16. Brooks
16
Brooks
A nother morning waking exhausted with Gemma on my mind. The woman has turned my entire world upside down. I can’t help but hope flipped hers on its side too. But I have to remind myself that she is here for a reason. She came to Sunflower Springs to get answers and my job is to help her.
But we have hit so many dead ends. The only trail we have not followed is one that Lorelai rattled on about. She had gone on about that aunt of hers being the only one in the family to live in another state. We dismissed it since Gemma was pretty sure her biological family was in Sunflower Springs.
But we have done nothing but hit walls here. So that may be the only lead we have right now. Where did Lorelai say her aunt went? Damn I can’t remember I will have to remember to call Lor and ask. She just rattles for so long it’s hard to get a good early start when she’s involved.
I decide to go find Gemma and propose a new plan. Even if it means having to take out extra time for a Lorelai story or five, I need to figure out where that aunt of hers lives. If it isn’t too far. Gemma and I could still get an early enough start and head out of town. She isn’t getting anywhere here, and I know she wants answers.
I am pretty sure Gemma is still sleeping. But I have to admit that I do get a bit of a rush on the mornings I get to bang on her door and wake her. The rush is a little more physical when she is in those little pajamas of hers. Her tits look fucking amazing in those and leave me wanting to throw her back on the bed and take them into my mouth.
To my surprise, Gemma is awake and dressed when I get to the farmhouse. She is almost pacing out on the front porch.
“I couldn’t sleep,” she says before I even have the chance to ask.
“Good,” I say without thinking. When she looks up at me with a confused look, I continue. “I was thinking, we’ve done nothing but bang our heads on the walls in Sunflower Springs. I don’t think your mom lives here. What if it’s that Aunt Lorelai was talking about the other day? Or even if it isn’t, what if she knows something that no one else here wants to talk about?”
“So, what are we supposed to do? Pack up and drive all the way to Kansas? How far is Harmony Falls from here anyway?”
I internally sigh with relief. I don’t know how she remembers that place’s name, but I am so thankful I don’t have to go banging on Lorelai’s door to find out.
“Yep. That’s exactly what I’m thinking. It’s only a few hours away. If we get a start on it now, we should be able to get there, have a conversation with this aunt, and be back around nightfall. Mom shouldn’t need much help here today since you’re her only guest right now and the boys can handle the few piddly jobs I planned to do out in the field.”
Gemma looks overwhelmed but I am not entirely sure why. Did she not just pack up and drive hours away on her own to a strange town? What is so different now? Yes, it takes her even farther away from her hometown, but at least she isn’t alone this time. Someone will be with her in case of a breakdown or to protect her from random assholes.
Just when I am sure Gemma is about to come up with an excuse, Gemma says, “Alright. Let me change really quick. We will be back tonight? I don’t need to pack a bag or anything?”
“Correct,” I reply. Just then, the smell of bacon comes wafting through the front door. “But maybe we should have breakfast before we leave.”
After breakfast, we are ready to hit the road. Gemma had made the point that her car was better on gas mileage and more comfortable to ride in. I couldn’t disagree with that, but I insisted on driving. To my surprise, Gemma didn’t fight me. She did let out a full belly laugh when I adjusted the driver’s seat. Damn, she has even shorter legs than I thought. I glance over to see her climb into the passenger seat, immediately bringing her legs up into the seat to sit cross-legged. I smirk at the irony. She looks innocent and almost childlike sitting like that.
But at the same time, she looks sexy as hell and her legs open like that make me want to slide my free hand up into those shorts again. Fuck, keep it together Brooks. I wonder briefly if Gemma notices the slight shake of my head as I try to clear the inappropriate thoughts out of it. I take a deep breath and press the button to start her car. I can’t help but roll my eyes at this fancy shit. Give me my old truck and an old-fashioned key any day.
Gemma starts punching something into her phone. Before long, music fills the car, and the GPS is directing us to Harmony Falls. She at least has good taste in music. This trip should be nice and smooth, if I can keep my dirty thoughts to my damn self.
Yesterday was a one-time thing. I just needed to show her how she should actually be appreciated. Although she wouldn’t remember that jackass guy back home’s name if I really had a night with her. I would make sure of it.
But today isn’t about that, and I need to focus. Today is about getting us safely to Kansas and quickly and efficiently finding this woman. I sure hope Lorelai had let her know we were coming. During breakfast this morning, my mom offered to get ahold of Lorelai’s mom for us. I was beyond grateful for that. My mom is a lot sometimes, but she sure saves my ass a lot.
Lorelai’s aunt works at a small diner in Harmony Falls, so that is where I had Gemma set the GPS to. We will be arriving around lunchtime and there is no reason to waste time. Might as well eat and research at the same time since the location permitted it. When we turn into the parking lot of the diner, we are shocked to see how full it is. In fact, we have to turn back out onto the road to find a place to park.
“This town doesn’t look much bigger than Sunflower Springs. Where did all these cars come from?” Gemma asks.
“Probably from all the surrounding towns. Hell, we even do school that way back home. Tiny communities tend to band together and meld where they need to,” I reply automatically. But my mind had started to wander. Seeing so many cars in the parking lot has my hopes dwindling. I am not sure how a waitress at such a busy establishment will feel about fitting a break into her day to visit with two strangers about what could be a very difficult topic.
But my worries are soon rerouted when we walk in to get a table. The wait is surprisingly short for how packed it is. But Lorelai’s aunt had called out today. Was that a coincidence, or had the heads-up had the opposite effect? Either way, this is complicating our plan further.
Gemma’s face droops the tiniest bit at the disheartening news, but she keeps that smile plastered to her face. I’m not sure if I admire her positivity or if I want to shake her until she lets go of it. Who had made her feel that she couldn’t be disappointed? It is as if she constantly keeps up a mask to keep those around her happy.
I make a silent vow to break that. I am sure I don’t have much time left with her but damn it I am going to get her to see that she isn’t a burden while I have the chance.