Chapter 7
Nora: #LettingBygones BeBygones
I still have a few clothes and some other stuff at Rick’s that I need to pick up and I want to do it before meeting Gabs for drinks in the evening. He’s been behaving super weird the whole day. Stealing glances and looking away when our eyes met, not making fun of me when I dropped some ketchup on my T-shirt, zoning out every so often.
Something’s wrong with him. Perhaps it’s because he’s leaving MooreGames. I mean, this company has been a significant part of his life for the past few years. So it’s only natural that he’s a little shaken.
He even left early and told me to meet him directly at his condo. Well, maybe the evening with drinks, dance and sex will cure him of whatever he’s feeling. That’s usually the solution to most of his problems.
I’m almost ready to leave when I see Lily breezing in through the door. She’s Eva’s best friend since school and has a dance studio in the city. She’s super fun to be with and like me, loves to shop, so naturally we’ve become good friends now.
She makes a beeline to my room. “Hey. Where’s Gabriel? I heard he’s leaving the company. Is that true? Tell me it’s not,” she says, almost in a single breath.
I nod. “It’s true. He’s planning to join his family business.”
“You’re not leaving, are you?”
“No. Why? It’s not my family business.”
Eva comes in and takes a seat beside her.
“Because you both are inseparable. Half the people have been asking me this question since morning,” Eva says. Then she turns to Lily. “But she’s staying with us.”
I glance at my watch. It’s getting late, and I need to get going if I want to avoid meeting Rick. I still have the key to his apartment and want to pack my stuff and leave before he returns from work.
“I need to leave, so can you guys take your discussions elsewhere?” I get up and put my laptop in the bag.
“Ooh. Someone’s in a hurry,” Lily sing-songs. “A special day today, Sugar?” she asks in a very poor Texan accent and both she and Eva giggle like schoolgirls. “Is someone goin’ to propose today?”
I shake my head at their silly behavior. Love makes adults into such bizarre creatures. I can’t understand how they can think of being with one person all their lives. I mean, how do they even know for sure that they won’t be bored a year from now? How can they commit to someone like this?
“We broke up,” I say, to bring an end to their giggling. The statement does just that, and they both gawk at me. Lily’s jaw is still open while Eva eyes me with a crinkled forehead.
Eva is the first to speak. “Good for you. I hope it wasn’t because of our conversation yesterday. Was it? I don’t want to be the perpetrator of break-ups.”
“Nah. I couldn’t stand the suspense of when he would propose.” And then I tell them what happened last night.
“You said Gabriel told you to tell him the truth. Why would you say that? You know how jealous Rick is of him,” Lily shrieks.
“Jealous! Why would anyone be jealous of Gabs?”
Both Eva and Lily roll their eyes, and Lily speaks again. “You’re usually quite smart, Nora, but sometimes you’re equally dumb. Do you think the man who thinks men are from Mars and women are from Venus could ever believe that a man and a woman can be best friends and not have any sexual tension?”
“How do you know about this Mars and Venus conversation? Eva told you?”
“Nah. I saw your posts and figured the rest.”
I slump back in my chair. “You think he was jealous? Eva, you too?”
Eva nods. “I’m not the best person to read other’s behavior, but even I could sense his insecurity every time we all met. He always asked me about you and Gabs. So yeah, I’d have to agree with Lily. Though I don’t think that justifies the rest of his behavior. I mean, he acted like a jerk and I think you’re better off without him.”
“Anyway, it’s for the best. He used to be okay with Gabs when we started dating. I always make sure that anyone I date beyond the first couple of dates is okay with our friendship. How people change. That’s another reason for not getting into a relationship and keeping things casual. Now, if you both will excuse me, I have to pick up my clothes from Rick’s house and then meet Gabs. We’re going bar crawling and helping each other find sex-partners for the night.”
“Ooh. Exciting,” Lily says. “Can we come along? I can call Alex. Eva, check with Ryan.”
“No. No! You guys make everything a couple’s thing. No single person even looks at us when you all are there with me. This is a single’s night out. Not for you all. And Eva can’t even drink. What’ll she do in a bar?”
“Okay. As you wish, ma’am. Eva, are you and Ryan up for brunch on Saturday?” She gives me a wink. “Now that’s a couple’s thing for sure for a weekend. Let me know if you want in.”
I stand up and walk to the door, shaking my head. “No. And I need to leave now before I vomit at the couple’s things y’all are planning. See you guys later.”
“Where are you staying now, if not at Rick’s? You can come and stay with me and Ryan if you like. He’s planning to bake his almond and cranberry cookies tonight.”
“Now, that’s tempting. Keep some for me, please. I’m putting up at Gabs’ condo till I find a new place.”
“How will you go there with your stuff from Rick’s? You still don’t have your car, right?”
“Taxi. Shouldn’t be a problem at this hour.”
“I can drop you,” says Lily, jumping up. “I’ll help you pack, then drop you at Gabriel’s. Alex lives close to his place, and I’m meeting him tonight.”
“Tonight! Don’t you live there now?”
She gives a sheepish grin. “Well, he is my fiancé. But I go home once in a while, or Mom and Rose raise a stink about me not caring enough for family and stuff.”
“How’s Rose? It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her.”
“She’s okay. Going steady with Luke. And managing the studio better than ever. We’re exploring opening up another branch. Let’s see.”
“Wow. That’s awesome, Lily,” I say opening the door and stepping out. “But we better hurry now. I want to leave before Rick gets home. I don’t think I wanna see his face for at least the next few weeks.”
“I’ll punch him for you, if you like. That’s the least he deserves after treating you the way he did last night. I mean, the cheek of that man. Even if he was hurt or angry, but you both were in a relationship for two years and he should’ve acted better. Who does that? That too, to Sugar.”
I punch her on the arm and pull her before she and Eva begin another tirade.
As expected, Rick’s apartment is empty. I dash to the bedroom and open my side of the closet. He had thrown in most of my stuff, except the bottom shelf, the drawers on the bedside table, my bathroom accessories, and a few books. As I stuff it all inside a carton, I take a peek my watch.
“Shit! I won’t even get time to change.”
“For your bar crawl? To get laid?”
“Don’t be so crass, Lily. You’ve been where I am and done what I’m going to do. So don’t act all high and mighty.”
She chuckles. “Hey, you’re right. I’ve had my share of dates and boyfriends, and the nightmare of looking for a guy who you might want to spend at least a few months with. I’m just glad I’m out of that cycle.”
I plop down on the bed. “Are you? I mean, really? Don’t get me wrong. I know Alex is a great guy. But doesn’t it scare you, committing to be with him? To lose your freedom?”
She sits down beside me and holds me by the shoulder. “When you find the right person, committing is as easy as freestyle dancing or dancing in a closed room. There’s no fear. Only exhilaration and happiness and freedom.”
“I guess I’ll never understand that feeling. I think I’m happier the way I am. Find someone who is okay with my lifestyle of no commitments and be together till his thinking doesn’t change.”
“Time will tell,” she nods, then suddenly jumps up and pulls out a dress that I’ve stuffed inside the carton. “Wow! Why have I never seen this? I think you should wear it tonight. It’s sexy as hell, and I’m sure you’ll have all the men drooling over you.”
I laugh at her imitation of a dog, as she hangs out her tongue and holds the dress in her hands.
It’s a red dress. Too short, I think, and most likely too tight. “I don’t think I’ll fit into it anymore. It’s from my sophomore year in college and that’s why you’ve never seen me wear it.”
She holds it up, closes an eye, and examines me and the dress.
“I think it’ll still fit. At least give it a try. C’mon.”
She pushes me with the dress into the next room. I used to love this dress. It always got me the attention of the desired person. Always . Honestly, I’d forgotten about it. Since Rick, I’d never really sought anyone’s attention. There was no need for it. I like to dress well, but this. This might be a bit much for tonight.
But I still slip it on. I manage to fit inside but can’t get the zip up all the way myself. Lily is tapping on the door impatiently.
“C’mon girl. You done? I wanna see you. Don’t make me break the door now.”
I open the door. I turn my back to her and tell her to zip me up. She takes a while, but with a bit of tummy sucking in on my side, the dress still ‘fits’.
I turn around and as Lily beholds me; I see her eyes going wide as saucers. “Wow!” she says, looking at me from top to bottom. “Just wow!”
“It’s too slutty, right?”
“Girl, that’s the aim. You wanna get laid, remember? I think it’s the right amount of slutty. A good mix, I’d say, of elegance and sluttiness. You should definitely wear this tonight.”
I regard myself in the mirror and twirl around. Yeah, I still got it, even if it is with a little less oxygen to my body because of the tightness.
“Now for the hair. What’s the plan?”
“I’m thinking of leaving it open.”
“Good choice. Why don’t you get ready and I’ll pack the rest of your stuff.”
I agree. Wearing this dress has somehow made me fickle. I wanna look good. I wanna kill it tonight. Putting on some makeup is a breeze. Thankfully, most of my stuff is still here. I’m almost done when Lily gives a squeal.
“Oooh. These black stilettos. They’re lovely and they’ll go perfectly with this dress.”
One look at them and I know, as usual, Lily’s right. I take them from her and put them on. Then stand with one hand on my hip and a pout on my lips.
“How do I look?”
“Gorgeous!” she gushes, capturing it in a pic. “You make me wish I were a man or at least a bi. Maybe if you keep wearing such dresses, I will turn into a bi for you.” She sends some air kisses my way and I cannot help but smile.
I do a quick check around the apartment to see that I’ve packed all my stuff, which is not much, because most of the household things were Rick’s, from before I moved in. We’re about to leave when I hear a key turning in the lock.
“Shit!” I whisper.
Lily stands in front of me, her hands on her hips, head held high, ready to take on anything Rick might say.
Rick opens the door and sees us. His gaze lingers on me and then it slowly moves down my body.
“Hey, Nora,” he says. “Some party tonight?”
Before I can reply, Lily pips in. “You lost the right to know that when you kicked her out last night, Mr. Sugar.” She turns to me. “C’mon Nora, let’s leave this hellhole now that Satan has arrived.”
My lips are set in a straight line. I want to apologize for Lily’s comments but I don’t, because, well, he deserves them.
We’re out of the door, waiting for the elevator. I see Rick still staring at me. Well, the dress is doing its work, and I’m not sad. He may have dumped me, but I get the last laugh.
From inside the elevator, Lily holds the door for a second to say, “I hope some alien takes you and dumps you in Venus. Maybe then your head will be out of your colon.”
We both burst out laughing.
“Did you see the prick’s face?” Lily chuckles, settling into the driver’s seat of her car.
“Poor thing. We shouldn’t be too hard on him.”
“Of course. I agree. He was the one who was hard just looking at you,” she says, and we both burst into another round of laughter.
Lily drives me to Gabriel’s condo and I post the pic she had taken on my social media. Hashtag Letting-Bygones-Be-Bygones. Hashtag To-The-Future.
I feel good, optimistic, and ready to meet new people for a casual and fun time. Life’s gonna be good from here on out.