Chapter 2 – Gentry
two
GENTRY
My lungs seized, and my heart pounded against the ribs that enclosed it—a hollow organ that ceased to beat since she’d left me. I thought the two-hour drive had given me enough time to prepare for seeing her after four years of her being gone.
But I’d been wrong.
Just at the mere sight of her, I couldn’t breathe. My heart constricted, and I struggled to get air into my lungs as I fought the urge to turn around and run.
It’d serve her right if I did just that.
My stomach felt like I just got sucker punched in the gut by a heavy weight champion. I thought I’d put our past behind me, but seeing her again, the pain came rushing back full force.
She was still just as beautiful as the last time I’d seen her. The day before she’d taken my heart and shattered it without any regard.
A letter.
A letter was how she’d said goodbye.
After everything we’d gone through, I was only worth a few scribbled words on a piece of paper torn from a notebook.
She couldn’t even do it to my face. She’d had her brother Holden, my best friend, pass it along to me long after her flight had left the ground.
“Gentry,” she whispered. Her mouth opened and closed, but no other words escaped.
“Yeah, butterfly.”
“Please don’t call me that,” she said so low I could barely hear.
She looked down at her phone and typed with the speed of lightning as her eyes filled with tears.
She shook her head as if to ward off the threatening tears.
Her head looked to the sky after she finished typing.
Her lips moved, but no sound escaped. I couldn’t read what she mouthed, but once she finished, she looked at me, her eyes still glossy, but she appeared more composed.
“I’ll call you whatever I please. Get over it. Let’s go. I’ve got things to do today,” I said as I clenched my teeth.
I knew picking her up was a bad idea, but there was an emergency at the ranch, and it was all hands on deck. Her father needed her mother there, and her brothers were out on a guided hiking tour. I was the only person available.
“I’m waitin’ for my mom to respond. I’ll wait for her to come pick me up.”
Stubborn woman.
“You’ll be waitin’ a while then,” I said with an insolent smirk. I’d love nothing more than to leave her here stranded, but I couldn’t do that to her parents. Not after everything they’d done for me over the years. I’d bite my tongue the whole two-hour drive if I had to.
“What do you mean?” she questioned, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Ranch emergency. You’re stuck with me.” I was about as thrilled as she was to be with her in my truck for a couple of hours, but that was what loud music was for. I could drown out the thought of her being back with my favorite tunes.
“Is everything okay?” she whispered as she looked at me briefly, but quickly diverted her gaze to the sky.
Standing there with just the Texas sunshine beating down on her, I finally took in the sight of the woman who’d broken my heart into a thousand pieces.
She hadn’t changed at all. She still looked the same as the last time I’d laid eyes on her.
Her long blonde hair flowed down her back just the way it used to.
Her big blue eyes still had the same deepness that I used to get lost in.
Her figure that I’d loved holding in my arms was still curvy in all the right places.
Even her style was the same, given her oversized shirt and exercise shorts that fit her like a second skin.
The only thing that appeared to have changed was the frown on her face at the sight of me when I used to receive the brightest smile.
But I didn’t have time for questions from her today. “Are you done? We’ve got to get goin’.”
“I’d rather take my chances with hitchhiking than be trapped with you for two hours.”
“You see, you’ve got two options. Walk to my truck willingly, or I’ll throw you over my shoulder and carry you kickin’ and screamin’. What’s it goin’ to be?”
“You wouldn’t dare,” she challenged. Her hand went to her hip in defiance.
“Try me, butterfly. Get in the truck,” I said with a smug grin, taking a step toward her, letting her know I meant business. Hoping she chose option one because touching her again might just do me in.
She crossed her arms and looked at me with that defiance I’d always loved.
I didn’t have time for this today. There was too much for me to do.
I stomped into her proximity, giving her one more chance to just get in my truck. She doubled down as she looked up at me and swallowed.
“Have it your way,” I said as I bent down and picked her up, her stomach over my shoulder, grabbing her suitcase with my free hand.
“Gentry, put me down,” she shrieked as she squirmed in my arms.
“Stop squirming, or I’ll drop you,” I warned as I tightened my grip around the back of her legs.
She stopped squirming and went limp over my shoulder in defeat.
I ignored how she felt in my arms after four long years as I walked us over to where my truck was parked.
I bent down and put her on her feet, and made sure she was steady before I stood.
“You didn’t have to do that.” She scowled as she looked up at me and crossed her arms.
“You gave me no choice,” I said as I threw her suitcase in the bed of my pickup.
“There’s fragile things in there,” she screamed at me, but I couldn’t make myself care.
“Get in,” I demanded, willing her to just listen for once. She’d only been in front of me for a few minutes, and I wanted to throttle her already.
“You still have this old thing?” She warily eyed the only possession I owned. “I’d thought it’d be on its deathbed by now.”
“You never seemed to mind before,” I bit back before I could stop myself.
Her cheeks flushed a bright shade of pink. She used to get so embarrassed over everything that her brothers and I loved taunting her with when we were younger. I wouldn’t go there with her again.
Not now.
Not ever.
Speechless, she opened the door and climbed inside, resting her head against the window as soon as the door closed.
Fine by me.
I’d enjoy the quiet and could get my thoughts in order.
Ainsleigh Courtright wouldn’t derail me from my plans. I was so close to becoming a foreman at her parents’ ranch, and I wouldn’t allow her to come between me and my future ever again.
Only she didn’t remain quiet.
A few minutes into the drive she spoke.
“Why were you the one to pick me up?”
Because I’m a glutton for punishment, that’s why.
“Because I was the only one able to come get you.” I’d have rather been back at the ranch dealing with the issue in the kitchen with the freezer and the fence that had to be mended that I’d put off due to coming to get her. Anywhere other than in this vehicle with her.
“What am I in for when I get home?”
She had no idea. Her brothers were still angry she’d left in the first place, but especially since she’d come up with excuse after excuse to not come home during her breaks.
“You’ll see,” was all I replied. Let her stew for the next couple of hours. It was the least of what she deserved.
She groaned at my response and laid her head on the seat. I could tell she wasn’t looking forward to what she had in store upon her return, but she’d have to get over it. She did this to herself with never coming home.
“Can’t wait,” she whispered, her head now rested on the window, her arms wrapped around her body like she was trying to hold herself together.
Looking over at her, she appeared a shell of the girl I once knew.
She might not be excited, but I couldn’t wait. Watching her see her family for the first time in four years was going to be priceless. Especially since I knew just what was in store for her once we arrived.