by Conn, Claudy
He reached down and picked up everything that had fallen behind him and then grabbed the bag out of her hands and walked off. I continued to watch him and he finally turned around before he walked into the back room and waved at Monica with an awkward grin on his face.
I was watching Monica stare at him with a hopeful look as I took a bite of my sandwich.
She let out a little groan when she turned and looked back at me. “I don’t think he liked it. Damn. I was hoping it was going to get his attention.”
“I’m positive that you definitely got his attention.” I assured her with a nod.
“I’m going to go home and slit my wrists now.” She let out a sigh and I could see her eyes well up with tears.
I reached out and patted her hand. “Monica, why do you care what he thinks?”
“You know I’ve had a crush on him since we were in high school.” She admitted quietly.
“I know and it always disgusted me because one, he’s younger than you and two, he’s my brother and will screw anything that walks.” I reminded her.
“I kind of do the same thing, but hey, I’m only a year and four months and 3 days older than him so that’s not too bad. Do you know what time he was born?” I laughed when I saw that she was serious. She jumped back with nervousness when Onyx appeared out of nowhere.
“Gemma, you have a call on line one.” He gave me a warning glare and I was afraid that it was a problematic customer, but that thought went out the window when I saw him smile at Monica and ask if she would help him with something in the back room. Her eyes immediately lit up as she followed him into the back room.
I looked around the room and Blue had the floor and was helping a couple of customers with a broad grin on his face while I’ve been catching up on the receipts. I picked up the phone and was hoping that this phone call didn’t take too long so that I could get back to what I was doing.
“GemStone Gallery, this is Gemma speaking, how may I help you?”
“I need to see you.”
My insides turned to mush as soon as I heard Flynn’s deep voice over the line and for him to say that he needed me, made me feel like I was the only person on earth who could help him.
“Okay.” I replied back immediately.
“Thank you.” I didn’t miss the happy surprise in his voice. “Can I pick you up at six?”
We close the shop at five so that only gives me about thirty minutes after I finish the paperwork to get ready and not enough time for a shower or to fix my hair and makeup. There was no way that I could be ready by six.
“Seven would be better for me.” I was smiling so big that I’m sure he could feel my excitement through the phone.
“Seven is fine. I can’t wait to see you, Gemma. Oh, and wear something casual.” He let out a deep chuckle and hung up.
I stared at the phone and couldn’t believe that he didn’t say goodbye, but I suppose he didn’t have anything else to say. I was surprised at myself for giving in so easily, but the sound of his voice always gets me and no matter how mad I get at him, I want to be there for him since he doesn’t have anyone else in the world.
“See ya later, Gemma.” Monica said quickly as she rushed by me, heading for the door.
“Stop right there. Why are you grinning and what do you mean you’ll see me later?” I looked towards the doorway of the back room and saw Onyx working with his back to me.
Monica gave me a sheepish grin and let out a giggle.
“I’m your best friend. Do you not want to see me later? You might see me tonight, or tomorrow or two weeks from now. All I was doing was telling you goodbye.”
I started to question her more, but she continued walking out the door without saying another word. I shook my head and wondered why she was leaving so quickly, but I hoped that it didn’t have anything to do with Onyx.
***
Flynn seemed less guarded tonight and I haven’t brought up our argument from last night at all. As soon as I opened the front door and saw him standing there grinning at me with his gorgeous, freckled up, dimpled face, I wanted to throw my arms around his neck and apologize for being so sensitive and jumping to conclusions before I had at least heard him out. I owed him that much after what he’s done for my family.
My whole body tingled when he reached over and grabbed my knee once we were in the car and I wished that I was wearing a dress again so that I could feel his fingertips caressing my skin. When he told me to dress casual, I put on my favorite pair of jeans and hoped that he wasn’t taking me to go putt putt golfing again. Surely he wouldn’t make that mistake two days in a row.
When we pulled up to the local amusement park that is already closed for the season, I furrowed my brow and looked at him in admonishment as I saw all of the lights come on inside the park.
“Why are we… here? They only open the park up for private parties because they’re closed for the season and don’t open it back up until spring.”
“I may have rented it out for the night.” He had a twinkle in his eye as he grinned. “I blew it last night so I wanted a do over. Is this more up your alley?” He grinned nervously.
I saw the entrance all lit up and it took me back to growing up as a kid and coming here with our parents. They would always buy season tickets for the park every year and I haven’t been since they died. I immediately wished that Blue and Onyx were here for this because I knew how much it would mean to them both.
“What’s wrong?” he asked with a worried frown.
“I…” I stopped what I was saying when I heard music coming from a car that suddenly parked right next to us and couldn’t quit grinning when I saw Onyx at the wheel with Monica sitting in the passenger seat and Blue and Skyler in the back seat and they were all grinning back at me.
I turned back to Flynn and shook my head at him.
“Nothing, absolutely nothing. Thank you for inviting them.” I reached over and gave him a kiss on the cheek and he reached for my hand and pressed his lips inside my palm.
“I remembered your father telling me that he would bring all of you here every Sunday while he let your mom have the day to herself at home. One of his biggest regrets was that he wasn’t going to be able to bring his grandchildren here like he did all of you.”
He reached up and stopped the tear that was falling down my cheek with his thumb and then cradled my jaw with his hand.
“You’re so beautiful, Gemma. I’m sorry about last night because I hate that I made you cry.”
Onyx started beating on my window and I tried to ignore him as I stared into Flynn’s deep green eyes.
“Thank you for this.”
“You’re welcome.” He looked over my shoulder at Onyx and shook his head at him. “I guess we better get out of the car before he breaks my window.”
“You really didn’t have to invite him.” I rolled my eyes, but was joking of course.
As soon as I opened the door, Blue was in my face, begging me to introduce him to Flynn.
When Flynn walked over to my side of the car, he put his hand out and I introduced him to everyone.
“Flynn, how many people did you pay for? Would you care if Skyler and I invited some of our friends to come, too? We won’t invite very many, just a few.” Blue pleaded as I shooed him away for overstepping, but Flynn grabbed my hand and nodded at my brother.
“Sure, the more the merrier. We have the place until midnight, so invite whoever you want. You too, Onyx, Monica.”
“Sweet!” Everyone said as they pulled out their phones and started texting, probably the whole town.
I whispered into Flynn’s ear. “You have no idea what you’ve done, the whole town will be here in fifteen minutes.”
“Gemma and I are going to head towards the rides. Call however many you want.” He waved at my brothers and grabbed my hand and led me to the entrance of the park.
“Flynn.” I tried to pull away from him and he finally stopped and turned around.
He grabbed
a stray hair that had fallen out of my ponytail and placed it behind my ear and leaned down in front of my face.
“I don’t care how many people come. I already told the owner to expect a lot. I paid the price that anyone would pay, no matter how many come. It’s all right, Gemma. The more people that are here to entertain your brothers and your best friend, there’s less of a chance that they’ll get in our way so that I can spend some one on one time with you, but I didn’t want to leave them out because I knew that you would have felt bad if they weren’t here.”
I was amazed by how well he knew me and I felt relief that my brothers didn’t ruin the surprise date that he had planned for me, but I couldn’t hide the fact that I loved how much he had included them.
“How do you feel about roller coasters?” I grinned as I grabbed his hand to follow me.
“They’re my favorite, but we better run and ride it a few times before all of the teenagers get here and then it’s you and me on the Ferris wheel.”
“Deal!” I let go of his hand and took off running to the roller coaster that I had so many fond memories of riding it with my father.
After riding the roller coaster so many times that my whole body was vibrating, I finally pulled him towards the exit of the ride when I saw the long line of teenagers waiting their turn.
“I want a funnel cake and some cotton candy, oh and a big corn dog.” I have not felt this happy in years and being here, has me reverting back to my ten year old self as I mentally took a walk down memory lane.
Flynn couldn’t seem to quit grinning at me.
“Would you like for me to win a big bear for you at the games as well? Has anyone ever done that for you?” He gave me an enthusiastic grin.
I shook my head. “Actually, no. You’d do that for me?” He’s really trying to impress me tonight and it’s definitely working.
“Of course I would, after I feed you.” He chuckled.
We did just that. We pigged out on cotton candy and corn dogs and shared a funnel cake and he even won me a giant stuffed bear, after spending over a hundred dollars to win it. It reminded me of my grandfather taking a beating over the flowers that he brought my grandmother and I could still hear her voice in my head saying, ‘Gemma, it’s the thought that counts’. I could see in Flynn’s eyes that he would have paid more for the stuffed bear by the way he was looking so deeply into mine when he handed it to me.
“Do I get a kiss?” He grinned and pointed at his cheek, but I shook my head and grabbed his collar and pulled him closer to me and smacked him hard on the lips. He grabbed my lower back and kissed me breathless, but I pulled away when I heard a chuckle behind me.
Onyx and Monica were standing there and Onyx had his arm around Monica’s shoulder and I arched my brows at them with curiosity.
“We’re heading to the Ferris wheel. Wanna follow us or are you two still just hanging out with each other?” Onyx asked and I didn’t miss the smitten look on my best friend’s face.
“We’ll head over there in a few minutes.” Flynn answered for me as they both shrugged their shoulders and headed in that direction.
Flynn grabbed my hand and entwined our fingers together as he tossed the bear over his shoulder.
“I didn’t know that your brother and Monica were going out.”
“I didn’t either. I knew that she liked him, but I didn’t know that he liked her in return.” I admitted.
“She doesn’t have a twin does she? She was a blonde yesterday, right?” I laughed because I’m still trying to get used to her color change myself.
“Nope, no twin. Monica tends to do crazy stuff from time to time to get attention.”
“It looks like it might have worked.” He nodded in their direction and I saw Onyx reach out and kiss Monica as soon as they were seated on the ride.
“Oh boy. This isn’t going to be good if things turn south for them.” I was instantly worried and hoped that for Monica’s sake, she wasn’t just a fling to my brother.
“Do you think it could?” He asked cautiously.
I nodded. “Onyx is famous for not staying with a girl for longer than a week. Of course you could say the same for Monica so I don’t know, maybe they’ve set some ground rules and are only having fun.”
“Monica’s into girls, too?” I realized the way I had worded it and started to correct myself but Flynn was only teasing me.
“Ha, Ha!” I smacked him playfully on the ass as he led me to the Ferris wheel.
Flynn sat the stuffed bear down on the platform as we waited for the ride to stop so that we could get in. I rolled my eyes when it stopped and the swinging seat behind ours had Onyx and Monica behind it and Onyx literally had his tongue down Monica’s throat as she was reaching her hand under his shirt and pulling him closer.
Flynn grinned at me and let out a chuckle.
“I would say that they’re having some fun. I wouldn’t worry about anything if I were you.” I shook my head at his sarcasm.
“They could at least pay attention to what they’re doing and only do it while the ride is at the top. There are teenagers running around here. They should realize that they should set an example for our little brother, Blue.”
Flynn pointed up and I looked in the direction that he was pointing and gasped when I saw Blue and Skyler making out like two horny teenagers. Granted, that’s exactly what they are but it didn’t help my case any.
“That reminds me, I should make sure that Onyx has stocked up the condom drawer at home.” I said with a cringe.
“Come with me, Gorgeous. It’s time for us to make out like horny teenagers.”
He extended his hand out to me and helped me get in and I almost fell when the seat started swaying but he pulled me down in his lap to stop me. As soon as the gate was closed, the ride took off and my stomach dropped when we reached the top. Flynn grabbed my hand and pulled it against his chest and left it there and put his arm around me, pulling me closer to him. He reached down and kissed me on the forehead and left his head resting against mine as he let out a contented sigh.
“Today has been a much better day.”
I felt responsible for ruining his birthday and I knew that it was time for me to apologize to him.
“I’m sorry I ruined your birthday.”
“You didn’t, I did, but you did show me what I’ve been missing all these years.” He admitted and looked deeply into my eyes.
“I have so many questions for you and I know that we haven’t talked about how you got the ring back yet, but can I ask you one question and you give me an honest answer in return?” I was nervous, but tonight was absolutely amazing and I know that he likes me or he wouldn’t have gone to so much trouble to prove it by renting the amusement park and not to mention how expensive it must have been.
“You want to know why I wouldn’t have sex with you last night,” he frowned at me, “am I right?” I nodded.
He leaned his arms back and rested his head back on the seat and looked up into the sky and I could feel that he was somewhere else but I waited for him to speak.
“I made a promise to someone a few years ago and it’s been killing me ever since I broke that promise.” He gave me a knowing look and I knew that I was right in my suspicions.
“My father was who you made the promise to.” I said it as a question, but I remember what my father said in the letter about how Flynn was a nice man.
“You would be correct.”
I didn’t miss the sadness and guilt in his eyes, but I wasn’t going to accept it.
“Did you write everything that my father told you to write in the letter?” I asked.
He gave me a confused look.
“Word for word.” He admitted with a nod.
“So when he told me that you were a nice man, why would he say that if it wasn’t true?” I tilted my head and grinned.
“We talked for hours before he died and he told me the whole story about what Brett did to you. When he told me that he wished that
I had met you first, it made me feel that someone had finally looked inside my soul and he made me feel that I was worthy enough for someone like you to love me.”
He looked away because I could see how filled with emotion he was but I didn’t want to push him too hard so I waited. When several minutes went by, I rested my head on his chest and wrapped my arm around his waist.
“I’m really not that special.” I was trying to lighten the mood and help bring myself down from the pedestal he has somehow put me on.
He finally wrapped an arm around me and continued.
“Your father had enough faith in me to know that I was going to do everything I could in my power to track Brett down. After listening to him tell me so many stories about you, about how stubborn and strong you are, but kind hearted as well, I fell in love with the idea of you. I knew that I couldn’t show up at your door empty handed, so Brett was the only job I’ve had since the moment I buried your parents. I’m not afraid to admit to you that I cried over their graves because I knew what their deaths would do to you because losing my mother so young, still haunts me. I hated myself for having to send you that telegram and being the one responsible for breaking your heart.”
It never occurred to me that Flynn was who sent us the telegram, but as many times as I’ve read it, I knew that H. Flynn was him. I can’t believe that I didn’t put two and two together.
“What did you promise my father?” I had to know.
He turned to me and rested his forehead against mine and breathed me in and I couldn’t help myself as I gave him a quick little kiss.
“His exact words were, ‘Flynn, you would make a great son-in-law and you have my permission to fall in love with my daughter and marry her because I know that she will really like you, but you have to promise me to never disrespect her because she is my most valuable precious gem and she has lived up to her name. Tell her that’s why I had to go after Brett, because he hurt my baby so badly that I couldn’t bear to see the look in her eyes anymore.’ The few hours that I knew him, I knew that your father was a loyal respectable man and an even more awesome father and he loved you very much.”
