27. Gemma
27
Gemma
U gh that was a long and incredibly boring class. I am so glad to be done with it. I sure as hell didn’t retain much of it. But at least my attendance shows present. It is challenging enough to stay awake during any history lecture. Add in a professor that ends his lectures with a black and white documentary film and you've got a death sentence for my attention span.
The sun feels amazing when I emerge from the history building. I stop and lift my face towards it, closing my eyes and inhaling deeply. The sweet vanilla scent in the air The heat may be keeping the trees from turning colors, but the autumn clematis are in bloom and smell amazing. Each section of campus boasts gazebo sitting areas for studying and hanging out. The vines climb the railings every year and when the little star-shaped white flowers bloom, it looks absolutely stunning.
As I start my walk across the parking lot to my car, I pull my cross body purse forward and unzip it. I grab my phone out to switch it off of do not disturb mode and make sure I haven't missed any juicy gossip before I drive to work. Usually, I don’t have more than a text from Liv about plans for the evening. But you never know. The screen comes to life and I stare at my phone in disbelief. Five missed calls and even more texts. From Lorelai of all people. What in the world?
I open my texts feeling a little panicked.
Lorelai: Gemma!
Lorelai: Gemma answer your damn phone!
Lorelai: Gemma!!!
Lorelai: Gemma Brooks is hurt. Call me!!
Lorelai: They just got him loaded into the ambulance
Lorelai: I’m really worried
Lorelai: Gemma I know he hurt you but fuck! Answer me!
My stomach drops and I stop breathing. I am suddenly afraid I am going to puke right in the university parking lot. With shaking hands, I take a big breath and press the FaceTime button.
A half ring later I see Lorelai’s panicked face on my screen. Seeing her face makes my heart ache with how much I miss her, miss all of them. But seeing her panicked about the man I have fallen in love with, is enough to knock the breath out of me.
“I’m so sorry Lor! I was in class! My phone was on DND! Is he okay? What in the world happened?” I can’t get all of the words out fast enough. I wish it was his face on my screen. I need to see his face and him be okay. Even if he hates me. I still need him to be okay.
Lorelai can’t get her words out any better. “I don’t know. I don’t know! Mason told Shane that they came back from lunch to find his mare running loose. They freaked and took off looking for him. When they found him, he was passed out on the ground with shallow breathing. reeking of whiskey.”
“Whiskey?” I almost shout. “Lor, you know as well as I do, he doesn’t drink when he’s working! He would never!”
Lor gets quiet. “Gem, he hasn’t been the same since you left. I know he was a total ass and he treated you so, so bad. But something broke inside of him when he lost you. We’ve all been worried.”
I feel a wave a guilt engulfs me. “I didn’t…”
“I know. And It’s not like any of us could call and tell you. He woulda kicked our asses and it would have just poured salt on your wounds.”
“I know I just…” I trail off again.
Lorelai’s face changes. “Shane is calling me back! I’ll update you when I know more. I just felt like you needed to know.” And then the line goes dead before I can say anything else.
I can barely think. But somehow, I know what I have to do.
My hands are still shaking but I manage to type out a text to my boss and hit send.
Me: can’t come in. Emergency. Out of town.
I swipe out and then pull up my text thread with Liv.
Me: Brooks is hurt. I don’t know how bad. I’m going.
As soon as I start the car my phone buzzes.
Liv: Not alone. I’m leaving class. Pick me up at the math building entrance
I obey.
As I pull up to the math building across campus, Liv is already waiting on the curb. But instead of hopping into the passenger side when I pull up, she walks around to the driver’s side of the car and opens my door.
“Out,” she commands. When I look at her utterly confused, she adds, “Now. You are in no shape to drive.”
“I … you don’t know the way,” I argue.
“You’re going to be sitting right beside me and I can follow a GPS just as good as you can. Now move. You have a hot rancher to get to.”
I laugh without even thinking. God, I hope he’s okay. I feel my eyes well up with tears and my breath catch in my throat.
“Liv what if he isn’t okay?" I choke out. "What if I never get to make things right and...”
“This is exactly why you aren’t driving. If you’re going to spiral, you are going to do it safely in the passenger seat,” she says pointing.
I get the hint and walk over the passenger side of the car. While I am getting settled and buckled, Liv starts the car and switches the bluetooth connection from my phone to hers. I’m surprised to hear the GPS give directions already. She must have programmed it into her phone while I was driving over here. I guess there is only one hospital in Sunflower Springs so it isn't like she needed many details.
“Okay now we’re gonna take some deep breaths and try not to spiral." Liv says calmly but in a tone that says she means business. "You freaking out and making yourself sick is not going to help anyone. You want to have your head about you when we get there and if you cry the whole way, you will be too exhausted to think.”
I can always count on Olivia to set me straight with logic.
She’s right and I know it. But I don't trust my voice yet. So, I close my eyes, take some deep breaths and focus on relaxing my body. And then I grab Liv's phone, and put on our girl’s night playlist. Liv reaches for the knob, turns it up good and loud and we lose ourselves in the music the way we always do when one of us is stressed and needs a distraction.