Page 58 of Feral
Gemma
It's almost dark when I wake, the unfamiliar surroundings throwing me off before I realize I am at Jacob's place. He made love to me again and this time it was different; it felt like coming home.
After a long, drawn-out yawn, I climb out of bed and back into my discarded clothes, looking around more carefully this time. The bright morning light has given way to the beautiful hues of the afternoon sun filtering through the flimsy white curtains that are flapping in the evening breeze.
The never-ending song of the cicadas never fails to take my breath away and if it wasn't for the god-awful and ever-present mosquitoes, I'd say this place was heaven on Earth.
Jacob's raised voice jolts me out of my reverie and I pull myself together, slowly making my way back to the kitchen where the conversation is heating up.
I overhear Jacob saying he's happy and Bastien announcing that he's leaving. Waltzing in with a smile on my face, I try to look as innocent as possible. The conversation stops abruptly and I wonder what else they'd probably say to each other if I hadn't shown.
“Hey,” Jacob says, reaching out to take hold of my hand. “Slept like a baby, didn't you?”
I go to him and sit on his lap while Bastien looks away, avoiding my inquisitive gaze.
“You wore me out, what can I say?”
I won't lie or try to play it down. Sex is the driving force behind my decision to stay with him. That, and the fact that after sex, he's just as brilliant.
“Bastien just told me he's leaving.”
I turn to look at Bastien, waiting for him to look at me.
They are so different and yet so much alike.
When he finally turns to meet my eyes, I clear my throat and wrap my arms around Jacob's neck, before looking him square in the eye.
“Well, it's been fun, Bastien,” I croak, in lieu of anything else to say.
“It sure has, Gemma.” He looks at me as if he’s memorizing my face, then stands and walks out, leaving us alone.
“You're leaving right now?” Jacob asks, reaching for his smokes and pulling a cigarette out.
I watch as Bastien picks up some of his things, stuffing them haphazardly inside a threadbare backpack.
“I've already called Tom, he's on his way,” he says and his voice is flat.
“Well, it's been great seeing you, son.”
“It was good seeing you, too, dad. I'm glad you've found someone who cares about you. Nobody deserves it more than you.” Then, he turns to me. “Goodbye, Gemma.”
“Bye,” I say, wondering if I'll see him again. I probably will.
“Don't be like that, baby,” I whisper after Bastien’s departure. “I'm sure he'll be back to see you sooner than you think.”
“Us. See us, you mean,” he corrects, fumbling with the yet unlit cigarette.
“Yes. That's what I meant. Now, come here. You need some of this delicious food in you, old man. You can’t keep living on cigarettes and booze if you’re going to be a father soon.”
He shakes his head, pulling up a chair. I go to him, taking the seat next to him.
“Can you say that last part again, sweetheart?”
“What? The daddy part? I mean every word, you dirty man. If you’re going to knock me up, you’d better get your shit straight. I don’t want those vices of yours messing up our chances of getting me pregnant.”
“Well, shit, Gemma. You sure like all my other vices.”
His smile is infectious as he drops the cigarette on the table, pulls me to sit on his lap, and then crushes his mouth on mine.
