“I need to see her,” I say without hesitation.
“No, you don’t get to come over like this and break herheart even more. She doesn’t want to see you,” Brody growls. He stands in the doorway, refusing to let me pass.
Since when did he develop into an overprotective brother? She’s always moaning about him.
“Ask her. If she says no, I’ll leave. Please,” I beg.
He frowns, contemplating my request. “Wait there. You’re not allowed in.”
I wait for about ten minutes before she comes to the front door, her arms folded. Her brother stands behind her like a bodyguard.
“What?” Her voice is ice cold and she stares right through me. Still, I miss her so much.
“Can we talk alone?" I ask.
“No. He stays, or we don't talk at all,” Gemma replies.
"That's fair. I deserve that. Gemma, I’m sorry.”
“Okay, bye.” She turns on her heel to walk away.
I need her to listen, to stop. Grabbing her arm so she can’t move, I wince when she yanks it away. “Gemma, I love you, and I messed up,” I plead. "I fucked up badly."
“A fuck up is ruining my favourite shoes. What you did to me is unforgivable.” I can see Tears are welling up in her eyes. I don't want to make her cry.
Searching for the right words is hard, but the ones I want don’t come. “I love you. I want to tell you how sorry I am.”
“You did. Now you can leave and return to your perfect little life without me."
“I want you back,” I beg her, trying to think of what to say.
“She told you to leave,” Brody repeats. His arms are crossed over his chest, making him look bigger than he is.
“Gemma,” I call.
“Alex, go. Please,”
I broke her again, and I hate myself for it.
GEMMA
I run to my room, but loud footsteps chase me down the hallway.
“Gem, are you okay?” Brody asks. "You can talk to me."
I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to think about it. I find something else to be distracted by. “Why aren’t you at work?”
“I’m on holiday. Gemma…” he starts to say.
I shake my head. “I’m fine… I’ve been doing fine, haven’t I?”
Brody grabs onto me, hugging me. “Yes... no.” He changes his answer. “You haven’t. You haven't been fine, Gem.”
“I have.”
“Breakups hurt,” he says stroking my hair. “I know he was the man you gave everything to. I might be your brother, but I know you. You were acting like a grown woman, you’ve changed.” Brody kisses my head.
I sniff. “Do we ever talk like this?”
