More than Enough (Book Two in the Enough Series)

Gemma

I felt horrible after asking Bennett to leave. Shutting down was my go-to response any time someone got close to me. One therapy session wasn't going to change that, though I hoped I could work through it soon. I knew Bennett and I had a connection, this pull toward one another. I behaved in ways I never had before with him and I had a strong inclination that he was doing the same with me.

"So, how did everything go with Bennett last night?" Los asked as soon as I walked into Brew.

"It was fine." I tried to hide my face, knowing he would push anyway.

"There is no way that man is just 'fine' in bed." He sassed.

"Why do you think we ended up in bed?" I slipped my apron on and got to work. While I would love to stay cuddled up in my bed in the early mornings, I also loved the quiet of the shop and the sounds of opening each day.

"I have eyes, I could see how you two were eye fucking each other before I left." Los popped his hip into mine as he slid by with the till, opening the main register.

I glanced at the clock, checking to see just how much time we had before opening. With a heavy sigh I turned to my friend, watching as he got the register set up. He must have felt my eyes on him and turned to look at me, his smile faltering for a moment.

"Uh oh." He took two steps toward me, his pink lips in a pout and his big brown eyes wide with concern. "What's wrong?"

I held tight to the dish cloth, feeling the anxiety take over me. Talking about my feelings was entirely new to me. Despite my fears though, deep down I didn't want to push Bennett away. I just had to figure out how not to do that.

"This is a lot of opening up for me, so just... be patient." Los nodded, leaning against the counter, waiting for me to continue. "We had sex, amazing sex. So good. Then I asked him to leave." I snapped my eyes closed as I rushed out the last few words, hearing Los gasp in response.

"Gemma!!" He screeched. "Why?!"

"It was.. It was starting to feel too intimate, too close." I whined, leaning over the counter with my head down. I realized how ridiculous I sounded. "Fuck, we gotta get open." I groaned seeing customers starting to line up.

"Unlock the door, but listen... Don't push him away. Do. Not. Push. Him. Away." He waved his hand toward the door, ushering me on. "We'll talk more later though, you're not getting out of this one."

*

Halfway through the week, I had lunch with Eden and Brynn. It had been too long since I'd spent any time with my college friends. We'd met early in our college days and even though I wasn't able to finish, we'd remained close. They were both amazing women and I was thankful to have them in my life. They had no idea about Bennett and me, I had no plans to tell them either. Instead, I shared a little more about my Father. Not disclosing the specific issue, but explaining he was in hospital care. I didn't let them focus too long on me though. Eden and her boyfriend Reed were working through their relationship and Brynn with her long time boyfriend, Tate were clearly headed toward the next step. I wanted to hear all about them, living life like everyone our age should be.

The lunch with the girls was nice, it lifted my spirits and gave me hope that I could have a normal life. Things were looking up and there was nothing wrong with having hope. Los wouldn't stop hounding me to reach out to Bennett. Though every time I tried, I didn't know how to start. I felt embarrassed and since he hadn't reached out to me, I assumed he was angry with me.I couldn't blame him if he was.

I was so relieved when I finally received his text, letting me know that he wasn't going anywhere. I felt relief that he realized I was struggling with the emotions. I had so much I wanted to say but had no idea how, so I just put it simple. I asked him not to let me push him away, using the words Los said to me at the shop earlier in the week. Nothing else was said, but I felt like it was enough, for now.

Funny thing is when you let your guard down and let hope in, it usually comes crashing down around you.

"Ms. Tabott?" I looked up as the receptionist called my name. With a weak smile, I stood and followed her down the hall to the small office. She stopped just in front of the therapists office and waited until I let myself in.

"Hello Gemma. Glad to see you were able to come in." She smiled softly.

"It seemed important." I carefully sat, wringing my hands together nervously.

"Your Father has been doing well. We discussed a family session soon and then, well something has come up and I wanted to run it by you. You know that I am only able to share these things with you because your Father signed a release during his initial intake."

I had no idea what could have came up that she was sharing with me. My stomach was twisting into all sorts of knots at the possibilities. I knew everything was going to smoothly and that something was going to drop. I braced myself and nodded, waiting for her words.

"Despite my efforts, as well as the others here, your Father is planning to leave treatment." The ringing in my ears was overwhelming. I could see her mouth still moving, but I was straining to hear, to process. It hadn't been enough time. He would fall right back into the same pattern. I couldn't do this again. I wasn't ready yet. "I was firm with him today and I explained that perhaps he would have no where to go once he left, I'm so sorry Gemma. I wanted to let you know that, when I mentioned this, he let me know that the home is his and he would ask you to leave if it were an issue."

"He what? What?" I quickly stood, feeling dizzy as I did. The blood thumping through my veins at a rapid pace. I stilled myself for a moment to regain my balance, fighting back tears. He would ask me to leave? ME? "He would've lost that house if it weren't for me! He would've been dead by now if it weren't for me."

"I can't imagine how you're feeling right now. I'm sure it's quite stressful. I only wanted to give you a heads up. In most cases I'm not afforded that ability, most patients do not sign a release like he did. This way, well, you can be prepared. I will do my best to call you when he decides to check himself out. I can only hope that he might change that decision though."

"I appreciate your help. I need to go. I have work and apparently apartment hunting." I attempted a laugh but instead a strangled sob threatened to escape. Before the therapist could say anything else, I excused myself and rushed out to the parking lot.

I sat, almost numb in the drivers seat of my car, in the parking lot of the rehabilitation center, attempting to breathe. I was determined not to let myself breakdown again, not to find myself sobbing to exhaustion while sitting in my vehicle. Instead, I decided to do something the opposite of what I would normally do.

"Hello?" His voice was instantly calming.

"I...I um, I need you."