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“You won’t like my answer,” she states, meeting my eyes.
“Sorry, forget it. I wasn’t—”
“As much as I’d like to say falling in love with you was worth the pain of you leaving, I’d be lying if I hadn’t wondered what it would’ve been like to never have fallen for you in the first place. There were years of sadness, and I wondered why I wasn’t enough for you to stay or come back.”
Fuck.
“Gemma,” I say softly, reaching for her hand resting on the table. “Nothing I say will take away what I did, but I’m so damn sorry I left the way I did. I had a lot of shit in my life that I needed to figure out, and I couldn’t do it here. I wanted you to come with me,” I remind her. “But I knew you couldn’t. You had your own life to figure out, too.”
She nods with sadness in her eyes. “I understand that. I just wish you’d have been able to come home two years ago. Life would be so different now.”
Two years ago. Before she met Robert.
“I wish a lot was different, Gemma. However, if I’ve learned anything in the past five years, it’s that we don’t get to deal our own cards. We have to take the hand we’re dealt and do the best you can with it.”
Gemma squeezes my fingers. “I’ve discovered a lot about myself recently. The reality of some things I don’t like, but some, I do. I’ve never been good at standing up for myself because I’m a people pleaser. Now I’m learning what my limits are and how I need to set higher standards. The way I allowed Robert to constantly treat me makes me sick. That relationship should’ve never lasted more than a month.”
“So why did it?” I ask, relieved she’s realized that she deserves better.
She shrugs, resting her chin in her palm. “He said the right things and did stuff to impress me. Though it’s embarrassing to admit, I was desperate for affection. As pathetic as it sounds, he was the first guy since you who I actually felt something for. Stupid me didn’t realize it was merely infatuation or lust. That quickly dissolved, but when he proposed, it was expected that I’d accept. Didn’t help that it made my dad so damn happy. The happiest I’d seen him in years. Robert fed me the fantasy of being married and living a beautiful life together. It didn’t click how manipulative and possessive he was because I was blinded by his promises. I never had a healthy relationship to look up to, and I thought it was normal.”
Before I can respond, Jerry waltzes in whistling, then immediately stops when his eyes land on our hands touching. Quickly, I pull back and turn away from Gemma, but there’s no doubt he saw us. There’s no denying that he thinks I’m a homewrecker.
“Hi, Daddy,” Gemma greets with a smile. “How was lunch with George?”
“Fine,” he grumbles, walking to the fridge, then grabbing a diet Coke. “How was yours?”
“Delicious,” I interject. “Belinda makes a mean turkey and cheese.”
Jerry slams the door and eyes me. “Back to work in fifteen.”
“Yes, sir.”
The room stays silent until he walks out, and we hear the shop door slam shut.
“Fuck, he’s pissed.”
“I haven’t told him about Robert yet, so he thinks…”
“That I’m trying to seduce you so you’ll leave your fiancé.”
“Yeah, probably. I’m gonna have to spill the beans soon.”
“Well…” I stand, then push in my chair. “Maybe sooner than later since I have to work with him. He’s a nice guy and all, but I don’t want to have to duck from tools being thrown at my head.”
Gemma giggles with a smirk. “Promise. When the time’s right, I’ll tell him everything.”
“Great. I’ll wear a hard hat until then.” I flash her a wink.
“Just tell him about Ruby and that he has nothing to worry about.”
Does she seriously believe I’m with Ruby?
“Good point,” I say, though I have no intention of doing that. “See you tonight around seven? Need to stop by the store and hit the shower first.”
“Yep, see you then.”
I throw my trash away, then brave the next four hours with a man who thinks I’m trying to steal his daughter away from her future husband.
This should be very interesting.
Chapter Four
GEMMA
The rest of the shift passes in a blink, and I can breathe again knowing Tyler’s safely back in town. Though it’s not my business, I’m not completely convinced he’s staying in Lawton Ridge for good. A small voice in the back of my mind says it’s only a matter of time until he leaves again. I wasn’t enough for him then, so what makes me enough now? Nothing. He’s explained himself several times, but it still hurts. I force away the self-deprecating thoughts and go home to take a shower before dinner.
