Page 7 of The Love Ambush
Breaking into Gentry’s house is a step too far.
Helping her wasn’t my idea. Not at first. Brodie asked me to fix a broken porch rail last December, and I haven’t been able to stop driving by Gentry’s house every day and helping when I see a need.
Gentry works so hard, and she’s really got no one on her side looking out for her. So, I do what I can.
I roll up the hose quickly, disconnect it from the outside spigot, and put it next to the garage door. I’m just setting it down when the sound of a car approaching seems way too close.
Acting casual so no one calls the police, I look up to see Gentry’s beat-up silver sedan barreling toward the driveway.
My heart flips into high gear as panic washes over me. There’s no way she hasn’t already seen me, but, just in case, I dive into the bushes on the side of the house.
The hard leaves of her boxwood bush scrape my face as I slide between it and the siding of the house and drop to my knees. There’s not enough space to get down on all fours. If she walks around the corner of her house and looks down at the bush, she’s gonna spot me.
I freeze, my heart pounding, just waiting for her to call me out.
Her car rolls up the driveway and comes to a hard stop.
This was so stupid. I should climb out of the bush and make up an excuse for being here. But even in the silence of my bush, I can’t come up with a story she would believe.
If she ever finds out I’m the one helping her, she’s definitely going to tell me to stop. And I’d have to do what she asks.
I don’t want to stop.
A car door slams. “Can’t believe I forgot the candy,” Gentry mutters.
My heart slows a bit. She hasn’t seen me.
“I need one of you to help me,” she says in a commanding tone.
Silence reigns.
“If either of you want to go to Brodie’s wedding, you will get out of this car and help me. I will leave you behind. Don’t test me.” Gentry sounds tired and frustrated.
“I’ll help,” Emily says as she gets out of the car, eyes on the open book in her hands. “I just need to finish my page.”
Gentry sighs. “Thank you, sweetie, but we’re running late. There’s no time to finish your page.”
“Where’s the candy?” Emily asks.
“It’s in the garage. We’ll go in the side door.”
My heart immediately picks back up to a roaring panic as I try to stuff myself farther down into the bush. I’m grateful I kept my jacket on, or these branches and leaves would have ripped up my arms. I don’t even want to think about how many holes I’m going to find in my favorite jacket when I get out of here.
Through the leaves, I see Gentry, looking adorable in her scarecrow costume, and Emily walk around the bushes. Emily stops to look at something on the bush, and I scrunch my eyes shut like she somehow can’t see me if I can’t see her.
I’m absolutely sure I’ve been caught.
“Emily,” Gentry calls. “Hurry up.”
“There’s a really pretty moth, Gentry. Come see it.”
“Not right now, Em. We’re already late. Come on.”
“If we’re already late, it doesn’t matter. The moth isn’t moving. It’s too cold out here for it. We should move it inside.”
Gentry sighs. “It’s probably getting ready to hibernate, Em. Just leave it.”
“Oh, my God,” Emily yells. “You’re so selfish. All you ever say is, ‘Hurry up, let’s go, do your homework, clean your room.’ All you care about is looking good to everyone else and never being late. You don’t even care about whether this moth dies or not.”
