Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
GEMMA
Parker had a lot of nerve showing up unannounced like that. If the jars had been within arm’s reach, she would’ve thrown them at him. “Gemma, I only wanted to protect you.”
“I’m fully capable of making my own decisions,” she said through gritted teeth as she righted Buford.
“You were so hurt after Billy.” Parker’s tone had softened. “You don’t understand. Dean isn’t capable of anything serious.”
Of all the people in the world to discuss Dean Welker, her brother wasn’t one of them. She wished it had been Kylie who walked in on them. She’d probably have laughed and kept it to herself. Her best friend definitely wouldn’t have beaten him up.
“What makes you think I want anything from him?”
Gemma hadn’t thought much about her future with Dean. It’d been spur of the moment—like their kiss. She’d went with it.
“Not everyone has to marry the first girl they sleep with.”
He snorted. “You think you’re the first girl he slept with?”
Shaking her head, she glared at him. “Of course not.” Someone that talented with his tongue definitely got around. “And he’s not the first guy I’ve fucked, either.”
“Gemma!” Parker admonished.
“My point is, Dean and I are not you and Kylie.”
“I never said you were.”
“Jesus, Parker.” She wanted to slap him in the face. “Listen to me. I’m a consenting adult. Dean is a consenting adult . We wanted to get our rocks off. So, we did. It has nothing to do with you. What does it mean? I don’t fucking know, but you showing up here and throwing a hissy fit about it is unnecessary.”
“He’s my best friend, Gemma. What happens when he hurts you? How am I supposed to be his friend after that?”
She peered at him as she tried to make sense of what he’d said. “What if I hurt him ? Did that ever occur to you? You need to figure out if you’re pissed that I fucked your friend or that your friend fucked your sister. Because it can’t be both. Either way, that is a you problem.”
He opened his mouth, but Gemma held up a hand to silence him.
“Go home. I have nothing more to say to you.” She reached into Buford and removed some frames so she could extract the honey. “I have a fair to prepare for.”
She didn’t look up at him, but she could feel his shame. He knew he fucked up. Good. Let him stew.
Once the door closed, she let out a breath, and the composure she’d held fled. Slumping, she sat down on the stool. Now she needed to figure out if there was anything between her and Dean or had her brother just blew up something she’d wanted her entire life?
Dean
Todd’s routine to get Dean back in rodeo condition was intense. Dean hadn’t thought he’d gotten that out of shape in the last six months, but apparently, he’d gotten lax. He hadn’t known from sore until he started the cardio and lifting exercises Todd suggested.
He needed something to fill the time. With Parker wasn’t speaking to him, reaching out to Gemma wasn’t a good idea. Bros before hoes, right?
He cringed at his intrusive thought. Gemma wasn’t a ho. Maybe he was as big of a dick as Parker thought.
At least, his former best friend wasn’t an asshole. He’d referred a different contractor to work on Dean’s barn. So, he hadn’t left him high and dry. If Dean wanted to sell Gram’s property, the repairs to the barn would only add to the value.
As he lifted the bar for another set, pain burned from his shoulders, up his neck, to his skull. It’d been a dull ache yesterday, but gotten more severe today. Ibuprofen hadn’t helped. He dropped the weights and let them bounce on the matt.
“What’s wrong?” Todd asked.
Dean rubbed the back of his neck. “It hurts.”
“No pain in gain, right?”
Dean peered at the coach. “You’re aware I’m coming off an injury?”
Todd shrugged. “You gotta work through it or else you’ll never get out there.”
“I told you how badly I broke my neck.”
The coach rolled his eyes and sighed. “Yeah. I get it, but if you baby this, you’ll never get back on the horse. Don’t you want to be on the circuit again?”
“I want to keep walking more.”
“You said it’s been six months. How much longer you gonna use that as an excuse to sit on the sidelines? You afraid?”
Dean narrowed his eyes. He never asked Todd what his credentials were. He’d taken Daphne’s word that he knew his shit. Roy was a talented rider. If Todd had trained him, he’d assumed the uncle knew his shit, but maybe he’d been wrong.
He opened his mouth to challenge the man, but closed it after he thought better of it. He didn’t need to get into another shouting match with someone. Instead, he reached for his water bottle and lifted his head to take a giant gulp.
His neck was on fire. Something wasn’t right.
Swallowing, he knew what he had to do. “I need to rest for a day or two. I gotta call my doctor.”
Todd scoffed and waved a hand dismissively.
“I’ll call you a few days so we can reschedule our sessions.”