Break Me (The Summer Series)

by James, Harper

  She nodded at him, letting him know she would eventually find a way to let those sins go as well. Her father cleared his watery throat, and she could tell there was more. “I spoke to Abe.”

  “What?” She shot up off the bed.

  “He called. Actually, he’s called a lot. To check on you.”

  “What? When? I don’t understand?” she cried.

  “He loves you. He needed to know you were okay, but you were done with him, so he asked me to keep it quiet. I’m the one who told him when we were coming. That’s how the gifts were there when they needed to be.” He was all but begging her to stay calm with his eyes, but her fuse, which had been lit earlier, struggled. “I know this may piss you off, and hey, we’ve recovered from worse mistakes I’ve made, but, Gemma, I think you two need to talk. I’m a little older. Maybe that gives me perspective. But the story . . . It doesn’t add up. How does a guy that can’t even remember an entire night have sex? Usually if we get that bad we aren’t exactly . . . effective.”

  “Oh, GOD, Dad . . .” She cringed and looked toward the ceiling.

  “I’m just saying.” He lifted his hands in defense. “Also, two or three drinks? That’s all he remembers? Yeah right. There is no way he wouldn’t have a little more recollection than that. And finally, that boy has loved you with his entire being for a year with absolutely no hope for you to come back. Are you trying to tell me he would cheat?”

  “You really think it’s all a mistake?” She tried to force herself back to calm, but the possibilities he was putting in her head, those possibilities she had fought herself on for a year, were there, climbing to the surface.

  “I don’t know, baby, but I think there’s more going on than either of you realize.” He stood and pulled Gemma into a hug. “I love you, my precious jewel,” he said before he turned and walked out her door.

  As he walked away, something hit her. She ran to her Kindle and pulled up her Dad’s first best seller, using the search tool to find the words, “precious jewel.” There, at least fifty times throughout the story, the main character referred to the biggest mistake of his life, the night he walked away and left his precious jewel behind, his gem. She sat back on her bed, sobbing for the first time in a year over something that had nothing to do with Abe.

  ~~~

  Kate walked in about thirty minutes later with a platter full of cookies and two large glasses of milk. “Eat up, princess.” She set the tray down on the dresser and made her way to the bathroom where Gemma was working in front of the mirror. “Whoa! Look at you.” Kate exclaimed as she walked in and saw an impressively made up Gemma

  “Yeah, I was thinking . . .” Gemma’s face flushed and Kate’s eyes grew.

  “Beach Party?!” Kate bounced up and down.

  “Beach Party.” Gemma giggled.

  “Hells yeah!” Kate took off for her closet to pick out an outfit.

  ~~~

  They decided to let Gray come along for fear that they may need backup if Megan were present. He was thrilled, but both girls warned him about drinking too much. They absolutely would not take the fall for him just because they did something nice by bringing him along. He promised to keep it low key before they headed out the door. When they walked up to the beach party, they stopped to go over a quick recap of the mission. Gemma wanted answers, and it was high time she got them. They decide to divide and conquer based on the size of the party, two combing around the outside and one through the middle. As Gemma searched somewhat frantically, not willing to admit how much hope her father’s talk had given her, Trey walked up behind her and nudged her before he asked for a minute of her time.

  “Um, actually, I’m kind of looking for Abe.”

  “Oh,” he said, surprised. “Have you talked to him again today, then?”

  “No.” She gave him a confused look. “Why?”

  She was barely paying attention to Trey. She was too busy looking out of the corner of her eye for Abe as Trey rambled on about something. Then, something brought her back to the person standing in front of her; she slowly registered what he was saying. “I just told Abe not that long ago. I’m so sorry. She knew about some stuff I did that just seems stupid now. So I let her manipulate me into helping. We saw there was no way you would be the one to cheat with me after that morning I stopped by.” Something in Gemma slowed. Trey was no longer a figure standing in her way; his words began to sink in and stick. “So she slipped it in a shot, and seriously, Gemma, he didn’t have a chance.”

  Her heart rate sped up. The main point of this conversation became clear. It was all a lie; everything about that night had been a lie. Trey continued, “I carried him to the room for her when he finally passed out all the while mumbling your name. Megan was pissed. She still is. I just . . . I couldn’t keep it in anymore. I’m so sorry, Gemma.” He grabbed her arm and turned her to face him. “He knows; he’s looking for you.”

  And as soon as he said it, she saw Abe. Flames and people danced between them. The glow that filled the air made the determination on his face almost scary, threatening. She shivered in anticipation, this time knowing for a fact it was he who caused it. He set out across the beach, strides so long he cut the distance in no time. Her heart picked up, and her breathing became erratic. She started toward him as well, almost intimidated by the intensity in his eyes. And then they collided. His arms wrapped dangerously tight around her middle as he lifted and carried her backwards with his momentum. His lips collided with hers and drove her head back. Instinctively, her legs wound their way around his waist for fear if they didn’t she would cause them both to fall. She could faintly hear Kate’s excited squeal and a few catcalls, but she didn’t care. When he finally pulled back, he stared into her eyes. “A year, an entire, miserable year without you. A year of fighting to breathe because I had lost my air. All because I was too stupid to look at the facts that day.”

  “Stop,” she cried. “Oh, God, please stop. I have wasted too much time without you, without your lips and your heart. I need that now, nothing else. We’ll kick ourselves for being idiots later, but please, right now, just ki—” She didn’t even get to finish.

  ~~~

  He didn’t stop until they were at his apartment. He’d carried her, their lips still connected, to the car and climbed in, keeping her connected to him as he drove. The danger didn’t register for either of them. He kept one hand on the wheel while the other worked her thigh and his lips trailed her neck, all while his eyes stayed on the road. When he pulled into his spot and threw the car in park, she jolted forward with the force. He immediately reached up and pulled her head back down, connecting them. She reached down and pulled his shirt up over his head, separating their lips only long enough for the shirt to pass between them. As soon as she could, she had his mouth against hers again and was working them together even harder than before.

  “Abe.”

  “What, baby?” He clenched his teeth already struggling with his self-control.

  “I need you. I need to hold you and know that this is real. That I really have you back.” She pulled away and looked into his eyes, begging for something a little more meaningful than making out in the front seat of his car. “I have waited an entire year to feel you close, to have you all to myself again. Please, get out of this car and take me to your apartment.”

  With that she pushed the door open and climbed out while making sure the straps on her dress were still in place. She didn’t even wait for him as she made her way to his apartment. He recovered quickly and was right behind her by the time she was at the door. He grabbed her hand, nearly jerking her around as he changed her course and pulled her after him around the building and to the stairs. “Don’t live there anymore. Ryan took the apartment when he started helping Gramps.” She didn’t even respond, staring at the lock on the door, waiting on him to get them inside. He unlocked the door and pushed it aside but grabbed her and pulled her back flush to his front before she could enter. “God, I have missed everything
about you.” He walked them forward into the room and led her to the nearest wall, kicking the door shut behind him. When he started to kiss down her body, she lost control of everything for a moment, giving into the sensations he was bringing to life. Sensations that she thought were gone, never to return.

  “Abe.” She moaned as he continued to drive her crazy. “Please.”

  Reluctantly pulling away, he picked her up and carried her down the hall. Gemma put her lips to his neck and kissed him from collarbone to jaw as he walked. She fought tears of joy at the intimacy this small, silly act evoked and shook with anticipation of what was ahead.

  She had missed him. This moment wasn’t going to be about the sex; it was about them, finding their way back to one another. It was about assurance. She would say no that night. Not for lack of love. She knew that could never be an excuse for them, it was for need of reassurance. She needed to talk to him. To remember him. To reconnect to him. And to kiss him. She definitely needed to kiss him.

  Abe spread her out on the middle of his bed and simply stared at her for a moment. She blushed under his scrutiny. When he climbed up on the bed next to her, rational set in and her hand shot forward, stopping him before he lowered his lips to hers once more. “Abe,” she whispered, “I can’t. Not tonight. I need time.”

  “What’s the matter, Gem?” His eyes narrowed in confusion and she could see a hint of hurt.

  “It’s been a year, Abe. I haven’t seen, talked to, or held you in a year. Can we please take this slow? At least for now? I know it seems silly but I had so much hurt and regret after last summer. I need to make sure I’m where I need to be so that this relationship can go where I want it to. I want forever, not just another summer.”

  Abe smiled down at her. “Yeah,” he cleared his throat and only then did she see the water forming in his eyes. “I know what you mean. The thought of losing you, either by force or my own mistakes isn’t something I can handle.” He reached out and ran his fingertips along her jaw. “I’ll do anything to make you happy, Gem. Forever. Laying in this bed, holding you, is absolutely no sacrifice. It’s more than I ever thought I’d get again.”

  Smiling she raised her head from the pillow and allowed their lips to touch. “Thank you.”

  “I love you so damn much, Gem.”

  “I love you too. I missed you so much.” She turned into his shoulder and finally allowed herself to cry.

  “You have no idea.” He wrapped her up and kissed the top of her head. “It’s going to be okay.”

  “I just can’t believe we lost a year.”

  “At least we’re together now, right?”

  “Always,” she promised.

  “Always.”

  Twenty-Four

  The next day Gemma and Abe took their time getting out of bed. By 10:00 a.m. they were both tired of hearing their phones ring and decided to go to the beach and meet everyone. As they approached, they could see Emily and Ryan with Kate as they laughed at something. It was nice to see everyone together again. It had been harder than anyone would have guessed to shut each other out so abruptly. Gemma saw Kate look up and notice them, and a second later they were all on their feet, clapping and whooping. Gemma laughed and Abe pulled her closer.

  “Thank the Lord,” Ryan yelled.

  “No, joke.” Kate high-fived him.

  The group sat around and caught up on the year they had missed out on. Turned out Gemma’s depression had nothing on Abe’s because along with losing her he had to deal with the guilt of knowing he somehow cheated on her. It had taken its toll. His scholarship had survived but just barely. She also found out about the nights he had driven to Chapel Hill just to try to catch a glimpse of her by dumb luck. He told them about all the calls with her father, starting a few days after the last time they spoke the summer before. He’d begged her father to help, begged him for a chance. “He made me earn it; that’s for sure.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well”—Abe looked away embarrassed—“I had to come have dinner with him and Karen one night so they could ask me some questions about that night and my intentions. I had to get my school situation resolved and my scholarship back in good standing because he would never let you be with a loser. To be honest, he probably saved my ass.” He reached out and grabbed her hand. “He also made me wait. He knew you had some things you needed to figure out and that in time you may be willing to talk, but he also knew you weren’t ready yet. I guess he just wanted to make sure you would be okay, with or without me.”

  “Wow.” Gemma looked at Kate in confusion. “Did you know?”

  Kate shook her head. “He protected you.” She looked at Gemma with sympathy and excitement.

  “He wanted me to figure it out on my own, not only if I could trust Abe but how to be me. Not a kid following her mother’s rules or a girl following a guy. Just me.”

  “I’m sorry,” Emily interrupted, “you got all that out of your dad making Abe work for it?”

  “You have to know the situation.” Kate laughed.

  “What’s so funny?” Kate’s eyes went wide at the sound of Simon’s voice, and Gemma had to bite her lip to keep from smiling. Served her right.

  “They are crazy.” Emily said, pointing between Kate and Gemma.

  “In bed?” Simon asked, sitting next to Kate and nudging her. Abe cleared his throat and Gemma elbowed him in the ribs.

  “So, Kate, you want to go for a walk?” Simon leaned over and rested his palm on her exposed thigh.

  “Yeah, Kate, you want to go for that walk?” Gemma smirked at her sister’s obvious struggle.

  “Shut up.” She glared at Gemma and stood. “Sure.” She shrugged and started walking, not even waiting on Simon to follow.

  “She’s gonna make him work for it.” Ryan laughed.

  “Don’t count on it.” Gemma scoffed, and then seconds later they heard Kate squeal as she was scooped up and Simon started running to the parking lot, both of them laughing. Gemma rolled her eyes and Ryan snorted.

  ~~~

  The group decided to go to Dockside for lunch, and Gemma let Gray know in case he wanted to join them. They were sitting in their usual seats, and after Sarah cried and pulled both Gemma and Abe into a hug, she promised everything on the house. At the offer, Gemma ordered the largest size iced coffee on the menu and refused any food.

  “Baby,” Abe leaned over and whispered, “I think you need to eat too. You’re looking too thin.”

  She smiled up at him. “I promise I still eat, probably more than I used to. I’ve just been working out more, eating a little healthier, and training with Kate for a half marathon. I promise.”

  “I’m going to keep a close eye on you.”

  “Probably better check me every day. Make sure my body still looks right. For accuracy and all that.”

  “Yeah”—he leaned forward and kissed her—“accuracy.”

  “Gross! Get off my sister.” Gray laughed as he walked toward the group. Gemma looked up just in time to see Emily and Ryan notice his arrival. Clearly excited to see him, Emily jumped up and hugged him. Gray nearly swallowed his tongue and looked toward Ryan with a smug grin. Gemma was pretty sure Ryan could kick his ass without much effort, but Gray still had Emily in his arms and clearly didn’t care.

  “Hey, little guy.” Ryan reached out and shook his hand. Emily was about the only one who missed the dig.

  “Hey. How are you all doing?”

  “Great, now.” Emily gushed. “We got these two fools back together, and now you’re here. Just like old times.”

  “So I take that to mean Kate and Simon are missing?” Gray asked, trying not to show his disgust but failing miserably.

  “Good guess.” Abe said as he stood. “Anyone need anything? Apparently, it’s on the house.”

  They all gave him their orders and spent the rest of the lunch catching up and trying to figure out what Megan had on Trey. It was decided they probably didn’t want to know after all. One thing was f
or sure, Trey had promptly disappeared the night before. They said that after he talked to Gemma and told her the truth no one had seen him again. Megan wasn’t even at the party, and they assumed it was because she knew her secret was about to be let out of the bag. It was only a matter of time in a place like Emerald Isle before they would both have to face what they had done.

  Epilogue

  “Hey baby,” Abe said, pulling Gemma toward him in front of the bathroom mirror, “you about ready?”

  “Yep,” she said, leaning forward and applying her mascara, all while still being held in his arms.

  “Will Kate actually be ready or should we give them a few?” he asked as his hand started working up her thigh under her skirt. She swatted him away and put her mascara on the counter.

  “I told her we would be there thirty minutes ago. She should be about ready now.”

  “Then let’s go.”

  When they walked in the house, Gray and Karen were waiting in the kitchen, talking, and Kate was just running down the stairs frantically. “I’m so sorry I’m late.”

  “You’re perfect.” Gemma pulled her into a hug and then turned to the others. “Where’s Dad?”

  They looked at her confused, and then Gray pointed up, indicating the office. “I didn’t know he was coming.”

  Gemma looked at them, confused. “Why wouldn’t he be coming?”

  “He’s never done the birthday thing with you before. I think he just assumed he wouldn’t be this time either.”

  “Well neither has Karen, and she knew she was invited.” They shrugged, so Gemma shook her head and marched up the stairs to her father.

  “Dad?” He turned, surprised, and looked at her.

  “Wow, you look very pretty, Gem.”

  “Oh.” She blushed. “Thanks.” She walked over and clicked save on his computer. “Are you ready for dinner?” She pushed the lid closed on his laptop.

  “I’m going?” There was awe and hope in his voice.