Gemma
Adream. It must have been a dream. That’s the only logical explanation for what happened last night. I don’t know why I let him kiss me or make me come. I’ve spent all night telling myself it was loneliness that had me giving in to temptation but deep down, I know that’s a lie.
He made me feel… special, like he only had eyes for me. There was something in the way he kissed me, touched me that made me feel like he had been wanting to do it forever.
I shake the thoughts away, refusing to let them take up any more of my time. I pull on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt that reads Anti-Social as Fuck. Giggling to myself on how fitting it is, I exit my bedroom and hope that neither of the brothers is up yet.
That hope is shattered when a door opens down the hall, and Odis comes strolling out in nothing but a pair of boxers. There is no denying he is a fine specimen of a man. His six-pack abs are on full display, each muscle looking to be carved from stone. Someone so menacing should not be allowed to look so gorgeous.
His hair is a disheveled mess, and sleep still clings to his eyes. He seems a bit surprised to see me in the hallway, but as soon as he notices me, a grin appears on his face.
“Fancy seeing you here.” He winks, and I stop staring at him, completely unimpressed.
“I’m sure you think you’re so smooth—” I start but then stop mid-sentence. Did Denver tell him what happened last night? Oh, god, he probably did. I could kick myself for giving in to him, for letting it happen, and worse, enjoying it. I want to come up with a snarky remark, but nothing I say to him is going to faze him anyway.
“What were you going to say? I’m so smooth, and what?” Odis taunts, taking a step toward me. A tiny little shiver runs up my spine, and for one brief second, I wonder what it would be like to let him do what his brother did to me last night. He wouldn’t be as gentle, no, but it would be exactly what I need right now.
Stupid, Gemma. Stupid.
Pressing my lips together, I trudge forward and bump my shoulder against his, ignoring the spark of electricity that ripples through me. He is nothing but a player, not to mention a bully on top of it. Doing anything with him would lead to not only heartache but so much worse. I’m finally feeling better about myself, and I’m not going to let my hormones dictate what happens next. Descending the stairs, the smell of coffee and something sweet permeates the air.
I touch the bottom step and walk into the kitchen to find Denver has already made a pot of coffee, and that sweet smell is pancakes.
All I can do is stare at him in awe. It takes me a full second to remember that I still hate him. I have to keep reminding myself of this, reminding myself that even if they are different now, they weren’t like this in the past.
This isn’t who they are. It’s a trap; it has to be. They just want to get one last laugh in while they can.
“Where are my mother and Richard?” I ask while taking a seat at the island.
Denver grabs a cup of coffee and places it down on the counter in front of me. “Oh, they left to meet with the wedding planner.”
A bitter tang fills my mouth. I wish she had told me she wasn’t going to be here this morning. She probably didn’t because she knew I wouldn’t like her leaving me here with my soon-to-be stepbrothers.
“You’re more than welcome to hang out with me today.” Denver winks. “I just planned on chilling out by the pool.”
I open my mouth to respond, to tell him no, but don’t get the chance as Odis comes traipsing down the stairs. He walks into the kitchen and heads straight for the fridge, and pulls open the doors. Pulling out a bottle of orange juice, he twists the cap off and drinks right out of the container. Eww.
Turning to face us, he wipes his mouth with his arm. “Some of the guys from school are on their way over. They want to play a little ball and take a dip in the pool.”
Odis is looking at me as he speaks, but his words aren’t directed at me. They’re for Denver because no way in hell am I going to have anything to do with a social gathering with people from my old school.
Denver places a plate with a fork on it in front of me and turns to face his brother. “Are you sure Gemma is going to want to hang out with everyone?”
Odis shrugs. “Do you want to sit by the pool, or are you going to act stuck up?”
I grit my teeth and grab my plate, along with my coffee. Nope, not dealing with this shit. I left for a reason, and if I knew it wouldn’t break my mother’s heart, I would be gone right now too. I can’t do that to her, though.
“Don’t worry about me,” I tell them both as they face-off, glaring at each other with unsaid words. I don’t have the patience, nor do I have the effort to put into trying to figure them out. I’d rather be in my bedroom, hidden away from the people that made my life hell.
“Gemma, wait,” Denver calls as I move and start toward the stairs. I don’t stop. If anything, I move faster, jogging back up to my bedroom. When I reach the door, I walk in, close the door, and lock it. I know it’s pointless since Denver proved a locked door won’t stop him.
I put the plate of uneaten pancakes on the nightstand. I’ve lost my appetite now that I know a bunch of guys from my old high school are coming over. What if Odis and Denver invite them in? What if they decide to have a party? Oh, god. My stomach starts to churn. I might just puke if I continue to think about this.
Setting the coffee down, I get out my phone and my headphones and lie down on the bed. I turn on some music and force myself to pay attention to the lyrics and not my surroundings. Everything is okay. I’m okay.
* * *
After I’ve calmed down,I manage to eat my breakfast and drink my coffee. I switch to an audiobook and lie down, letting Teddy Hamilton serenade me. After a while, I grow bored, and curiosity gets the best of me. Removing my headphones, I hear a commotion outside.