Page 19 of Home Is Where You Are

“This used to be your special place. Don’t go. Stay,” he said as he pulled me closer to him.

My mind screamed at me to realize the danger of his proximity.

My heart didn’t listen.

Just like old times, it flocked toward him instead of away from him.

“I shouldn’t stay here.” I shivered at my admission because the thought of going back to my room caused my heart to race.

“You’re probably right,” he said, and I turned to leave.

He tightened his hold on my arm, and I turned around to face him, a questioning look on my face.

“I can tell you’re having a hard time being home. Stay,” he insisted in the whisper of his words.

I shouldn’t have stayed.

But I did.

Without uttering another word, I nodded.

I climbed into the bed and under the covers, determined to not get close to him. To stay on my side of the bed and play it safe.

Instead of climbing into the bed behind me like I thought he would, he walked over to the closet and I heard him rustling around.

I glanced behind me as Gentry spread out the air mattress.

When did that get put up here and why?

He blew up the air mattress and spread out the sheets and a blanket, tossed a pillow down, and shut off the bathroom light.

I laid my head back on the pillow and listened to the air mattress creak as he got comfortable.

“Sweet dreams, my beautiful girl,” he whispered.

My eyes closed as I took in his words.

I hadn’t missed the fact that he’d called me his beautiful girl.

If only it were that simple.

That night my dreams were sweet.

I dreamt of the future I could’ve had with him.

And that broke my heart even more than the day I’d walked away from him.

From us.

eight

AINSLEIGH

The sound of the alarm clock beeping from my phone roused me from the dream I didn’t want to wake up from. We were happy. And so was she. My heart hurt as I opened my eyes and reached for the device the sound was still coming from.

Gentry groaned from the floor.

“We’ve gotta get up. There’s no way I’m goin’ to be late. My daddy would never let me live it down,” I told him as I rolled onto my back.