More than Enough (Book Two in the Enough Series)

*Trigger Warning: Alcohol abuse, Mild depiction of Violence*

Gemma

Brynn opened the apartment door with a huge smile on her face. It immediately relaxed me as I held up the bag of leftover baked goods from the shop. Of course, she grabbed them right away before pulling me into a tight hug.

"The way to my heart is always with food. Come in! I just got off the phone with Eden, she says Hello!"

"How is she?" I called out as I sat on the sofa, while Brynn rushed about in the kitchen before reappearing with a tray holding all sorts of snacks including the treats I brought. Still wearing my black pants and polo, I smelled of coffee as I crossed my legs, taking the bottle of water she offered out to me.

"Oh, she's okay. This whole mess with her Mother is just that, a damn mess. Then, I guess it's okay for me to share, Reed's little sister has Leukemia. They literally just found out." She flopped down across from me in an oversized chair, looking somber as she shared that news.

My heart squeezed in sadness hearing such terrible news. "Oh no."

"Eden's already there, but I think Reed and Bennett arrive tonight, at Reed's family home." She shrugged. "I told her to keep me updated, but of course, there's a lot going on."

"Everyone seems to have a lot going on," I muttered.

"Speaking of. . . "

I grabbed a muffin from the snacks and shoved half into my mouth, hoping to stall a little longer. I had to wash the dried-out thing down with the water she gave me, coughing and choking a little as she chuckled across from me.

"Choking to death a better alternative than opening up to your friend?" She teased. "C'mon Gemma, you gotta talk about shit. You're just like Eden, so stubborn. Bottling up emotions and crap, just settles in your body and makes you sick. No reason to do that when you've got a perfectly good pseudo-therapist right here." Her hands motioned up and down her body. I couldn't help but laugh at her.

"I know. My very real therapist has basically said the same thing, about opening up that is." I sighed, leaning back. "I think I'm making progress. About opening up anyway, everything else is still hard."

"I'm sorry. I don't want to be pushy, but I also want you to remember you have people in your corner. I'm here for you! You said your Dad relapsed? Are you still caring for him, how's that working out?"

"Ugh. Ok... No, I'm not caring for him. I'm not even living there any longer." I began before proceeding to tell Brynn the details of the awful ordeal after Daddy Dearest came home.

I was reeling from everything with Bennett, hating myself for letting it get to that point but determined to get back on track. In between my shift at Brew and Splash, I'd popped home to take a quick shower and a little nap. When I came out of the shower to head into my room, I heard the sounds of someone in the house. I was alarmed initially because it was no secret that we lived in a sketchy part of town. I stepped into my room quickly, throwing on some clothes before listening at my door again. I could hear footsteps coming down the hall and I held my breath. I turned, searching my room with my eyes for my phone to call out for help.

"Gemma?" I froze when I heard his voice. My Father. He was home. "Gemma, are you here?"

I slowly opened the door, taking a deep breath and doing my best to avoid a full-blown panic attack. I looked up into the eyes of the man who had raised me. He looked good. Healthy. Normal. I was dumbfounded, speechless and I stood, mouth gaping just taking in his appearance.