With a curse on the tip of my tongue, I start to push myself up when Gage grabs my arm and whispers, “Did you volunteer for this?”
“No, but I have a hunch that Gem volunteered for me,” I grit out before standing to my full height.
“There she is! Thank you so much, Nora. Will you please bring your partner, as well?”
My eyes are the size of saucers as I look down at Gage.
Appearing less than amused, the saint stands up beside me, then presses his hand to my lower back and guides me to the front of the room. I can feel everyone’s eyes on us as we stand awkwardly side by side and wait for Dr. Lorringer to dive right in.
“Thank you for being so accommodating. Obviously, you’re Nora Daniels, and what is your partner’s name?”
“Umm…he’s, uh…”––I motion to him––“this is Gage.”
“It’s nice to meet you both. Can we give them another round of applause?” More clapping ensues. “I assume you are a new couple. Is that correct?”
“How could you tell?” Gage razzes before tossing his arm over my shoulder and pulling me into his side. I gotta give him props; he’s definitely rolling with the punches, while I’m standing here like a bump on a log.
“Because I see two individuals in front of me who have yet to really connect on a deeper level. Either you’re both keeping each other at a distance, or the relationship is simply too new, and you haven’t quite figured out how to cultivate a lasting connection. Yes, I see a few roots here and there that are fighting to take hold, but it hasn’t happened yet.”
She doesn’t bother to ask us if she’s correct, but it doesn’t stop Gage from countering, “Aww, come on. What are you talking about? I proposed to her the first time we met. If those aren’t roots, then I don’t know what are.”
I laugh, though inside a little voice shouts, Kill me. Kill me now.
This is so awkward.
“You proposed?” Dr. Lorringer prods.
“I wanted to break the ice with a pretty girl,” Gage explains with a casual shrug.
“And a proposal seemed like the easiest way to break it?”
“My friends and I were talking about a friend who had just gotten engaged a few minutes before I met Nora. I guess the idea stuck.”
“Do you think it might’ve been a defense mechanism, by chance? You were afraid you’d never get married and wanted to experience a bit of the high that comes with such a monumental commitment, then you saw a pretty girl and thought, ‘Why not?’”
“What? No. I mean, yes, she’s pretty but….” His arm drops from around my shoulders as he squeezes the back of his neck. “I don’t want to get married. That’s not really on my radar.”
“Which is why my comment holds even more merit. From how little I know of you––so, yes, take that into consideration––I’ve gotten a very strong feeling that you’re not interested in that type of commitment, which you just admitted. Yet, you were willing to propose to a complete stranger, even if it was only for a moment because a small piece of you is searching for that type of connection with someone and the commitment that goes along with it.”
My gaze bounces between the two like a tennis ball during a tennis match.
This is not good. This is so not good.
I can feel the tension radiating off him like it’s my own. He doesn’t like being psychoanalyzed, especially in front of a group of strangers. Or maybe it’s my presence that’s making him so uncomfortable. He’s never minded being the center of attention before now. I don’t blame him for being frustrated, though. My skin is itchy with the knowledge that I’m next. And I’m not going to like it.
Seriously. I’m going to kill Gem.
When Gage remains quiet, Dr. Lorringer presses, “Care to tell us why you’re so afraid of commitment?”
“I’m not afraid. I just don’t want it.”
“Why? You need to dig deeper. No one just doesn’t want it.”
“I don’t.”
“Hmmm,” she hums, clearly unconvinced. “Can I ask what happens when you’re sick?”
“What do you mean?” Gage asks. He’s not the only one confused by the abrupt subject change.
“When you’re sick, who takes care of you?”
“Uh…myself?”
Turning to me, she asks, “Nora, have you ever taken care of a loved one? Whether it’s a grandparent, a sibling, a lover, or a child?”
“My nephew,” I offer, though I could follow it with another ten names if she needed me to.
“Care to give us an example?”
I think back on all the times I’ve helped before landing on a memory where he was particularly miserable. “My brother played college football and was away for a game when his son got really sick. His mom is…well,…she’s less than stellar, and my brother asked me to go pick up my nephew and take care of him until he could catch a flight.”
“Were you working at the time? Going to school?”
“I was going to school,” I answer.
“So, what did you do?”
“I skipped class and held my nephew. He had the flu and a double ear infection. I had to take him to the doctor. Pick up his prescription. Clean up a lot of puke. And just…hold him.”
“That sounds really hard,” Dr. Lorringer comments. “Were you upset at your brother?”
I shake my head. “No, of course not. I was a little peeved at his ex since she’s a terrible mom, but I was happy to help my nephew and brother out. Honestly, I would’ve been angry if he hadn’t called and asked me to help. I think that was one of the most memorable moments I’ve ever had with my nephew.”
“It’s interesting how that works, isn’t it? When we’re sacrificing for someone without any resentment, that’s often when we feel closest to them.” Turning to the audience, she expounds, “Relationships are hard work, people, but they’re also the most rewarding connections we can have. Gage, have you ever had anyone look after
