Page 26 of Embers of You (Amity #1)

Sutton

I wake up to the loud sound of an engine revving outside. I groan, burying my face into my pillow, I don’t know what time it is, but I’m sure it’s too early for whatever idiot decided to wake up the entire street.

I’m about to get up and see what’s going on when it happens again, but someone clearly beats me to it when I hear a feminine voice yelling outside. I should mind my business, but that’s never been my strong suit, so I get up and go to the front window to see what’s going on.

The entire commotion is across the street, and I’m straining to see because my eyes are still waking up and attempting to focus. I’m pretty sure I see Bailey standing next to the driver’s side of her neighbor’s dark sports car while she’s yelling at him.

I can’t see or hear him because the car is still rumbling loud enough to muffle most of their conversation.

It’s hardly a conversation since it doesn’t look like Bailey is letting him say anything.

She’s standing tall next to the low car which only makes her seem taller, and finally she throws her arms up in the air.

Wes revs the engine again before peeling out of his driveway.

I watch as Bailey flips him off while he leaves before storming back to her own house.

I step back from the window, really wondering what the deal is with them because it feels like a little more than just Wes driving an obnoxiously loud car. When I look at the clock I see it’s seven in the morning, which is way before I’m usually awake, but I don’t think I can go back to sleep.

Bennet is still asleep on his back with his legs in the air as I go back to my bedroom. I’m jealous that he’s able to sleep through that, but since I’m awake now, I’m going to make it his problem too.

“Get up, Benny boy. We’re going for a walk,” I tell him as I get changed. I swear he ignores me on purpose, not moving as I pull on some leggings and a loose T-shirt.

“Come on,” I try again, nudging him with my foot. He turns his head and his floppy snout makes it look like he’s grimacing. “It’s good for us, and maybe we can get a treat.”

That last five letter word is what gets him up like I knew it would. Sucker.

On our walk, I make a mental list of all the things I should get done today, other than wait for my couch to be delivered since it’s my day off. I really should go grocery shopping, and maybe even brave a home good store to get some decorations. Maybe I should reach out to Jameson….

I shake my head at the last thought. I haven’t talked to him since we went to dinner, and I’m worried about how much I’ve been thinking about him.

Every time I’m close to him it’s like another piece of my wall breaks down.

I’m worried that when it’s gone, I’ll fall hard and that can only lead to heartbreak.

“Sutton,” a voice calls out, pulling me from my thoughts, and I’m thankful for it because they were headed into dangerous territory.

I look up to see it’s Bailey walking toward me. Somehow, I’ve managed to make it back onto our street without even noticing.

“Hey,” I greet with a smile, not daring to bring up what happened earlier.

“Who’s this?” she asks, referring to my dog.

“Oh, this is Bennet. He’s friendly.”

She gives him a closed lip smile, and reaches her hand out tentatively. He sniffs her, and nudges her fingers slightly, which leads her to pet him softly. “Sorry if you heard that this morning.”

“Oh.” I wave my hand, acting like it’s not a big deal. “I was already awake.”

She gives me a look like she knows I’m lying. “Well, still. He’s a fucking obnoxious asshole and doesn’t care about anyone other than himself.”

“Do you know him well?”

She scoffs. “No, I mean not really. We’ve been neighbors for a couple of years so I know that he’s a selfish dick. And he clearly doesn’t know what respect is.”

“Hm,” I hum, wanting to know more information, but she clearly isn’t going to give it up.

“Anyway, feel free to file a noise complaint on him. Maybe if he gets enough of them, something will actually be done.”

I chuckle softly. “Okay.” I won’t be doing that, but she’s fired up and I’m not about to argue with her about it either.

“Alright, well I have to head to work, but have a good day.”

“You, too,” I call out, walking the short distance back home with Bennet.

Once inside, I place my hands on my hips and look around. I guess I have a day of distraction ahead of me.

When I was told my couch was going to be delivered, I didn’t realize it was going to be a whole ass couch I’d have to get through the door and set up by myself. For some reason I figured it would be in pieces, and I would have to put it together.

Apparently, I was wrong. As much as I’m a strong independent woman, having a man around would be really helpful in these situations. Too bad Bennet doesn’t count.

I let out a sigh, placing my hands on my hips and looking across the street. I could always ask Bailey, or maybe even Wes. Though I’ve never really spoken to him and he seems so intense all the time, so I’m not sure how that would go over. Especially with how the day started with him.

There’s also Jameson.

I’m not sure if he’s on shift right now, but if he’s free then I know he would run over here if I called.

But I don’t know if I should.

After what happened at his house, I feel like I’m tip-toeing in dangerous territory with him. I know that at some point we won’t be able to come back from it if it goes much further. I should just continue to distance myself even more.

The thought causes a pang in my gut I choose to ignore.

“I can do this,” I declare to no one, right before I start to pull the couch into my house.

It’s way heavier than I expected it to be and I’m straining as I try to pull it inside. I pause, already breathing heavily as I stare at the piece of furniture half inside the threshold. I climb over it to the other side and see if pushing it is easier.

My feet slide on the concrete as I push and I don’t think this is much better. I end up sliding onto the ground completely and groan. “Dammit.”

I mentally go over my options again, waiting for Bailey or Wes to be home and asking if one of them could help me…

calling Jameson. No. I can do this. Standing up, I try pushing, again, and manage to get it past the front door before I have to take a break, flopping down on the couch that’s now blocking the front door and I can’t bring myself to even care.

I could leave it like this. It’ll be fine, right?

At least it’s comfortable. That should make this all worth it.

Bennet ends up climbing onto the couch with me and on top of my body, practically crushing me.

“Bennet, I can’t breathe,” I croak, his weight and fur are suffocating me and he doesn’t even seem to care. “Are you trying to take me out and have the place to yourself?”

He rests his head onto my face, and I turn away so his drool doesn’t get in my mouth. “Get off,” I demand, trying to push him off.

He grumbles and doesn’t move, but I manage to roll myself out from underneath him and drop onto the floor. I look at him, still laying on the couch, completely unbothered and narrow my eyes. “You’re a problem.”

He doesn’t move, and I know there’s no way I’m going to get anywhere with this couch and the added hundred and fifty pounds of fluff that are now on it. I climb over once again to get in position to push. “Bennet, off. You can take it over later.”

At first he doesn’t listen, and I have to give him some pats on his butt to get him to jump off.

Once he finally does, I get back to pushing it into the living room.

When I go to turn it, it’s a little too soon and I end up pushing it into the wall.

I cringe, hoping I didn’t do any damage and somehow manage to get it turned and into the spot I wanted it.

My arms may feel like Jello, but I’m proud of myself, as I stand there, taking it all in. When I turn to look at the wall, my pride drops because there’s a big gouge in the wall where the couch hit it, and I throw my head back on a groan.

Could I figure out how to fix this myself? Yes. Am I done being an independent woman for the day? Kind of.

I chew on my bottom lip, debating on what I should do. Bennet jumps up on the couch again, and I narrow my eyes at him. “You enjoy my hard work then, my friend.”

Pulling my phone out, I admit defeat and ask for help.

Sutton: Any chance you know a thing or two about fixing a wall?

Jameson: If you wanted to see me you just needed to say that.

I look over at Bennet. “See what you did,” I blame him, because it makes me feel a bit better. Of course he doesn’t respond to me, more than content to be laying on the couch.

To be fair, I know the only one to blame here is myself, because if I’m being honest maybe it is an excuse to see Jameson, but I’m not going to admit that.