Page 52 of Home Is Where You Are

I put the sunglasses over my eyes to mask the emotion I was feeling and followed Aspen out into the Texas heat.

The smell of sunscreen hit me as I walked across the concrete over to where the lounge chairs were. We didn’t have any trees to help shade the area, but my mom made sure that we had enough umbrellas on this side of the pool to help with the scorching sun. The guys were rolling out the last umbrella when I sat on the furthest chair from them. Aspen followed my lead and sat in the chair beside mine.

“You goin’ over there to ask for the sunscreen, or am I?” She laughed as she turned to face me.

Since she was my guest, I should be the one to walk over there, so that was just what I did.

“Hey, Leo, toss me a bottle of sunscreen and two towels,” I shouted as I walked toward them.

Leo tossed me the bottles, and I walked over to the lounger where Aspen sat.

“Spray my back for me?” I asked as I turned around.

We finished spraying each other with sunscreen, and I sat back on the chair and got comfortable. I just wanted to enjoy the sun and relax.

Minutes passed before I heard Aspen chuckle beside me. I wouldn’t have thought anything of it, but a shadow covered me, blocking the sun. Just as I was about to open my eyes to see who it was, I was lifted off the chair and whoever grabbed me took off running.

“Don’t you dare,” I screamed just as we went airborne. I took a deep breath just before my body hit the cold water and went under.

I allowed my body to sink to the bottom before I pushed off the pool floor and made my way to the surface.

Whoever did that was going to pay.

I wiped off my face and turned in the direction of the laughter.

I should’ve known it was Leo.

“Leo, you’re gonna pay for that.”

“Since when did you get all mad for being thrown in the pool? You come back from Virginia worried you’re gonna mess up your hair or somethin’?” Leo laughed at his own joke, and my other brothers chimed in.

“It’s all in good fun, sis. Take a joke and loosen up. You should’ve known one of us was gonna do it,” Brooks said as he took a sip from his water bottle.

Yeah, I should’ve known. But I was hoping my pissed off vibe would keep them away a little longer.

“Just remember what goes around comes around,” I warned as I swam over to the edge of the pool and hoisted myself up on the side.

Gentry being the gentleman that I remembered stood beside me and helped me stand.

I was squeezing my hair out when I heard him laugh.

Just as I looked into his green eyes, he pushed me back into the pool.

“Gentry,” I screamed just as I hit the water.

This time I waited until they’d all walked away from the side of the pool before I got out. I just wanted to chat with my best friend and enjoy the sun. These men needed to understand that.

I went over to the outdoor fridge and poured Aspen and me a glass of sweet tea. I walked over, and flopped down on the lounger beside Aspen who was trying her best to look mad for me, but I could see how bad she wanted to laugh.

“You can let it out, ya know. I know you want to laugh at their antics,” I told her as I put my sunglasses over my eyes and laid back enjoying the rays of sunshine beating down on me.

“I’m sorry, but they are just too hilarious,” she said as she held in the laugh that begged to escape.

I pursed my lips and crossed my arms over my chest. They were annoying, was what they were.

“You didn’t tell me Gentry had Bella’s name tattooed on his chest. That’s so sweet,” she said with a sigh. Looking over at her, she had her hand on her chest as she glanced in Gentry’s direction.

“I wasn’t expecting that, but the minute I saw it, my heart swelled and broke at the same time,” I admitted in a whisper as to not have the guys hear me and dampen the mood.