Clearing my throat, I take the seat Nathan just occupied and grab Gemma’s hand in mine.
“Hey, Gems.”
Gemma’s face falls the moment the greeting leaves my lips, and silent sobs wrack her body.
“So it sounds like it’s time for the birds and the bees talk after all. With you being homeschooled, it kind of slipped my mind. But, here we are.”
Her lip wobbles and she takes a deep breath. “Can we not? I’ve taken health class. Which is why I knew to be on the pill before doing anything with anyone.”
“So you are being physical with someone?”
“What? No!”
“But, Nathan just said—” I start but she cuts me off.
“Let’s just clear that up right now. Nathan Connelly doesn’t know anything about me, and he never will. Colton is my friend—one of my best friends.”
Right. Glad we got that cleared up.
“Gems, you know you can talk to me, right?”
She looks down at her fidgeting hands. “I didn’t think you’d understand,” she explains, her head down in defeat. “You’ve always had impeccable skin. And some of the girls at school have been mean.”
“Gems, I had horrible acne when I first got my period. But that was in middle school and you were way too young to remember that. Eventually, my skin cleared up and that happened without me going on birth control. Tell me the truth, are you being bullied?”
“No, the comments just get to me more because I’m already insecure of my skin. As if being as pale as a ghost and having a million freckles wasn’t boy-repellent enough, now I’ve been cursed with acne.”
“This is going to sound cliché to you, I know, but one day you’re going to find a guy who loves your fair skin, auburn hair, and freckles.”
“Just like how Bennett loves you?” she asks, sounding somewhat hopeful.
“Exactly,” I tell her as tears fall down my cheeks.
Because he does love me. Wholeheartedly. Despite my flaws and imperfections, my fiancé loves the hell out of me.
24
February
“Scar, baby, we’re going to be late!” I call up the stairs. “I’ve got Gemma and Gunner and the luggage in the car. I’ll lock up the front door, come out through the garage.”
When I shut the driver door, Gemma leans forward from the back seat. “Does she realize she’s going to make us miss our flight?”
I look at her in the rearview mirror. “Gems, you know she gets nervous flying. And this is her first time flying with the two of you. Besides, private jets don’t exactly take off without the people paying for the flight.” I spin in my seat to watch Gunner. “You ready for a plane ride, Champ?”
“Yep! Gems said I’m gonna get my wings today,” he says proudly, and my eyes widen for a second before I realize what he’s saying.
“She’s right. I’ll make sure to request they give you your first time flyer pin when we get on the plane,” I assure him.
“Hey, Bennett, do you ever get scared?” Gunner asks me.
“Sure do,” I answer him. “Are you nervous for the plane ride?”
“A little bit. What are you scared of?” he presses.
“Snakes. I really really don’t like snakes.”
“Kinda like how Scar doesn’t like clowns?”
