Page 87 of Home Is Where You Are

“A deal breaker, huh?” he asked as he tickled my sides.

I laughed and instantly moved to get away from him. I hated being tickled almost as much as I hated the alarm clock going off at four in the morning.

“You can run, but you can’t hide out here, butterfly,” he joked as he pulled me back to keep me from getting too far away from him. I landed on the ground, and he loomed over top of me, his hands digging back into my sides as laughter escaped me.

“Uncle,” I screamed as I tried and failed to get away from him.

He relented as he laid beside me, both of us trying to catch our breath.

“What’s your favorite sound?” I asked breathlessly.

Turning my head to face him, I waited for him to deny my question, since it was technically his turn.

His eyes met mine as he whispered, “Hearing you laugh.”

My heart beat faster in my chest as I took in his answer. This man said the sweetest things. And I knew he meant it because Gentry Parkhurst rarely said anything he didn’t mean.

“You’re too sweet,” I responded as I rolled to my side to face him.

He turned to face me and pulled me to him. Our chests were flush against each other as we stared into each other’s eyes.

“Can I kiss you?” he asked, the game long forgotten.

All I could do was nod because Gentry asking me to kiss him was such a Gentry thing to do.

His hand left my hip to cup my cheek as he leaned forward. My breath caught in my throat as my eyes closed, and I waited for his lips to meet mine.

His lips softly brushed mine, and my heart beat faster as a sigh left both our lips. I wrapped both of my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to me. His lips on mine felt like a homecoming, like everything was finally right in the world.

He pulled back and rested his head against mine.

My phone vibrated on the blanket, pulling us out of our daze.

He leaned up on his elbow and reached over to grab the device, and his expression fell when he looked at the screen.

He handed it over to me without saying a word.

Glancing down, I saw the reason for his downward expression.

Kyle’s message was on the top of the screen.

I threw the phone down on the blanket with a groan.

Gentry laid on the blanket on his back, his arm underneath his head as he stared up at the sky.

“Ask me,” I pleaded. I needed him to know there was nothing going on with Kyle and me.

“Who’s Kyle?” he asked without looking at me.

This was going to hurt him to hear, and I didn’t quite know how to explain it without causing him pain.

“My ex. We broke up before graduation, but he won’t stop messaging me,” I explained.

“How long were y’all together?” He still wouldn’t look at me, and I understood. I wouldn’t want to hear about him being with someone else either.

“Six months, but I need to explain, and I need you to look at me while I do.”

He rolled to his side, and his eyes reflected the pain he felt as he stared at me, waiting for my response.