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ChapterFive
GEMMA
Iwasn’t surprised when I woke up alone and cold in my bed. That was partly because Felix ducked out early this morning, and partly because my A/C unit was running on full blast. I was disappointed but not shocked when he slipped out this morning when he thought I was asleep without saying goodbye. I wished it hadn’t hurt my feelings, but it did. He could have at least stayed for breakfast. I wasn’t so clingy that I thought last night meant anything. I knew it was a one-night stand.
I sighed and ran a frustrated hand down my face. Sleeping with Felix had been a mistake, but I didn’t regret the way he played my body or made me come so hard I saw stars.
I grabbed my phone off my nightstand and checked my messages. I cringed at one from Declan.
DEC: Dude, what happened last night? You and Felix did the worst job closing. I expect better of you.
I expected better of me too. I should have never succumbed to my desires last night. I shouldn’t have let Felix kiss me in the supply closet. But my brain hadn’t been in charge.
With another sigh, I crawled out of bed and took a shower, hoping to scrub the scent of Felix off my body. I got dressed and made the ten-minute walk over to Avery and Nolan’s house. Avery was supposed to come home from the hospital tomorrow, and I was sure Nolan hadn’t left her side yet. I wanted to clean up, so she and Nolan didn’t have to worry when they brought the baby home.
The house was dark when I crept inside with my spare key, and it was obvious Nolan never made it home last night. Of course not. He was glued to Avery’s side. It was cute how my sister made the big grouch show his soft, gooey center.
When I found out he got my sister pregnant, I thought it was the universe’s way of forcing them to talk about their feelings. I had hoped for years they would see what was right in front of them. Before she got pregnant, I had no clue Avery had been sleeping with him. I thought they were friends who were totally clueless about how in love they were. The baby gave them the push to realize how perfect they were for each other, and I was glad to see my big sister find what she had always been searching for.
I started cleaning the house, then I made Mom’s lasagna and stuck it in the fridge for Nolan to eat when he got home.
I was only eight when Mom died, so I didn’t remember her much, but Avery forced me to learn some of her recipes. Avery kept Mom’s memory alive through her cooking, but I didn’t feel that connection to the woman we lost. That made me feel guilty, but I couldn’t help that I barely remembered her. Not like it mattered all that much since Avery mom-ed me pretty much my whole life after her death. She did it because Dad would have let me run around feral. Avery’s words, not mine.
After cleaning up the mess I made in the kitchen, I started the laundry. My sister and her husband wouldn’t want to do chores when they brought Norah home. Once the clothes were in the washer, I went upstairs into the nursery. I placed a rose quartz on the windowsill so it would be in direct sunlight. Avery could get mad at me about that later, but I wanted my niece to have love energy around her.
Normally, I didn’t come over to do chores for my sister, but I still felt bad I wasn’t there when Avery needed me when she was pregnant. I never told her what had been going on or the reason I hated Felix. She had so much going on with the baby and Nolan that I didn’t want to bother her with my drama.
I startled at the sound of the front door opening downstairs, and then Nolan’s thunderous footsteps pounded up the steps. He walked into the nursery and jumped when he saw me.
“Christ, kiddo, what are you doing here?” he asked, with that permanent scowl etched across his face.
“Wanted to clean, so Avery didn’t have to bother when she brought Norah home. Why do you look so grumpy?”
He sighed and ran a hand through his thick beard. “Avery kicked me out because I was hovering. And I’m not letting her lift a finger when I bring her home tomorrow!”
I laughed. Nolan was so soft for my sister. “Don’t hover, Nol!”
“She said I was annoying her. Thanks for helping, though. I know Avs appreciates it.”
I nodded.
“Oh, hey!”
“What’s up?”
His smile cracked his face, and I loved that my sister was the only one who got him to smile like that. “She agreed to name the beer Mac Daddy.”
It had surprised me he asked Avery for her input on the beer name, but it was an awesome name. I sighed when I realized I had to talk to Felix about the art direction for the labels. It wasn’t part of my job as a bartender, but since I handled the social media, Declan had me work with Felix on the artwork.
“What’s wrong?” Nolan asked.
“I have to tell Felix what art to do for the bottles.”
Nolan furrowed his brow. “How’s that your job?”
I shrugged. “Declan makes me do it.”
“Dude, he really wants you to be the marketing director.”
