Gemma
The fucking nerve of this guy! Who does he think he is?
His words ring in my ears… “Can we just forget middle school and start over again?” Like it wasn’t a big deal at all. As if I could just forget how much he bullied me right along with everyone else.
Fucking asshole.
I march back out into the dining room and take my spot at the table. Richard is leaning back in his chair, drinking his bourbon casually, unbeknownst to him that I want to murder both of his sons.
Denver smirks at me from across the table, and I’ve never been more tempted to hit someone than I am right now. A moment later, Odis reappears with plates and silverware, adding insult to injury as he slides into his seat almost effortlessly, smiling as if he liked me shoving him away. Is it too late to run out the door?
As if my mother can sense my distress, she comes walking out of the kitchen with a pie dish. “What is dinner without dessert?” She smiles nervously as she sets the pie on the table. Something is up with her.
“Banana cream?” Richard sighs with delight. “My favorite.”
My mother’s face lights up with joy, and I feel the need to vomit in the corner. It’s bad enough that I’m stuck with these assholes. I don’t need to see my mom and Richard get all mushy with each other.
“Everything I make is your favorite,” she replies and starts cutting the pie. She places a big slice and a fork on one plate before handing it to Richard. Another slice is cut and handed to me, which I take even though I don’t want to.
I grab the fork and poke at one of the bananas with it, imagining it as Odis’ head.
“Richard and I have something we want to tell you all.” My mother’s voice wobbles, and when I look up, her eyes dart away from me and back to Richard as if she is pleading with him to say what she is about to.
“Go ahead, honey. Tell them the news!” Richard exclaims with half of his mouth full of pie.
My hand shakes, and my worry intensifies when my mother looks back at me but doesn’t make eye contact. Oh, god. I know that look.
“Richard proposed to me last night, and next month we will be getting married.”
Denver spits his drink across the table, narrowly missing me. At the same time, I drop the fork onto my plate. The clatter of it is so loud in my ears that, for a moment, it’s all I can hear. Odis is staring at his father like he wants to stab him, his brown eyes wide.
Of course, my mother forces a smile, trying to smooth out all the imperfections in the room with one look. She’s been that way forever, striving to make others happy even in place of her own happiness. It’s why I haven’t said anything yet. I’m a bit shocked. I want her to be happy, and clearly, Richard does that for her, but the thought of being related to Odis and Denver, my archnemeses, yeah, I’m not crazy about it. The brothers pull themselves together a bit quicker than I and start to poke fun almost immediately.
“You hear that, Gemma. We’re going to be siblings,” Odis teases, his eyes twinkling with mischief. I can only imagine what kind of thoughts he’s conjuring up in his head.
Someone kill me now.
“Stepsiblings,” I correct him.
My mother continues cutting the pie. “We want all of you to celebrate at the ceremony with us.”
“Oh, we would love to attend the wedding,” Odis coos. “And we can’t wait to celebrate with Gemma. We’ve never had a sister.”
I can feel Odis staring at me, his eyes like a branding iron moving over my skin. Even as gorgeous-looking as he is with his chocolate-brown eyes, silky hair that I could run my fingers through, and that jaw that’s sharp enough to cut glass…
Oh, god, I need to stop myself now because, even with all those things, all I can manage to see is the way he treated me all those years ago.
I might be attracted to both of them physically, but emotionally and mentally, I don’t think I could ever forget the things that either of them did to me. Being half-related to them through marriage isn’t going to help matters.
“Gemma,” my mother calls, and I force myself to look up from the plate of uneaten pie. Two emerald orbs plead with me to understand. “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to spring this on you. I know this seems fast, but Richard and I aren’t the youngest anymore. We just don’t want to waste any time. We want you all to be happy for us.”
“I’m happy,” my voice cracks, “for you and Richard, I mean.” I ignore the heated stares of my soon-to-be stepbrothers. I need to get out of this room, put some distance between them and me. “I’m just tired. The drive was exhausting.”
“Of course, if you would rather go lie down, I can wrap up the pie for you.”
Is she giving me an out?
“That would be great, Mom.” I force a smile onto my lips.