finished this past semester and discussed the ones we would be taking in the spring.

“Kiran is working at Duke University Hospital,” my mom reiterated, as if I didn’t know this already. We all did. She clasped her hands together and sighed, smiling at her friend. “You should be so happy. You’ve raised a future doctor.”

“Raaj and I are very proud of him,” Rajina said, beaming and looking at her husband.

“You know how we’ve always hinted around at the two of them eventually marrying?”

“Mom,” I warned, embarrassed.

“What?” She raised her eyes innocently. “What did I say that was so wrong? It is true, isn’t it?”

Rajina nodded her head in agreement. “You two are at the age where it’s time to consider your future. Think about settling down.”

“You’re actually implying that we should get married?” I asked incredulously and glanced at Kiran, who seemed about as enthusiastic about the notion as I did.

“Well, not anytime soon, but maybe you should court each other and see if you would make a good match,” my mother suggested. “You’re both getting older and working toward your careers.”

“We are hardly around each other. He’s in another state.”

“So? It’s not unusual today to court by video chat. I want you to marry a good Nepalese boy, and there’s nothing wrong with a long-distance relationship right now. You will have a lifetime to spend time together.”

I glanced over at Kiran, who looked like he wanted to sink under the table. He was just as uncomfortable as I was. “Mom,” I began, “could we please have this conversation another time?” I glanced around the table at all our other guests, hoping she’d take a hint.

She threw up her hands and eyed me innocently. “I’m only asking you to think about it.” Yeah, right. My mother had this idea in her head for a while, probably forever. He was the ideal candidate in her eyes.

A few minutes later, I excused myself and grabbed my phone. Passing through the living room, I slipped out the front door to get some air. Clicking on my screen, I saw the text Axel had left almost an hour ago.

Axel:About to have dinner. How’s the family?

He was being polite since he knew nothing about my family. I hadn’t shared with him that my father had passed away. I hadn’t shared it with anyone but Lizzie. In fact, Axel and I hadn’t really shared anything personal except for the fact that he knew I was a virgin who didn’t eat beef. Oh, and he’d watched me give myself an orgasm. And I liked it.

And I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I couldn’t stop thinking abouthim. I dropped down in one of the Adirondack chairs on the front patio. I probably shouldn’t respond to him, but I felt a sense of recklessness and a feeling of being boxed in after what my mother had said earlier. My fingers swept over the face of my cell.

I heard the front door open and deleted the message I was texting. “Natalie?” Kiran said from behind me as he closed the front door.

Setting my phone aside, I teased, “Hey. Were you as freaked out as I was?” Rajina was just as pushy as my mom, so I’m sure he’d heard it all before, as well.

He smiled wryly. “Yeah. You know our families have been hinting at this for the last few years.”

“I know, but I never took it seriously. However, tonight they seemed very persistent.” I peered up at him. “I know you’re one of my good friends, but marriage…”

“Trust me. I’m not ready for that either.” He slid down into the other chair beside me. “I’m seeing someone.”

“You are?” I relaxed in relief, knowing for certain he felt the same as I did.

He nodded. “We’ve been dating for a year.”

“You haven’t told your parents?”

He shook his head. “No. She doesn’t have the right ‘pedigree’ in their eyes.” He raised his fingers in air quotes. “She comes from a poor family and goes to a community college near Duke.”

“Is it serious?” I knew my experience was limited when it came to relationships, but I would think if you’ve been seeing someone for a year, it was kind of serious.

“I don’t know.” He tugged at his collar. “Maybe. She keeps hinting at us moving in together.”

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