Chapter
Eighteen
GEMMA
It was comingup to the end of the summer holidays.
I had just spent the last few hours walking around town for new school uniform for Ace and Eden; shopping with two young children is not fun. They got bored far too easily. While sat in the car they argue with each other. I needed a break. Alex was so caught up with his work, we hadn’t seen much of him and I hadn’t seen or spoken to Fern in ages, either.
“Hey!” I call at them to stop the bickering.
Neither of them listen. Eden keeps trying to kick Ace, and Ace is throwing popcorn at her. I’m sure that’s two weeks old. Shit, I need to clean the car out more often.
“Will you both stop it,” I shout at them. They freeze, until Eden pokes her tongue out at me, but Ace looks like he’s about to cry.
“Eden.”
I’m hot, tired, hungry, and in need of a coffee.
“Right, I have to go and see someone. Be on your best behaviour, both of you.” Of course, as soon as I said that Eden was her usual self asking too many questions. My answersweren’t good enough. “Let me get a frappe and you will soon see where we are going.”
Pulling onto Fern’s drive, I throw my empty coffee cup on the front passenger seat. I help Eden out of her car seat, Ace has already got himself out.
Picking Eden up, I place her on my hip. Her little finger keeps pressing the buzzer, until a topless Wesley answers, his face bemused at the sight before him. This time, it does nothing for me. I watch as his hand rubs the top of his chest.
“Gemma,” he says, flexing his pecs.
“What’s he doing?” Eden whispers in my ear. She’s trying to be quiet, but it’s clear he can hear her as he stops right away.
“Is Fern here?” I smile at him.
He looks at his watch. “She’s working, but I think she’ll be home soon.”
“We’ll wait in the garden for her.”
Sitting on the sun lounger, I watch Ace and Eden play chase. Wesley comes out with a tray of drinks. Laying them down on the table, he pours me one, then hands it over.
“How’s things?” he asks in a casual manner.
“Good, you?” This was awkward, but we need to chat. “Wesley, I think it’s obvious I had feelings for you for a long time.”
“Yeah,” he agrees.
“But…”
“What?
“You were a bit of a dick.”
He stares in shock at my statement. “How?” he asks.
“Why didn’t you just tell me you weren’t interested?”
“I did, numerous times. You never listened.”
“When?” I question crossing my arms.
He rolls his eyes. “Gemma, look, lets move on. This guy is making you happy.”
