Erode by Elizabeth Knox & J.H. Wolfe

Author:Elizabeth Knox & J.H. Wolfe [Knox, Elizabeth & Wolfe, J.H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Knox Publishing
Published: 2022-06-16T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

TRIX

When I get into the house, the vibe is strange. Gemma’s just standing in the living room. Her eyes are entirely blank. I instantly wonder if she’s realized that it’s Pan who brought me home.

Fuck, I’m sure as soon as she heard the engine of a bike pull up, she just looked out the window and saw who the hell it was. We didn’t kiss or anything, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t put two and two together after all the time we spent together before.

With a stoic blank stare, she says, “I should have seen it. I should have seen you were getting together with my brother.” She’s clearly upset, but it’s not anger. It’s shock. Which doesn’t make any fucking sense considering she’s caught us flirting several times and said something about it.

Up until now, all of it’s been mostly teasing from her. And I knew she would react badly, but not like this. And not before I even got a chance to speak my peace.

Gemma turns to the side to look me dead on. Her eyes meet mine, and then she blinks a few times as if she’s trying to blink the shock away. She runs her hands through her bright, Irish red, curly hair and says, “My brother? Of all the guys there, you’re fucking my brother?”

What the hell was going on with her? I just don’t understand the reaction at all. I expect her to be mad. To yell at me. But this? I don’t get it. But I don’t dare say anything about it right now either. I just listen, hoping she can get it out and we can fix this. And maybe she’ll let me talk later, let me explain that it’s gonna be fine.

“Here’s the thing,” Gemma says, “the girls in this house are like my sisters. You’re always going to be involved in my life. All of you. So, what the hell happens if my brother totally destroys your heart. Will that mean the end of our friendship then?”

This is what she’s worried about? She thinks I’ll blame her, or I’ll distance myself from her if Pan and I break up? I don’t ever think of Gemma as being an insecure person, but maybe this is her weakness, and I just haven’t seen it yet because we’ve all been so close, and we’ve never stepped on each other’s toes like this.

I open my mouth to say something, but she beats me to the punch.

“Probably, right?!” Tears start running down Gemma’s face, and I try to temper my frustration. I don’t understand why she’s feeling this way in particular or why she’s interrupting me, not letting me speak. That part pisses me off, but she is allowed to have feelings. And they’re totally valid.

Gemma is afraid. She’s afraid of losing me. And that should mean something to me if she would just calm down. I could solve this easily.

“Look, Gemma, we’re all entitled to our feelings, but—” Gemma is muttering to herself, pacing back and forth.

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