I said, "Never," at the same time that Spencer said, "All the time." We exchanged surly glares.
Gemma snorted. "Well, hopefully, I'll see you sometime between never and all the time."
"Hopefully," Spencer agreed with a disgustingly charming wink.
Gemma's cheeks went pink. My neck got hot. Suddenly, Gemma's face drained of color, and she winced like she'd been hurt. Bending slightly at the waist, she said, "It was nice to meet you. I need to take Mini on a walk, but we should definitely meet up."
"For sure," Spencer said.
I slapped the down button on the elevator panel. "I'll call you."
"You're such a tender lover, Rook," Spencer said with a bat of his lashes. "You promise?"
"Get out of my house."
Gemma waved again and turned to head toward the powder room. She'd stashed all her clothing in there, but I'd been meaning to talk to her about that. I only had one bedroom, but there was no reason for her to sleep on the couch and use the powder room for all her things. I could make room in my closet, and we would figure out a better sleeping arrangement. When I looked back at Spencer, he was giving me a WTF look. "So."
The elevator doors opened. I pointed to them. "Later."
"Okay, but you'renotdating her?"
"No." I pushed him bodily into the elevator.
"You sure? You seem a little testy." He had that shit-eating grin on his face again, and I resolved to wipe it off his face the next time we were on the mat.
"I'm not testy, I want a shower. Get out of my house."
"Dude, last chance," Spencer said, raising his eyebrows and waiting for the doors to close. "I'm asking her out if you're not actually into her."
"Good luck," I bit out.
Gemma shuffled around the apartment behind me, and I turned to watch her. She'd put on a huge, pink sweatshirt and combat-style boots. Somehow, she looked cuter than before,slightly ruffled and ensconced in cozy fabrics, and she walked uncomfortably over to Mini with the leash. "Walk? You want a walk, girl?"
Mini got excited again, and with Spencer gone, she looked less tense. Gemma hooked her up, and not even sparing me a look, she took the stairs with her shoulders hunched and her face drawn. It wasn't like her to look so serious. Then again, I'd only had a handful of actual interactions with her. Maybe her bubbly personality was a front.
Shrugging, I went into my bedroom to undress and take a shower. I'd have to take some time today to empty out half my closet, and Gemma and I would need to talk about where she would sleep until we had our living arrangement sorted out. And then I needed to convince her to marry me because doing this nonsense for two years was not an option.
My mother had succeeded in her own way, really. I was getting married just like she'd intended. Only, it wasn't going to last, and I really doubted Gemma would find any of this to be anything but an enormous burden. If my mom had wanted me to find true, lasting love, then she'd failed at that. I wasn't sure how to handle my family just yet—my sister, Arabella would be livid on my behalf once she heard about this—but for now, I needed to keep my focus on the day-to-day management of this nightmare.
A familiar dog bark drew my attention after I'd shucked off my sweaty shirt and tossed it beside the laundry hamper. I leaned back to peer out of the glass French doors that led to my bedroom balcony. Off in the distance, maybe a quarter mile down the road, Mini bounded in circles around a hunched, neon-pink shape. It looked like Gemma was no longer standing. And she wasn't moving.
Chapter eight
Gemma
Rule #5: You're not my doctor.
Anet of spikes had wrapped itself around my insides, squeezing the life out of me. White-hot, serrated pain sliced through my lower abdomen, and a sheen of sweat crested my upper lip as I stumbled down the bright street. It was cold for once, and the wind chilled the perspiration on my neck and face as I struggled to put distance between me and the building. How was I supposed to fall apart if I was sharing an apartment with Robot Boy and his Bruce Wayne look-alike BFF? They had both been all shiny and muscley after working out, but all I wanted was to crumble under my pain like a ball of tin foil. I didn't need an audience for that.
Mini wanted to run, but I could barely keep up. My ankle grazed the curb, and I wished there was a sidewalk here. Butthis part of the street opened up to an industrial area with a few abandoned warehouses and some overgrown lots. Another cramp seized me, and I gave up. I curled into a ball and hugged my shins, burying my face in my knees and willing the menstrual pain to go away. The first two days were the worst. I just had to get through today and tomorrow and then I could use heat packs and acetaminophen to get me through the rest of it.
Mini bounced in circles around me, and then she quieted down, sniffing me before coming to sit at my side and lean her weight against me. Her warmth was comforting, so I reached out and pulled her into a much-needed hug. She let me hang onto her, sitting strong as I pulled her to me and leaned my face against her soft coat. "Mini," I groaned.
She grumbled, reaching over to lick at my forearm. Of all the crazy things I'd done, adopting Mini from a Doberman rescue operation had definitely been the best. I'd made friends with Ruth right out of college, but my family life had been a mess. So, despite having a solid bestie, I'd always craved touch and love in stupid quantities. It had been a gut instinct to adopt Mini, and she had been there for me during my loneliest moments. I'd had no idea how important Mini would become to my sanity, but that's what she was now. She was my lifeline, and I hung onto her when I was sinking.
My phone chimed, and I dragged it out of my hoodie pocket with shaking fingers. It was the portable game app that I'd downloaded for messaging. Handy when I had to leave a game or message a party group away from my computer.
Emmaculate94:
