Her eyes narrow, unconvinced. “Is he giving you a hard time about something? You look upset.”
I think about that for a second. I’ve told Gemma numerous times I didn’t want any more children—heck, Kaitlyn is all I can handle, or at least I thought so. While Gemma is adamant that Kaitlyn will be okay if we maintain the same life, as I look at my daughter, something deep inside me shifts, and all the hollowed-out spots fill with warmth and hope for a future. My God, what is happening to me? My heart beats a little faster as I envision Kaitlyn cooing over a new baby, but the biggest part of that picture is the woman holding the child—Gemma.
Is it possible that I can give Gemma everything she wants? Does she even want everything from me? I’m not sure but what I do know right now is we’re going to have to talk…and soon. But first I have to get my daughter ready, and Gemma and I have a dinner date. Talking will have to wait, but that doesn’t mean I can’t show her how much I care, how well we fit together, in other ways.
15
Gemma
“You look gorgeous,” Callan says when he enters the bedroom and finds me all dressed up and slipping on a pair of my favorite white gold earrings, a graduation present from my parents. I glance at him in the mirror, and take in his dress shirt, tie and pants. I sigh, my body warming at the mere sight of him. How will I ever be with another man, or even find one attractive after spending time with Callan? The simple answer is this. I won’t. Honest to God, who knew I’d fall so hard for him. Then again, how could a girl not? The way he makes me feel about myself, the way he’s looking at me this very second, like I’m the most important woman in the world, well, that can really do a number on a girl’s head—make them think there is more going on when there isn’t.
“You clean up pretty nice yourself,” I say, and he slides his arms around me, pulling my back to his chest. He puts his mouth on my neck and makes a growling sound that vibrates through me and stimulates all my erogenous zones as he kisses me. I’m not one-hundred percent sure what’s going on with him. After exchanging messages with Mason this morning, he seemed upset, maybe even a little spooked, but then his mood shifted, changed…became lighter, like the weight of the world had come off his shoulders. I have no idea what Mason said, but I’m happy to see Callan smiling.
Truthfully, I feel that lightness myself, especially after giving myself a good hard lecture over breakfast this morning. Callan and I don’t want the same things, and we don’t have a future together. I’ve come to accept that fact, and have since decided to enjoy the rest of the summer with him and when it’s over, it’s over. I’m simply going to enjoy it while I can and deal with my feelings when all is said and done. Brad might be a complete jerk, but he was right. Callan will never get over past hurts and move on, and the sooner I accept it, the better it will be for my head and my stupid heart. Who am I kidding? My heart will never heal after Callan.
“Keep that up and we’ll never get out of here,” I say as he slides his hands down my sides and grips my hips. I lean back, pressing against his growing erection, and he moans. The sweet sound vibrates through me, settles deep between my legs.
“We don’t have to go,” he says. “We could stay here instead, and I can ravish you.”
“Yes, we do. I’ve been looking forward to getting out with my sister, and enjoying a nice meal.”
“Yeah, me too actually.” He steps back and I grin as he adjusts his pants.
“We can take care of that little problem later,” I say.
He grins at my use of the word little and checks his watch. “We better get going.”
He puts his hand on the small of my back and leads me downstairs. I relax into the passenger seat as he backs out onto the road. I’m glad whatever illness I had this morning is long gone. I really am looking forward to spending time with Amanda, even if she is a troublemaker.
Callan reaches across the seat and takes my hand in his. He gives it a squeeze, the way he’s done so many times before, and it wraps around my heart. My throat tightens, but I smile, not wanting him to know how much I’ve fallen for him. My God, when this started, we were both so sure what we wanted, and what we didn’t. Things have changed drastically for me, but he’s not giving me any indication that they’ve changed for him.
I reach for the radio and turn it up, wanting to drown out the sound of my heart crashing against my ribs. I hum along as he drives and less than fifteen minutes later, we reach the seafood restaurant Amanda picked. Inside, Callan gives his name, but I spot Amanda and David waving us over. I follow the hostess and she seats us across from them.
“Hey guys,” I say, greeting Amanda and David as I set my purse on the back of my chair.
“Wow, you two look great,” Amanda says and I grin at her.
“Thanks. It was nice to get out of sweats for a change.”
Amanda laughs and nudges David. “Hear that?” she teases.
“What’s so funny?”
“I thought you two would still be in the honeymoon stage, not the sweatpants stage. That’s for old married couples like us.”
“Hey, I take offence to that,” David says.
We all laugh at that. “I’m around kids all day too, and we have Kaitlyn at night.”
“Oh right, I forgot my little sister is all
