"Neither of us set out for this to happen. But you might not want to know the details." I try to be honest.
"You’re my best friend, and from how my dad is talking, it looks like you're about to be my stepmom. So I think I have a right to know."
Of course, she's going to play the best friend card. I hope Knox will forgive me for telling her the whole truth because I'm sure this is a part of his life he never wanted her to know about.
"After I finished that big project at work, Skye demanded I get out of the house. I didn't want to because you weren't here. I had no desire to go out and do anything, but Skye said she’d take me to this club she was sure I’d like."
"My dad never struck me as a club-goer," Gemma says with a confused look.
"Skye took me to Club Red. I had a drink and was standing there looking around. She’d gone off with one of her friends, and up walks your dad. He gave me a tour of the place, more as a way to protect me than anything. And one thing led to another. We realized we were attracted to each other but never would have made a move if it hadn't been for that night at the club."
I leave out the intimate details because even though she’s my best friend, it’s still her father we're talking about.
"So, this all happened a few days ago? It's not serious?"
"You and I have known each other for years. During that time, your father and I also got to know each other. While we may have acted on this attraction recently, it’s been coming for some time. It's serious. He said he loves me, and I love him."
Gemma is quiet for a few minutes, and I know she's thinking about what to say next. In that way, she's like her dad. "Is that why you stopped coming over and we started hanging out over here?"
"Yes, it was too hard being over there. I was worried you’d catch on, and I hated how distracted I was when he was home and how distracted I was when he wasn't. I wondered where he was, so it was easier to be here instead."
Gemma doesn’t say anything, but she nods, and after a moment, she reaches for me and pulls me into one of her tight hugs. "I'm so sorry for how I reacted. I was in shock and didn’t deal with it well. While I want both of you to be happy, I never expected it would be the both of you together. Hell, I never saw him date, so I had no idea what his type was. Do you think we can forget the whole issue with the club? That would be great."
I hug her back because I want nothing more than to have my best friend back and be on good terms again. Her friendship means more to me than anything.
"But I won't be calling you mom, and you better not hurt him because I will take his side. Don't get me involved in your fights, at least for a while. Let's keep PDA to a minimum until I get used to all this. That is if I can get used to it."
I laugh because I don't know what else to say. Even though I walked out, Knox didn't stop me. Other than the one phone call, he hasn't tried to come after me. I don't know if I've screwed up my chances, but it’s not something I'm going to burden her with right now.
"Tell me about this engagement. How did he ask you? Let me see the ring." I try to shift the attention back to her.
Gemma’s smile quickly turns to a frown. "My dad said Dustin never talked to him about proposing to me. I always imagined the guy I married would have enough respect for my dad to at least talk to him and get his blessing. It's not like I have anyone else but my dad. Dustin should understand how important he is to me."
"Is that a deal-breaker for you?"
I have a feeling it's a question she's been avoiding. "I don't know. It doesn't seem right to me. Maybe I got wrapped up in the whirlwind of it all and him proposing. I don't think I've had time to digest it. So, I'm going to let it sit for a bit and not make any plans or set a date. After some reflection, I’ll see how I feel about it.
"I think it’s best to give it a few days. Right now, it’s new and shiny. Let it wear off and think about how your life will be with him. What is he planning for his life, and does it match your hopes and dreams?"
"You’re already giving me motherly advice. I don't know if I can stand it," Gemma jokes. She stands and pulls me in for a hug before heading to the door.
"You need to talk to my dad and make this right because he’s miserable." With that, she’s gone, leaving and in an empty house with my mind racing.
Chapter 10
Knox
I pace in the living room, not sure of my next move. Gemma told me she was going to talk to Summer, and I have no idea how it's going. Neither is answering their phone, and I'm minutes away from storming my way over there.
If Summer doesn’t talk to me, I can't fix this. On the phone, it's too easy to hang up on me. If we’re face to face, I can make her hear me and use any means necessary to get her to understand she isn't getting rid of me this easily.
I’m grabbing my car keys as Gemma walks in the door. She gives me a strange look and sets her stuff down with no hint of how the conversation went.
"So?" I need the details, and I want to demand them from her, but I know I need to be careful about our relationship. Over time, Gemma will come around. But if I don't move soon, I could lose Summer forever.
"We talked about more than you. It was needed and good for both of us. Things are okay but weird. I mean a sex club, Dad?" She cringes and goes into the kitchen.
I follow as she gets something to drink. I can't think of trying to eat or drink anything right now."So, she told you everything?"