Needing You Close (Ex-Con Duet 2)

I swallow hard and straighten my stance, so he doesn’t notice the tension in my shoulders. “I’m well aware.”

Without another word, he walks away.

He definitely doesn’t know about their current situation, and I won’t be the one to disappoint the man. According to Everleigh, Jerry’s tremendously supportive of Gemma marrying Robert. When he learns it ended, he’ll probably want to point fingers at someone.

I head to the break room and pull out my phone to text my sister.

Tyler: Gemma told me she and Robert broke up. She didn’t give me all the details. We’re gonna talk at your place tonight. That okay?

I set my cell on the table and grab the leftovers I brought. Everleigh made some sort of mystery meat the other day, and I didn’t want it to go to waste. I take a sniff and decide to give it a shot.

Moments later, she responds.

Everleigh: That’s fine. Just brace yourself, it was a bad situation.

Tyler: What do you mean?

My blood pressure rises.

Everleigh: I picked her up from his house on Monday night, and he didn’t want her to go. Told her she’d be sorry if she did.

That motherfucker.

Tyler: Jesus Christ. No wonder she’s still upset.

Everleigh: She was in pretty bad shape emotionally yesterday, so I was hoping she’d be a little better today.

Tyler: She said he hired a PI to follow us.

Everleigh: Yep. Robert wasn’t even sorry about it.

I don’t wish ill will toward many people, but he and Victoria tie for the top spot.

Tyler: Fucking bullshit. I should’ve punched his face in when I had the chance.

Everleigh: He’s not worth it. I only hope Gemma sticks to her guns and doesn’t go back to him.

Tyler: You think she would?

Everleigh: Honestly, I don’t know.

That thought puts a bad taste in my mouth before I even get a chance to try my food. The moment I do, my eyes go wide.

“Hey,” Gemma says, walking toward me with a bag. “I got a couple of subs from the deli. Want one?”

I swallow down my food and nearly gag. “Yes, please.”

Putting the lid back on the container, Gemma moves it away and chuckles. “Everleigh can’t cook.”

“I’m realizing this.”

She hands me one of the sandwiches.

“That’s why she was so willing to let me live with her. She needed a chef in the house.”

Gemma grins as she unwraps her food. “She lives off protein bars and smoothies from the cafe.”

“Hopefully tonight, we’ll all be eating like kings.”

She pops a brow. “Really? Whatcha making?”

“It’s a surprise. Just come hungry.”

“Don’t worry, I will. I haven’t eaten much over the past couple of days,” she admits with a frown.

“Everleigh told me she picked you up from his house. What happened?”

“Is it okay if we don’t talk about it right now? I’ll tell you everything after work.”

“Of course. I’m sorry to bring it up again. So, what do you wanna chat about?” I ask, then take a large bite of the warm bread and meat.

“Where were you?”

Should’ve seen that coming. Not that it’s a secret, but I want to keep that part of my life as far away from Gemma as possible.

“Vegas,” I exhale. “Had some old business to take care of.”

“Everleigh told me that much.”

I nod, then narrow my eyes at her concerned expression. “What?”

“Nothing.” She shakes her head. I watch her, not buying it. “It’s just, I was worried. You have a history in Vegas, and it was suspicious when you just up and left.”

Studying her sweet features, I grin. “I had something to do for an old friend. That’s it.” I don’t go into detail because I want to put it all behind me. “You have nothing to worry about, I promise.”

That causes her to flash me a smile. “Glad to hear that.”

The room grows silent as we both finish eating. Color has returned to her cheeks, and she doesn’t seem as distressed as she was this morning. Although I can tell the shit with Robert weighs heavily on her.

Wanting to put her in a better mood, I bring something up that will have her laughing.

“Do you remember talking about the movie 13 Going on 30 in one of your letters?”

She chokes but quickly recovers. “Oh my God. How do you remember that? I was like what, fifteen?”

“You were obsessed with the romantic comedies of the early 2000s.”

“Still am, mostly.” She chuckles with a shrug. “How crazy to think I was dying to be an adult, and now here I am, wishing I could turn back time and be a naïve teenager again.”

“It’s funny how that works out, isn’t it? Always eager to grow up until you realize adults don’t have it figured out either.”

“I swore my dad knew everything. It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized he was just winging it like the rest of us.”

“If you could go back to any age and relive it, when would you pick?” I ask, and when she lowers her head, I realize it’s a really stupid question.