“And? You don’t think I can?” I square my shoulders and lift my chin.
“No,” Dad says. “When have you ever shown any interest? You have had one job. How long did that last, Gemma? A few months. When have you shown any responsibility? You act like a teenager most of the time. You need to grow up.”
“You wanted me to get a job. But now I have one, you’re saying I’m too immature, and I can’t do it.” I glare at them. “What do you want me to do? You are cutting me off, then at the same time, you’re laughing in my face.” I shake my head. “Thanks for the support, guys. I don’t need any of you. I can do this alone.”
I storm off to my room, slamming my bedroom door as loudly as I can. Childish, maybe, but satisfying. I sit on my bed, feeling sorry for myself. Then, an idea pops into my head. I jump up, find the two biggest suitcases I can, and packall my essentials. Walking out of the room with my bags, I let them bang down the steps behind me.
“This is a bit dramatic. Where are you off to?” Brody stands in front of me in the hallway, blocking me from going any further.
“I hate you. You knew what he wanted, yet you still set me up.” I scowl at my brother.
“You shouldn’t be so easy. You deserved it after that stunt you pulled at the Edwards’ house and going to get out of bed naked. Yuck! I don’t want to see my sister’s hoo-ha.”
“Serves you right for being an arrogant prick. It’s called a pussy, like you.” I snarl at him.
“My poor little sister can’t handle the truth.”
I bring my knee up and kick him in the balls. He doubles over as I walk away with a smug smile.
I go to the garage and glance over the cars. I need something more sensible if I’m driving children around. My parents don’t think I can be responsible—I am going to prove them wrong, just like Alex said. Taking the keys out of the safe, I select the BMW, certain nobody will miss it.
ALEX
The doorbell rings, waking me from my sleep. I check my phone; it’s ten at night. Not many people know my code to get through the gates, so my guard is up. I put my dressing gown on, going downstairs quickly before the constant ringing wakes the children. This better be an emergency.
I open the front door to see Gemma standing in front of me with two suitcases and a bag over her shoulder. What the hell is she doing here?
“Gemma.” I gape at her.
“I’ll move in.” She walks past me, rolling her bags into my house.
“Eh?”
“Well it looks like you need a live-in nanny, and I need a home.” She shrugs.
“What? No. I don’t have room.”
“But…” Gemma lets go of her suitcases and turns toward me. Her face falls as she looks for something else to say, but no words come out.
Gemma does that thing Eden does when she can’t get her way: her lip starts to tremble. Shit, I’m fucked.
“No, don’t do this to me… I don’t know you.”
“But you left me with your kids.”
She has a point. I was willing to leave this stranger with my children, but now I don’t want her to stay the night. “I… Fuck.”
A slow smile spreads on her face. “Which room?”
“This way.” I sigh.
I take one of her bags, and she follows, leaving the other suitcase behind.
“Gemma,” I call, my voice sharp.
She looks back, then looks between me and the luggage.
Why am I not surprised? I roll my eyes, go back to get it, and stride towards her. Gemma lets me squeeze past with both suitcases in my hands. I grumble as I pass her, but she doesn’t seem to notice. We walk to the spare room where I store my wife’s things.
