AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The door opened, and the smile I had on my face faltered when instead of my girl opening it, Jackie Martinez, Gem’s mom, stared up at me.
“Hello, Mrs. Martinez.” I tried to keep my cool.
“Aiden, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Jackie?” She smiled at me.
“Sorry,” I murmured.
“You’re home,” she noted. I’d known Jackie Martinez for a long time, and she was a lot like Gemma. Every thought and feeling were plastered on her face and gaze. And she was nervous, caught off guard by me showing up unannounced. “During the week,” she added. I was already nodding.
“Yeah. I don’t have class tomorrow, so I decided to head home early.” I’d never been so fucking thankful for a professor cancelling a class like I was this morning.
“Well, that’s a nice start to an early weekend.” She glanced over her shoulder, and I heard it.
A retch and then another.
“Is everything okay?” I asked as my heart rate started to gallop in my chest.
“Your mom must be excited!” she feigned excitement, and my brows bunched.
“Jackie?” Her eyes softened.
“Honey, maybe you should go home and call Gem. You two could?—"
“Is that her?” I stood a little taller. Mrs. Martinez’ new man walked out of the kitchen, and they shared a look.
“Honey,” he said, and her shoulders dropped slightly.
“She’s in the bathroom,” she whispered and stepped aside. “Aiden.” I met her gaze head-on. “Just remember… things happen for a reason. And no matter what, everything will be okay.”
I stared at her for a moment. Everything would be okay. Shit. Maybe it wasn’t what I thought. Maybe Gem was sick? I couldn’t say another word when I heard my girl start throwing up again.
“Shit,” I cursed under my breath as I hurried through the living room and toward the bathroom down the hall from her room.
“We’ll be back, kid,” Jackie’s man called out, and the front door shut, leaving Gem and me alone.
“Baby,” I whispered and hurried into the small space, where I found her hovering over the toilet, wiping her face with a washcloth.
“Aiden?” She looked up at me and started to sob. “You can’t see me like this,” she cried. I kneeled closer, pulling her small body next to mine.
“Baby, what’s going on? You okay?” She looked up at me and broke into a fit of tears and sobs, breaking my heart. I hated to see my girl cry.
“Jesus.” I scooped her up in my arms and lifted her to sit on the vanity. She opened her legs, making space for me as I wiped her face, rinsing the washcloth with cool water and squeezing the excess water before grazing it over her forehead.
“You’re home early.”
“I am.”
“But your class…”
“It was canceled,” I shared.
“You didn’t tell me.”
“I was worried about you on Monday. You didn’t sound right, and you haven’t wanted to FaceTime with me.” She opened and then shut her mouth.
I watched as patiently as I could as she breathed in deeply and exhaled slowly.
“I wasn’t feeling good on Monday.”
