“Oh, that’s amazing.” Linda smiles, genuinely excited for us.
“We already bought an apartment there from the money we made last summer.” I grin, wiping that smug look off Gemma’s face. “Dad let us work in his company, giving us a few smaller contracts.”
“We ended up hitting big on one and made two million in profit,” Denver continues, leaning back in his chair and stretching his arms above his head.
“Oh, wow! Congratulations. Your father said you were doing well but not that well.” Linda laughs, and again, it’s genuine.
I was a little worried about her being a gold digger or something, but seeing the way she is, that thought has fled my mind. She looks at my dad with what I can only describe as adoration. Linda cooks and does everything else for my dad, and she clearly does so with joy. She wants to take care of him, spoil him and make him happy in any way she can. She loves him, and because of that, we’ve come to appreciate and value her.
However, Gemma still doesn’t look impressed. She frowns and wrinkles her nose at us like we’re beneath her. I actually wouldn’t mind being beneath her… or on top. Either one would work.
“I’m going to get the dishes and put the pie in the oven,” Linda announces and gets up from the chair.
“I’ll help.” Gemma rushes to her feet, stacking hers, her mother’s, and my father’s plates before grabbing them from the table. She leaves the room like she can’t get away quick enough.
Grabbing Denver’s plate, I stack it on mine and pick up both.
“What are you doing?” Denver asks.
“Helping with the dishes, obviously.” I head toward the kitchen before anyone can stop me.
As soon as Linda sees me enter the kitchen, she smiles. “I’ll go and powder my nose really quick.” She leaves the dishes on the counter and rushes out of the room, giving me a moment alone with Gemma.
Gemma has her back turned to me as she rinses off the plates in the sink, and I don’t mind taking a good look at her perfectly shaped ass while I have the chance.
“Hey, Gem,” I say, coming up behind her.
“Go away,” she growls at me.
“Why? I’m just trying to catch up.”
“I hate you,” she sneers.
There is a venom in her voice that speaks volumes. It’s almost like she actually hates me. But in order for her to hate me, I would’ve had to do something, and last I checked, it was she who embarrassed me.
“Can we just forget middle school and start over again? Our parents seem to really like each other, and we were just kids. Kids make dumb choices sometimes. Come on, Gemma.” I reach for her, but before my fingers touch her shoulder, she spins around and shoves at my chest with both hands.
I’m so surprised, I stumble back.
“I hate you!” she repeats, hitting my chest with her small fists one more time before shoving past me. Confused, I stand in the kitchen until I can stop the blood from rushing to my cock. Fuck, that was so hot. I can still feel the heat of her fists against my chest.
I’m shocked by her behavior. She’s always been so quiet and shy. I guess a year away has turned her into a new person. Like an angry little kitten, she attacked me, and all I can think of is her attacking me in bed, naked, running her sharp claws across my back, making me bleed for all the bad I’ve done to her.