Damn.
“She was very predictable, really — nothing I hadn’t heard before. It didn’t bother me at all.”
“Then tell me.”
“It was just a little something about me not being good enough for you.”
“That sounds far too magnanimous for Vanessa,” he says bluntly. “Gemma, tell me what she said.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Why not?”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Because!”
“That’s not an answer.”
“Well, it’s the only one you’re getting.”
He groans. “Christ, you’re a pain in the ass.”
“Oh, likethat’sgoing to help your case.” I roll my eyes. “Insult the person you want answers from. Real smart.”
“You’re deflecting,” he points out.
“Am not,” I snap, my voice defensive.
He catches my eyes and I see his have gone soft. “Come on, sunshine.”
His voice is warm, cajoling.
“It’s embarrassing, okay?” I mutter, the words rushing from my mouth too quickly to stop. “She maybe, possibly, equated me to a shiny new toy you’ll use up and throw away as soon as you get bored with me. She basically called me a sex doll. Just not as succinctly.”
An angry sound rattles from Chase’s throat.
“But it doesn’t matter,” I continue, before he’s sent into a rage blackout. “Because Phoebe was there and shetotallyhandled Vanessa. Seriously, it was kind of awesome to witness. Apparently, she caught her in a compromising position at some charity event last ye—”
“Gemma.” His voice is so low, I instantly fall silent.
“Y-yeah?” I stammer, trying to keep my cool as he shifts suddenly, so he’s leaning over me, his eyes trapping mine in an intent stare.
“You believed her.”
“No, I didn’t,” I insist, even though it’s a half-lie.
“You did.” His voice is pissed-off. “You still think this is just about sex for me. Just about the chase. Something to scratch an itch, or keep me amused for a few weeks.”
“I…um…well…” I struggle for words, not knowing what to say to him.
“Fuck, Gemma!” he growls. “You really think that’s all this is for me?”
“Um…No?” I wince at the hesitation in my own voice.
“Christ,” he mutters, falling back against his pillow beside me, his eyes on the ceiling. “If you think that, what the hell are you doing with me?”
“I guess, I just thought…” I press my eyes closed and force myself to say it. “I’ve never felt this way before. I’ve never had anyone look at me the way you do, touch me the way you do, take care of me the way you do. I’ve never felt like anyone truly understood me, until you. And I figured, everyone deserves to feel this way, at least once in their life, right? Even if it’s not meant to last. Even if the other person doesn’t feel the same.”
“Sunshine—”