Chapter 17 – Gentry
seventeen
GENTRY
“Wake up, beautiful,” I whispered as I caressed Ainsleigh’s arm.
“I’m not ready,” she groaned as she stretched and blinked her eyes open.
“Tough. I’m sure your parents are up by now, and your mom is making enough breakfast to feed an army,” I told her as I looked down at her with a smile.
The smile that used to affect her in the simplest of ways.
“You’re not funny. I was having the best dream, and you ruined it,” she replied as she pulled the covers up to her chin.
“You dreamin’ of me?”
I’d love nothing more than to fill her thoughts and dreams the same way she’d always filled mine.
“You wish. Go away, and let me get back to my dream,” she grumbled and tried to roll away from me.
I didn’t let her.
I slid my hands to her sides and pulled her back toward me.
“If I didn’t wake you, your mother could’ve sent one of your brothers, or worse, your father looking for us. I didn’t think you’d want them to find you half naked in my bed.”
“Ugh. I hadn’t thought about that. I don’t even have any clothes up here except for the ones I wore out last night,” she replied as she scrambled to get off the bed.
Turning around so I could watch her make a fast dash to the bathroom, I noticed her fluffing out her hair before she closed the door, restricting my view.
She came out with a panicked look on her face, causing me to laugh.
“It’s not funny, Gentry. What am I going to do?” she asked as she picked up her clothes from the night before.
“You’re going to calm down, for one. Just wear a pair of my sweats and a T-shirt. See, problem solved.”
“No. The problem isn’t solved. That’ll make them talk even more than seeing me come inside wearing last night’s outfit. I can’t believe I’m having to do the walk of shame at the age of twenty-two.”
I stood from the bed and walked over to the dresser, pulling out the clothes I'd promised her and some of my own.
“Who cares what they say? Let them razz you for a bit, and then they’ll get over it.”
Pulling on a pair of basketball shorts and a random shirt I’d found, I walked over to where she stood, her hands full of her clothes and boots.
Taking the items from her grasp, I held out a pair of sweats. I pretended to give her the answer to solve all her current problems, but I just wanted to see her in my clothes longer.
“Fine. We’ll do this your way. Turn around please,” she asked, and I let out another laugh.
She grabbed the sweats from my hand and got dressed in a hurry.
“Why are you still sitting there? We have to go,” she replied as she looked over at the clock to see the time.
I knew once she realized the time, she’d be pissed.
“Are you kidding me, Gentry? It’s only seven in the morning.”
I hadn’t even looked at the time, but my gut told me it was still early.
I just wanted to see her. Hold her in my arms for a little longer before we returned to reality. Behind these four walls we could be whoever we wanted to be without the watchful eyes of her family. Here, she’d let her guard down and let me in.
She tried to stalk off toward the door, but she wasn’t fast enough. I caught her just before she reached her goal and pulled her toward the bed I’d just left.
“We need to talk before we go out there,” I told her as I situated her in my lap. Her arms went around my neck as she looked at me with frustration.
“About what?” she asked, her eyes softening as she stared back at me.
I’d spent many sleepless nights longing for her to be beside me. Sharing her day with me. Holding her tight as she fell asleep.
“Last night I had no intentions of kissing you. I don’t want you to think that.
I had this plan all laid out in my mind when I found out you were returning, and it got ruined in an instant when I saw you dancing with that guy last night.
Seeing his hands on you caused me to react in a way I never thought possible.
I just need to know what you’re thinking in that beautiful head of yours,” I said as I brushed the strands of hair that had fallen out of her face.
“I made a promise to myself before I returned home. I wasn’t going to lead you on or let you get close again. But you ruined my plan to stay away. I should’ve known it wouldn’t be as simple as I’d hoped it would be.” Her forehead met mine as she smiled softly.
“Do you regret the kiss?” Asking that question hurt as I let the words fall from my lips. I needed to know the answer. But I was also afraid to know what her response would be.
She ran her fingers over the back of my hand and worried her lip with her teeth, something she’d always done when she was deep in thought.
Lifting her head, she looked into my eyes and gave me her answer.
“No, I don’t.”
I wanted to fist bump the air at hearing those words. That meant I had a fighting chance.
“But we can’t do that again, Gentry. We can be friends, but that’s it.”
Friends. That was for the best. I couldn’t trust her to stay. I didn’t even know if she was staying.
“Are you feeling okay this morning? How’s your arm?”
She twisted to look down at her bicep.
I had to rein in the anger coursing through me at the sight of that man’s fingerprints marring her beautiful skin.
“It looks worse than it feels. Just sore,” she said as she looked up at me, her teeth biting her lower lip.
I loved to hate it when she did that.
We could be friends only when we left this room.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to feel her lips on mine. Had to get lost in her before she walked out of this room and pretended last night hadn’t happened.
My lips crashed onto hers with a mind all their own. Her arms wrapped tighter around my neck as she held me close.
We got lost in each other. Breakfast long forgotten. The possibility of someone catching us a distant thought as our mouths did all the talking we’d ever need.
I slowed the kiss and pulled away. Both of our chests rapidly moved up and down as we fought to gain air into our lungs.
“I’d love nothing more than to continue, but we’re pressing our luck as it is. We should probably head down before inquiring minds come snooping for information,” I said after I regulated my breathing.
Her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment as she climbed off my lap. I loved her innocence. How she grew bashful at the mere mention of getting caught.
She grabbed her clothes and boots off the bed as I slid on a pair of sandals to walk down to her parents’ house.
“You shouldn’t walk barefoot down there,” I told her as we left my room.
“It’s bad enough I’m wearing your clothes. I’m not looking even more ridiculous by wearing boots with sweatpants.”
“But you look good wearing my clothes,” I replied as I grabbed her free hand and linked my fingers within hers.
“You’re trying to cause gossip, now aren’t you?”
“Not at all. Besides, friends hold hands. Don’t they?” And I meant every single word.
“Yes, but my family isn’t going to assume we’re just friends.” She laughed, some of that carefree spirit I loved made an appearance.
“That’s just semantics.”
She tried to pull away as she opened the back door, but I gripped her hand even tighter.
Once we entered the vast kitchen, heads turned our way. Everyone was seated at the table awaiting our arrival. Ainsleigh’s stride paused once she crossed the threshold. I could only imagine what her face looked like as she took in everyone staring at us.
The kitchen smelled of maple syrup and butter as her mother, the only one not seated, walked over to the table with a platter of pancakes, enough to feed an army.
“Oh, good. You’re both here. I was wondering if we’d have to send out a search party,” her mother joked as she sat down the glass dish, and her father took his serving.
“What are you two up to this morning? Late night? Or should I say early morning?” Leo asked with a smirk. He knew damn good and well where we’d both walked over from, and he didn’t waste an opportunity to joke on us about it. Just like I thought they’d do.
“And who did you bring home last night, Leo? Care to share the details?” Ainsleigh bit back, pulling her hand from mine as she took her seat. I took the last seat and sat beside her just as her mother brought over cups of steaming hot coffee for us and sat down herself.
“Touché, little sis. Touché. But I don’t kiss and tell,” Leo replied with a laugh.
We all took turns getting pancakes and chatting around the breakfast table.
“How long are you and Aspen here for, Dylan?” Lillian asked between bites.
“Is it okay if we stay and leave on Sunday? That’s when we planned to head to Sunset River to see Aspen’s family,” Dylan replied.
“Of course it’s fine. I’m used to the traffic in this house with four children.
Well, not so much anymore, but you get the idea.
This house was always full of their friends, and I kinda miss the noise,” she said with a gentle laugh.
That was Lillian. So inviting and welcoming.
The same way she was with me all those years ago.
Even when she didn’t have to be, she was.
“Thank you, Mrs. Courtright,” Aspen said as she picked up her empty plate and walked over to the sink, placing the dirty dish inside.
“You didn’t have to do that, dear. I’ll clean everything up once this crew is done devouring what’s left. What do y’all have planned for the day?” Lillian asked, looking at Ainsleigh.
“I thought we could just relax out by the pool. I’m glad you opened it already. It’s supposed to be nice outside today, and I need some sun,” she replied to her mom.
A day by the pool sounded like what we both needed. I’d get more time to be around her and get to know her again. Possibly get on her good graces by getting to know her friends too. It was a win-win situation for us both.
“Sounds relaxing and fun. What are you boys up to today?”
They told their mother they’d love to spend the day at the pool as well to have some sibling bonding time.
While her parents and brothers were distracted with conversation, I took the moment to put my hand under the table and placed it on her thigh.
Her cheeks heated, but she didn’t acknowledge my touch.
She was likely ignoring me so her family wouldn’t notice.
“I was meant to touch you, beautiful girl. You can try to stop me, but I’ll just keep trying until you see I’m right,” I said, leaning over to make sure no one heard my comment but her.
“Not here, Gentry. They’ll get the wrong idea and assume things they shouldn’t,” she whispered in return.
“Let them. It won’t be an assumption much longer,” I replied, meaning every word.
A phone ringing broke my train of thought as I looked around to see whose phone it was. Lillian had a strong rule against any type of technology at the table. My gaze stopped on Dylan, who reached into his pocket and pulled out the device.
“I’m sorry for the interruption. I need to take this,” he said as he stood and walked in the direction of the front of the house.
“You want to go upstairs with me and get on our swimsuits?” Ainsleigh asked Aspen as she stood, causing my hand to fall from where it rested.
I was ready to see her in a bathing suit.
“Thank you for the pancakes, Mrs. Courtright. They were delicious,” Aspen said as she stood.
Brooks, Leo, and Holden got up from the table and took their plates to the sink. Each of them stopped to give Lillian a hug and thank her for breakfast, before they took off toward the back of the house.
I heard Leo comment how he couldn’t wait to toss Ainsleigh into the pool and knew this day was about to get even more interesting.
I remained seated and waited for everyone to leave. I would offer to help Lillian clean the kitchen even though she’d refuse my help. I just had to make sure she knew I didn’t take her or Sawyer for granted. Their hospitality had known no bounds since they’d taken me in.
“Don’t even try it, Gentry. Go have fun with everyone. I’ll clean up this mess in no time. I know that’s why you’re sitting there,” she said as she collected the dishes from the now empty table.
“You know me too well, Lillian. But I couldn’t not try to help. It’s in my nature.”
“I know it is. Which is why I let you try each and every time. Now shoo,” she replied as she tried to swat me with the dish towel when she walked over to the table.
I set off to the barn and changed into my suit. Let the fun begin.