Page 70 of The Accidental Nanny
"Hmmm?" He looks at me.
Taking a deep breath, I start to speak. "I have to tell you something important. Something that I mean with my whole heart. Alex, I've fallen in love with you.”
Of all the reactions I was expecting, I didn't expect his body to stiffen. I look at him, searching his face and growing a little worried. "Alex?"
He takes a large gulp of wine. “Where do you see yourself in five years?”
“I see us together, married. We have a baby and we're one big happy family. I love you, and I'm not like Julia. I want a child with you. Aside from Eden and Ace, of course. I never thought I did. But now I know I do.”
“I thought so. I’m sorry.” He removes my legs off his lapand turns to face me. He looks so heavy, as though he's burdened with something terrible.
“Sorry? Sorry for what?” I ask.
I'm so confused. His words make my heart ache as I try to understand. I know he loves me, I can feel it in the way we connect, and not just when we make love. It’s clear in the little things as well. A glance, a stolen kiss, a hand in the small of my back as he guides me forward. Always protecting the children and me.
He sighs. “I don't know how else to say this other than to say I think we should call it a day. I don't think we're going to work out.”
My heart stutters. “Why? Because I said I love you?” Is he being serious right now? Is this some sort of stupid joke he thinks is funny?
“I’m not the right person for you,” he says. He shifts up the sofa slightly, putting distance between us.
I can't believe what I’m hearing. His words are ripping my heart out of my chest. “Bullshit, don’t lie to me. I know you, Alex,” I snap. "We have our fights, but you love me, too."
“You don’t know me, though, that’s the point. Not properly,” he insists. His eyes go cold.
What the hell is going on? I stare at him. “I live with you.”
“I’ll pay you for the next two months,” he says.
He can't be serious, can he? I wait for him to tell me this is one big joke and he loves me too, but it doesn’t come.
“I think it’s best you go back to your parents.” He walks out of the room.
“Fuck you, Alex,” I shout at him. “Don't you dare lie to Ace and Eden. Make sure they know I wasn’t the one who wanted to go. This was all your idea.”
He nods and looks away, closing the door behind him. I wipe the tears from my eyes.
I am Gemma Winters. I’m someone who is meant to be a heartbreaker, but I’ve let Alex Whitlock break my heart.
I take just what I need, but I make sure to grab a photo of the four of us together. I don't pack everything. My things don't seem important anymore. I haven't even been on social media for months; being part of this family has changed me. The small bag I packed sits on the passenger side of my Lamborghini as I drive home, crying the whole way.
I open the door to my parents’ house, my eyes red and stinging.
“Gemma?” Brody pokes his head out from the kitchen with a beer in his hand. “Why are you here? What's wrong?” He looks at my bag.
“He ended it,” I sob. "Alex dumped me."
Brody puts his arm around me. I hug my brother, the tears don’t stop falling as I stay in his arms.
“He doesn’t deserve you.” Brody kisses my head.
"I don't want to be alone," I try and speak through the sobbing.
"I'll stay with you until you go to sleep," my brother says, he’s been more kind to me than he’s ever been before.
I follow him to my old bedroom. He stays with me until I can cry no more and the tiredness takes over. It’s the first time we’ve done anything like this since we were children, and I am so grateful to have him there.
“Happy Christmas Eve eve,” Brody says, waking me up with coffee.
