Denver
She’s still up there in my bed when Dad and Linda get home. They’re so excited. It’s enough to make me want to gag. Not that I begrudge my dad a little happiness—it’s been a long time since Mom left, and I know he spent a lot of that time swearing he would never bring another woman into our lives after that happened—but still. Aren’t they a little old for this shit?
“We thought it would be nice for you boys to be in seersucker suits. It goes with the whole casual, summer feel we’re going for.” Linda’s glowing so much, I don’t have the heart to tell her I think that’s the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard. Seersucker? What century is this again?
Odis looks like he’s about as much a fan of it as I am, but he obviously doesn’t have the heart, either. “Whatever you want.” The look of appreciation Dad throws our way isn’t lost on either of us. He wants her to be happy. I can respect that.
Hell, I know how it feels. I could’ve killed Chelsey for showing up today and stirring shit the way she always does. I never liked the way she treated Gemma back in school, but that was different. Then, it was sort of a cover. We didn’t want anybody knowing how we wanted her.
Now? I don’t care because I do want her, and I’m not a kid anymore. I go after what I want. If that means shutting down any and all attempts to hurt Gemma, so be it. I never liked Chelsey or her clique, anyway.
Linda looks around. “Where’s Gemma? Up in her room? I want to talk to her about the arrangements.”
Odis and I exchange a look. “She was hanging out at the pool with us and went up to lie down after,” he explains.
Linda’s face lights up. “You three were spending time together? That’s great! I was hoping you would get along well.” Even Dad looks happy.
Shit. I wish I knew whether Gemma’s going to say anything about what happened out there or if she’s even going to want to talk to Odis and me. We took care of her after, but I know her. She holds a grudge. Hell, I can’t even blame her after seeing Chelsey in action. Is that how things really went for her? No wonder she hates all of us now.
I should’ve kicked Chelsey out the second she started her shit.
“I guess I’ll go in and get dinner started. I hope you don’t mind leftovers.” Linda practically dances down the hall and into the kitchen with Dad on her heels. I can hear her giggling a few seconds later like Dad grabbed her ass or something. They need to chill out with that shit when we’re around.
I can’t help but look up the stairs and wonder what will happen when Gemma comes down. “Should we go up and talk to her?” Odis mutters when he notices where my attention is focused.
“No. It’ll only piss her off worse.” He nods when he realizes I’m right. We’d only shoot ourselves by doing that. So there’s nothing left but waiting, which has never been my favorite thing.
As it turns out, she doesn’t make me wait long, coming down a few minutes later in the shirt and shorts I had laid out for her. Something about the fact that she left them on rather than changing into something she chose for herself warms me up inside. I like knowing that she accepted my offer of help.
“There she is!” Linda sings out. “Did you have a nice nap? The boys told me you three were hanging out at the pool.”
I’m too busy holding my breath, waiting to see what Gemma’s about to say, to be irritated at Linda’s nickname for us. We aren’t boys, but that can wait. I’m pretty sure Odis and I are close to burning a hole in the side of Gemma’s head.
She shrugs. “It was okay.”
Linda frowns and puts a hand against Gemma’s forehead. “You didn’t get too much sun, did you?”
“Maybe I did. Or you know how sometimes you take a nap in the afternoon, and it screws you up inside? That could be it.” She won’t look at us on her way to the fridge, where she grabs a bottle of water.
So far, so good. Maybe she won’t make a big deal over what happened. I’m close to letting myself feel relief, but I’m not quite there yet.
Gemma drinks half the bottle of water with her back to us before turning to Linda. “I need to go to the mall.”
Hmm. Odis and I exchange a look.
“Okay, honey. We can swing by after dinner, and on the way, I’ll tell you all about what the wedding planner—”
“No, I need to go now. I’m not hungry, really. You don’t have to worry about me.” When Linda’s face falls, she adds, “We can sit and talk about the wedding later tonight once I get home. Okay?” She kisses her mom on the cheek and walks out of the room before anybody has a chance to say anything.
That seemed like an abrupt left turn. Odis looks like he agrees, staring down the length of the hall to the front door. It bangs shut a moment later.
There’s got to be something else going on. Why would she be in such a hurry to get out of here? “You know what? I just remembered, there’s something I meant to pick up, too,” I lie. “Would you mind too much if we got something to eat while we’re out?”
Odis jumps in. “This way, you two lovebirds can eat alone.” It was the perfect thing to say, too, since Linda giggles a little and shoos us out of the room. I only hope they’re not fucking anywhere we might find them when we get home.
I can hear Gemma’s car rolling down the driveway as we hurry to mine, and I waste no time catching up to her. “Slow down,” Odis warns in a tight voice. “We don’t want her knowing we’re following her.”
“What do you think is up with her?”