Page 79 of The Accidental Nanny

They give in, and a taxi drops me off outside Alex’s house. Stumbling out of the car, Brody follows me and takes hold of my arm.

“Gemma, it’s late. He’ll be asleep,” my brother tries to reason with me. Fern had been trying the whole way in the taxi.

“I have a key.”

I look through my handbag. I always carry it with me, I don't know why. Maybe I'm getting sentimental. I snort. I try to put it in the door, but my hand won't listen to my brain and keeps swaying from side to side.

“Let me.” Brody opens it.

“Shh,” I tell Brody. I open the door, shutting it quietly behind me. I take my shoes off, tiptoeing up the stairs. “Shh.”

Giggling at the creaking floorboards underneath my feet, I sneak past Ace’s bedroom, then open Eden’s door to see her fast asleep in her bed. I continue onto Alex’s bedroom; it’s already open.

He lies there, fast asleep. He’s snoring with his mouth wide open. I stare at him for the longest moment before I slide into the bed beside him. I curl up next to him, his hand pulling me in.

He sniffs my hair. “Gemma?”

“It’s me,” I say.

Alex

What the hell is going on? Gemma is in my bed. Did she not give me my key back? Not that any of that matters right now: she is back where she belongs.

My erection presses into her back, but she is already sound asleep. My eyes close, and I smile for the first time in ages. That feels short-lived, however, and I don't feel like any time has passed at all when Gemma screams.

“What?”

She moves away from me. “Why am I here?” She checks herself. She is still fully dressed. I didn't do anything to her other than hold her.

“You came into my house, drunk and unannounced, and got in my bed," I inform her. "I didn't kidnap you."

“Everything is a blur. My head hurts.” She puts her hands on her head. She's hungover.

“Gemma!” Eden screams, seeing her, and runs over. “Are you and Daddy back together?”

“What?” Gemma’s eyes are bloodshot red.

“I’m calling Grandma to come to collect you and Ace. Gemma and I have some things to talk about,” I explain to Eden.

Gemma has pulled the cover over her head, going back to sleep.

I wait for my parents to collect the kids, and I have time to pick up something for Gemma to eat before I go back upstairs to wake her. Prodding her with a finger, she stirs. I hand her a cup of coffee, food from the local bakery, and two paracetamol.

“Gemma." There is no response. “Gemma,” I call again, a bit louder this time.

“Go away,” she snaps under the blanket.

“You came drunk into my house and bed,” I point out, trying to remain calm.

“You upset me,” she says.

“Normal people call. Why don't you just drink and eat? Then, we can talk.” I leave the tray on the bedside table and walk away.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Gemma

Why did I decide to come to Alex's house? Why did Fern and Brody let me? I groan and sip my coffee before I take the two paracetamol and eat. Draining the rest of the coffee, I get up to undress.