Perfect Fit - Brenda Jackson [66]
“Yes, I can believe such a thing,” Rose said softly.
Sage frowned. “And just what do you mean by that?”
“Hey, just hear me out before you get in a huff. First of all, although Erol has his strong points, too, in good looks and being a fine brother and all, I think Gabe is a man in a class by himself. Not only is he good-looking and fine as a dime, he’s also pretty damn wealthy. However, on the other hand, you just got out of a relationship that you’ve been in for five long years with the same guy, and for that reason, I can see how Gabe might think you really aren’t over Erol.”
When Sage tried to interrupt, Rose said quickly, “Sage, think logically for a moment. Most people, especially an emotional woman as yourself, aren’t able to wipe out five years of loving the same man within a six-month time period. I think it’s unrealistic for you to even want anyone to believe that you still don’t feel something for Erol.”
Sage nervously bit her bottom lip. “Okay, so my love for Erol hasn’t completely died, so what? That has nothing to do with Gabe, especially when there’s no way Erol and I will get back together.”
“And you’re absolutely sure of that?”
Sage inhaled deeply, feeling angry and frustrated. “Why won’t anyone believe me? I thought I had you in my corner, Rose.”
“And you do, girlfriend. I’m just trying to make you see reason and for you to understand why Gabe would possibly feel threatened by Erol’s memory.”
Sage raised her eyes to the ceiling. “But that’s just it. Erol doesn’t occupy my memory. There are days I don’t think of him at all.”
“Have you heard from him since you’ve left?”
“Yes, in the beginning when I first got here, he used to call occasionally, but then I finally asked that he stop calling because we had nothing to say to each other.”
“Have you seen him?”
“No.”
“And what if you were to see him, Sage? It’s been six months since you broke off your engagement, and then you left Charlotte for Anchorage. I want you to be honest with yourself as well as with me. What would be your reaction if you were to see him now? Can you honestly say without a doubt that you and Erol won’t get back together? I know he hurt you by what he did, but when you think about it, the two of you had a pretty nice relationship before his screwup. He loved you, and I know for a fact that he still does. Whenever I see him he asks about you. And he looks so sad it’s a shame. And to make matters worse, I hear he still isn’t dating anyone. He actually believes that when you return to Charlotte, all will be forgiven.”
Sage rolled her eyes. “Well, he’s wrong.”
“Then, you need to tell him.”
Sage released a frustrated breath. “Don’t you think that I have? I don’t know what it would take for him to believe me other than for me to become seriously involved with someone else. But the craziness of it is that the one person I feel a desire to become serious about doesn’t trust my feelings for Erol. I feel caught between a rock and a hard place.”
Rose giggled. “Hey, that isn’t a bad place to be, if you get my meaning.”
Sage shook her head, grinning. “Is sex the only thing you can think about?”
“No, in fact, I haven’t slept with a guy since you left Charlotte.”
Sage lifted a brow. “Any reason for that?”
“No. I just want to make a few changes in my life, and before you ask, no, I’m not climbing the walls or anything. I’ve taken a pledge of celibacy for nine months.”
“To who?”
“To myself. I just want to see how long I can hold out. I have three more months to go.”
“And then?” Sage asked curiously.
“And then either of two things will happen. I’ll either be so proud of my accomplishment that I’ll try for another three months to make it a full year of celibacy, or I’ll be so horny at the end of the nine months that I’ll go out and make up for lost time.”
Sage couldn’t help but laugh, which was something she felt she needed to do tonight.
“But getting back to the subject of