Gemstone by Anastasia Vitsky

Author:Anastasia Vitsky [Vitsky, Anastasia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-05-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

September 2015

With trembling hands, I de-activate my Kinklife profile and rest my forehead in my hands while bent over my computer keyboard. How could I have been so stupid?

Hope you have a great birthday.

Of course. Gemma the discreet would never tell anyone her birthday online. Celine the idiot should have remembered. I was flustered at talking with her and caught up in the joy of telling her about recent developments.

The phone blares in my ear, and I jump while sending papers and pens flying. It’s Gemma. She knows. I hold the receiver to my ear, afraid to say a word.

“Celine, I can’t get through to Gemma. She’s coming tomorrow, right?” Lissa. Cindy should be the one checking on Gemma, but she doesn’t like calling anyone but Lissa or Gemma.

“I don’t know,” I admit. “She’s got that visitor coming, and she won’t give me an answer.”

Clang. Lissa must have slammed the cash register shut. “She can’t flake out on us! She’s already missing dinner tonight. We’ve got the decorations and snacks. Her fudge is ready, too.”

Lissa’s making fudge for Gemma instead of a cake because she’s better at it and Gemma prefers it. I stare around at the balloons, streamers, crepe paper, and handcuff-themed decorations. I want to cancel, but how can I back out of a party at my own house? “Didn’t you say this visit is someone Cindy set her up with online? Maybe it will go well, and they won’t want to be disturbed.”

My throat closes up. Maybe it will. Maybe this crass but judgmental visitor will be the woman Gemma’s waited for all of her life.

Lissa gives an impatient sigh, unusual for her. “I’m closing up now, and I’ll bring Cindy over in about half an hour. Penny and Hannah had to cancel, and Nancy’s visiting her nieces until tomorrow morning. Not sure if Milly has to take care of Nate.”

“Why, is he sick?”

Lissa laughs. “No, but he can’t fend for himself in the kitchen. Because he’s a man.”

I laugh, too, and give myself a shake. Nate’s caveman attitude would be funny at another time, but I can’t silence my inner litany.

Gemma won’t come to a party if you’re there.

She won’t know it’s me.

That’s the whole problem, isn’t it? Tell her!

She’ll hate me, and everyone else will, too.

“That’s okay. I give a strained laugh. “I planned on sloppy joes, so it’s easy to adjust the amount. Is that okay with you?”

“Sounds great! I’ll finish closing up, get Cindy, and arrive soon.”

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