“I’m not the right person for you,” he says. He shifts up the sofa slightly, putting distance between us.
I can't believe what I’m hearing. His words are ripping my heart out of my chest. “Bullshit, don’t lie to me. I know you, Alex,” I snap. "We have our fights, but you love me, too."
“You don’t know me, though, that’s the point. Not properly,” he insists. His eyes go cold.
What the hell is going on? I stare at him. “I live with you.”
“I’ll pay you for the next two months,” he says.
He can't be serious, can he? I wait for him to tell me this is one big joke and he loves me too, but it doesn’t come.
“I think it’s best you go back to your parents.” He walks out of the room.
“Fuck you, Alex,” I shout at him. “Don't you dare lie to Ace and Eden. Make sure they know I wasn’t the one who wanted to go. This was all your idea.”
He nods and looks away, closing the door behind him. I wipe the tears from my eyes.
I am Gemma Winters. I’m someone who is meant to be a heartbreaker, but I’ve let Alex Whitlock break my heart.
I take just what I need, but I make sure to grab a photo of the four of us together. I don't pack everything. My things don't seem important anymore. I haven't even been on social media for months; being part of this family has changed me. The small bag I packed sits on the passenger side of my Lamborghini as I drive home, crying the whole way.
I open the door to my parents’ house, my eyes red and stinging.
“Gemma?” Brody pokes his head out from the kitchen with a beer in his hand. “Why are you here? What's wrong?” He looks at my bag.
“He ended it,” I sob. "Alex dumped me."
Brody puts his arm around me. I hug my brother, the tears don’t stop falling as I stay in his arms.
“He doesn’t deserve you.” Brody kisses my head.
"I don't want to be alone," I try and speak through the sobbing.
"I'll stay with you until you go to sleep," my brother says, he’s been more kind to me than he’s ever been before.
I follow him to my old bedroom. He stays with me until I can cry no more and the tiredness takes over. It’s the first time we’ve done anything like this since we were children, and I am so grateful to have him there.
“Happy Christmas Eve eve,” Brody says, waking me up with coffee.
“Is it?” I mumble. My throat hurts from crying all night. My head is pounding from the lack of sleep.
“Let’s get you something to eat,” he says. "Can't be upset on an empty stomach. How about we have ice cream for breakfast?"
“I can’t. It hurts too much.” I cuddle up in my bed, holding onto the pillow.
“Gemma,” Mum’s voice calls. She walks into the bedroom and takes one look at me. “Oh, darling. Brody told me. It will be okay, I promise.”
"Will it ever stop hurting so bad?" I ask.
“It will. Time is a healer,” Mum says. "Come, Brody. Let's leave Gemma for a moment while we have breakfast. You can come check on her in a little bit."
Squeezing tighter, I keep hugging my pillow as I cry. I can still smell his aftershave on me, and it unleashes a fresh wave of sobs.
ALEX
“Where’s Gemma?” Eden asks as soon as she gets into bed with me.
“Hey, pumpkin. I need to talk to you and your brother about something.” I stroke her hair. "Why don't you call him for me?"
