More than Enough (Book Two in the Enough Series)

Gemma

"I've been looking at flowers for years now, planning weddings has been my specialty, so why is it so hard for me to choose anything?" Brynn huffed, throwing a huge binder down with a loud slap on the counter. "Ugh. Get me a vanilla cappuccino with cinnamon, please." If my whole world wasn't falling apart, I'd find her spunky attitude endearing. Right now though, I was just numb. I punched in her order and rattled off the total before spinning around to make her beverage. I stumbled a bit as Los was right behind me and I hadn't noticed.

"I'll make it. Go sit with Brynn for your break, I'll bring your drinks over." He smiled softly. Los was handling me with kid gloves, normally I hated that but I was too tired to fight. Even though he had a spare room for me to sleep in, it was hard adjusting to a new bed, a new room, and all the heartbreak.

"C'mon Brynn, let's sit over here." I nodded, laying my apron on the back counter. She looked up giving me a huge smile, bouncing her way over with me. We sat at a small table in the back, probably one of the tables I had sat at with Bennett. Thinking about him made my chest hurt. I felt horrible for how I treated him, though I knew it was for the best. Definitely now after the total upheaval of my life. Los quickly dropped off Brynn's order and a regular coffee for me, we both thanked him as he scooted away. Brynn sipped her beverage, peering at me over her cup.

"I'm waiting." She hummed. I glanced around the shop, trying to figure out what she was waiting for. When I brought my eyes back around to her, she was sighing heavily with an eye roll. "I'm waiting for you to open up, tell me what's going on. I may be in wedding mode but I'm not oblivious. So, spill it...what's going on? Is it Bennett? Your Dad?" Fuck. I had no idea she was so perceptive. I both hated and loved her for it.

"I'm too tired for all of this..."

She held her hand up stopping me. "Exactly. Tell me everything, it'll help just getting it off your chest." The sigh that left my body was one of defeat. I'd been working with my therapist on opening up, I'd attempt to do that with Bennett. That was different though, a romantic relationship would take on a lot more emotional capacity than a simple friendship.

"I'm drowning." I blurted. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. I was surprised at myself even, but suddenly I wanted to just lay it all out there to someone other than Los. Poor Los had been dealing with my mess long enough on his own. "My life, it's an absolute shit show. The only person who knows most of it is Los. He doesn't even know every detail really. Bennett knew some, but I... I pushed him away." There it was, the tears I'd been fighting so hard. I hadn't cried in front of anyone since Bennett. Determined to build my walls up again so that I wouldn't feel that level of hurt again, hurt that I only brought upon myself.

"Oh, Gem. What's going on?" She reached across the table, patting my hand. I hated the way she called me Gem. Only he had done that, I only wanted him to do that. I sniffled, trying to calm the flow of tears, not wanting to draw any attention to myself.

I rushed out a condensed version of everything with my Father, getting Brynn up to speed before dropping the more recent developments. I touched briefly on my time with Bennett as well and how I treated him so terribly at her engagement dinner.

"Have you talked to him since?"

"No. He hasn't reached out to me, or Los. Which is expected. I'll be lucky if he ever speaks to me again. I don't blame him. I'm messed up, I tried to warn him but I kept giving him false hope too." I shrugged, dabbing at my face with a napkin. "I only managed to hurt him and myself, which was exactly what I was trying to avoid."

"I don't know Bennett that well, but he's friends with Reed, Eden loves him, he has to be a good guy. Give him some time, maybe it can be fixed." Brynn was doing her best to be hopeful for me.

"It all gets worse though. My Father. He checked himself out of rehab."

"Damn." She was leaning forward, listening to me intently. Her eyes filled up with unshed tears. I hated it, I didn't want pity. I didn't want anyone to feel sorry for me at all. "I'm guessing he fell off the wagon already?"

I nodded with a sick laugh. "Oh yea. Less than twenty-four hours. It was a whole deal. Police were involved and everything. All of that is why I didn't want Bennett to get involved with me, why I didn't want to drag him into my life. I have an abusive Father who blames me for something that I know now, I finally believe, was not my fault. It's costing me a small fortune in therapy to be able to say that. It was not my fault my Mom and Sister were killed." I smiled through the sniffle of tears. "He blames me though and drinking, well... it was bad, Brynn. So bad."

Brynn jumped up, scooting her chair next to me and wrapping her arms around me, pulling me into a hug. It felt nice and comforting. I didn't feel the need to push her away and that was huge for me. I took her comfort and returned the hug as a way of thanks. When I pulled back, I gave her a quick smile.

"I should get back to work. I'm sorry. When Eden is back in town, we need to hang out." I suggested, surprising even myself.

"Sure, but why wait? You have plans tonight? Let's get some dinner."

Before I could refuse her off and explain that I would be working my second job, Los swooped in like the nosey hawk he was.

"She's most definitely available." He sang. Brynn laughed, telling me to meet her at her apartment later in the evening. She grabbed her massive binder and rushed out in a frenzy, leaving me to deal with Los.

"I have work tonight you dork!" I smacked at his chest as I made my way back behind the counter. "My financial situation is dire and I need every penny I can get."

"I will pay you whatever you would make tonight just to know you're spending time with someone other than me. I love you babe, but you need friends! Go talk with Brynn, bitch about men, have a drink or two, and just relax for a change. Crying in my spare bedroom late at night isn't a life."

"You're awfully bossy about MY life." I huffed, tying my apron back on for the last few hours of work. "I'll have dinner with Brynn and just go in late, so everyone can be happy, is that okay with you my life manager?" I sassed.

"I'll allow it." He kissed my cheek before quickly dashing away with a laugh. The man drove me insane most days but I'd be lost without him. I needed to plan a fun night for Los and I. To thank him for being the most amazing friend. I would be doing that, taking him out for a night of fun. We both deserved it and soon!