Page 54 of Home Is Where You Are

Cool air hit me as soon as Aspen opened the door of my childhood home, causing goosebumps to cover my arms. I shook off the chill as I walked into the house and went over to where my parents stood at the counter mixing the ingredients of the pasta salad.

“That smells delicious, Mom.” My stomach growled loudly, causing Aspen and my mom both to laugh.

“It’s ready. Gotta feed you before you wither away,” she joked as she handed me the bowl with her delicious pasta salad. I could remember just the way it tasted and couldn’t wait to dig in. Everyone would be lucky if I shared.

Mom handed Aspen a covered dish with the baked beans before she grabbed the pitcher of sweet tea. Aspen made good sweet tea, but it was nothing compared to my mom’s.

We walked outside, my dad following behind us girls and we walked over to the large table my dad had made for lunches and dinners just like this one. During the summer months, we often ate dinner later in the day when the Texas heat wasn’t at its hottest just so we could sit out here and enjoy the scenery.

Of course, the only seat left was beside Gentry. Before I sat at the table, I looked over to my brothers who all had sly grins on their faces. They thought they were so hilarious. I schooled my facial expressions and took the seat beside him. If I let on how affected I was, it would only make it worse for me in the long run.

I tried not to let the closeness of him bother me, but I could feel the heat radiating off him due to our proximity. I picked up the glass of sweet tea my mother had poured and took long gulps to try to cool down my libido and get my mind off anything but Gentry.

I had to keep reminding myself that we weren’t the Gentry and Ainsleigh from before. I also had to remind myself that our night together couldn’t keep happening. I couldn’t jump back into old habits. I’d broken both of our hearts by leaving before, and I wasn’t willing to risk those feelings occurring again. For either of us. I loved him too much to put him through that.

Everyone dug in and made their plates, my mother making sure my brothers left some for everyone else. I chuckled to myself at the memory of her always making sure I got to make my plate first because as growing boys, they were like vultures.

“How are you enjoying Texas so far?” my mom asked Aspen and Dylan.

“So far it’s been amazing. You have a beautiful home, Lillian,” Aspen replied.

I looked over at Dylan, who couldn’t take his eyes off Aspen. I was glad that the secret was out, but he’d yet to make his move on her. He just sat there hanging on to her every word. Just as he always had when we were at college. She hung the moon in his eyes, and I hoped she gave him the chance he deserved.

Dylan finished the bite of food he had in his mouth and replied, “Aspen’s right. It’s beautiful here. It makes me never want to leave.” He laughed as he dug back into his food.

“What are your plans? Do y’all have any jobs lined up?” my dad asked.

I loved that they took an interest in the two people that I couldn’t imagine not being in my life.

“While I’m here, I plan on driving over to see my cousins that live in Sunset River. I didn’t get the internship I applied for so my plans are still up in the air,” Aspen replied.

She often talked of her cousins and video chatted with them when she had the time. I’d caught glimpses of the Davenport brothers and if I wasn’t still so in love with Gentry, I’d have been interested in at least one of them.

I took another bite of my food, happy to just listen to the conversation going on around me, when I felt his finger graze the outer part of my thigh. Goosebumps covered my flesh as I held back a moan.

One touch, and every thought disappeared. When I didn’t pull away, he continued to softly touch my leg with the tip of his finger. I snuck a glance over at him, hoping he wasn’t looking at me, thankful that when I turned my head, he was still focused on the conversation taking place around us.

Why did he still have to affect me this way? I never felt this way when Kyle touched me. Quite the opposite actually, which is why I never put myself in the position where he could even try to affect me.

Why did he have to get more handsome with time?

Why couldn’t I just stay away from him?

With each stroke of his finger, the reasons to steer clear dissipated more and more. Need and want filled my mind as I recalled the night before.

But I couldn’t let myself act on it.

I had to stay away.

Because if I didn’t, I wasn’t sure both of our hearts would make it out unscathed.

nineteen

GENTRY

Sitting beside her while everyone else talked, she felt like a million miles away.

I couldn’t stop myself from touching her if I tried. The barely there touch that she’d allowed me to continue against her leg would have to do. For now.