in my seat, which happens to be a weathered, lavender yoga mat. It’s facing the long way, which gives Gage plenty of room to sit beside me while resting with his legs crossed out in front of him.
“I’ll take your silence as a yes,” Dr. Lorringer quips. “So, this is usually the most brutal part where I ask for volunteers to share their stories. It usually goes one of two ways. Either everyone’s hands are in the air, or none are. So, instead, we’re going to own our vulnerability, and I’m going to choose someone that has already given their approval for being a guinea pig. Let’s all give our host for the evening, Nora Daniels, a round of applause.”
While clapping ensues, my butt stays glued to the floor.
Given their approval? Bullshit. Nope. No, thank you. I’m good.
Looking around the room, Dr. Lorringer repeats, “Nora? Nora Daniels?”
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