Page 38 of Home Is Where You Are

“Did you want a sub and fruit? That’s what we’re making before we go out tonight,” I asked, because Aspen and Dylan didn’t need to see how hard it was for me to be around Gentry. That would lead to questions, and I didn’t have the energy to explain myself.

“Sounds good to me. Y’all goin’ out to Whiskey On The Rocks tonight with your brothers?” Gentry asked as he washed his hands and grabbed the sub rolls, cutting them in half.

“Yeah,” I managed to choke out.

Why did he have to smell so good?

He smelled just like he used to. The scent of Curve hit my senses, and the smell of him brought back so many memories. Every time I caught a whiff of that scent, memories of our time together would assault my mind. And I caught a whiff nightly because I kept a bottle packed away and when the scent faded, I sprayed my pillow so I could have the comfort of his smell with me always.

“What would y’all like on yours?” I asked Dylan and Aspen, already knowing that Gentry preferred turkey and cheese with mayo, no mustard.

Absentmindedly, after he handed over the sub roll, I made it without even thinking. So many afternoons when we were growing up we made subs and went out back by the pool to enjoy a day in the sun. Oh, to be that young and carefree again.

“I want ham and cheese with mustard,” Aspen replied. I took a second to look up at her as I handed over Gentry’s sub and grabbed another roll from him, and she had the biggest grin on her face, no doubt conjuring up another romantic notion in her mind, as if a damn turkey sub could cause us to fall hopelessly in love again.

“I want bologna and cheese with mayo,” Dylan replied, and I set out to make everyone’s subs.

Every time Gentry would pass me a sub roll, our fingers would gently graze, and I had to hide the way my breathing would hitch or my body would get goosebumps from just a mere touch of his finger.

My body needed to get the same memo as my mind. Gentry was off-limits.

Gentry put a variety of melon in bowls for everyone and passed them out just as I finished plating the last sub.

Everyone carried their plate and bowl over to the kitchen table in silence. I walked back over to the fridge and grabbed four waters and passed them around before I sat down to dig into my dinner.

“We get to meet the infamous brothers tonight?” Aspen asked before she took a bite of her sub.

“Yeah,” I replied through trying to chew a bite of my food.

Hopefully she wouldn’t say too much while sitting here. She knew girl code, but sometimes an excited Aspen would forget who we were around.

I looked over at her and tried to subtly shake my head without alerting Dylan or Gentry, and she slightly nodded in understanding. Whew. Crisis diverted. I told her some things I didn’t feel like explaining to Gentry, and I didn’t want her to accidentally bring them up.

“It’s Brooks, Leo, and Holden, right?” Dylan asked.

“Yes, and in the correct order too.” I laughed.

“Are you going to the bar tonight, Gentry?” Aspen asked.

I pursed my lips at her question. I thought we’d agreed with our head shakes.

“Nah, I’m stayin’ in tonight.”

I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

“Come on. Don’t be a party pooper. It’ll be fun,” Aspen said as she took another bite of her sub.

I took a chance and glanced over at Gentry.

Sure enough he was looking at me for confirmation.

I couldn’t deny him going now without Aspen and Dylan asking why.

“You should come,” I replied. While being around him was hard, he was an important part of my life, my best friend, and I missed him.

“You drinking tonight?” Gentry asked, but I didn’t know who he was questioning.

“I’m the designated driver tonight. I’ll have one beer when we first arrive, but that’s it,” I responded, even though I just wanted to down a few shots after finding out he was going.