Page 2 of The Love Ambush (The Sullivans #1)

Lazy’s younger sister, Hailey, and I were best friends in high school, so I spent a lot of time in the Holiday house as a kid. Being five years older than me, Lazy didn’t have much time for me or Hailey, but he’s been a really good friend since our mom left.

“I want a cinnamon bun, Gentry,” Emily says over her shoulder as she heads to the YA section of the store for the book bribe I promised her.

“I’ll be in the car,” Sophie says without lifting her eyes from her phone. “Get me a bun and a coffee.”

For about ten seconds, I consider insisting she put the phone away and say hello to our friend, Lazy, but I don’t feel like enduring her eye rolls and disdain in public. Again.

“Teenagers,” Lazy says as he puts an arm around my shoulders and walks me to the back of the store. “Thank goodness we weren’t such little shits at that age.”

“You went on a hunger strike when you were sixteen because your dad wouldn’t let you go to an Aggravated Assault concert.”

Lazy’s head tips back as he laughs. “My God, I’d forgotten about that.”

I pat his back as I laugh with him. “I’m sorry Sophie was so rude.”

Lazy shrugs. “I can handle it.” He pauses at the end of the line for Dani’s goods. “You doing okay?”

I look up at him and, for just a moment, I wish I were attracted to him or that he could ever be attracted to me.

He’d be a great partner. “We’re doing well.

Thanks again for helping out last month and taking Emily to her game.

” I’d had to take Sophie to a therapy appointment and needed to be there to talk to the therapist. Sophie’s been struggling with anxiety for years, but it got worse after our mother left.

“Anytime,” Lazy says. “It was a great game.” He leans in close. “And that’s what friends are for when family fucks off.”

“You’re my family. The best brother I’ve never had.”

He chuckles. “You coming to Thanksgiving at my parents again this year?”

Thanksgiving is a month away, but I got my invitation to the Holiday family feast three days ago. “I’ll be there.”

He beams. “Great. You’ll get to meet my boyfriend.”

I stare, shocked. This is Lazarus Holiday who, for as long as I’ve known him, has sworn he’ll remain a carefree bachelor for all of his days. “A boyfriend? Are you actually serious about someone?”

He leans in and whispers in my ear, “I’m in love.”

My smile is so wide my cheeks hurt. I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him hard. “I’m happy for you.” I mean, there’s nothing wrong with remaining single forever, but he looks thrilled to be tied down.

He hugs me back hard, sets me on my feet, and walks off to get back to work. I don’t think I’ve ever met a happier man than Lazy Holiday, and somehow he seems even happier now. Joyful.

Warm breath hits my neck along with a voice. “Just giving you a heads up, the asshole who doesn’t exist is in line behind you.”

My whole body goes rigid at the sound of Levi Sullivan’s voice. And I’m immediately thrust back into this morning’s fantasy. My cheeks heat and my stomach flips.

I’m honestly shocked he still remembers my words from last summer when I got fed up with him and told him that’s all he’ll ever be to me: an asshole who doesn’t exist. Of course, I still remember.

As soon as they were out of my mouth, I knew I’d been unfair and too harsh, but it’s been months.

I really didn’t think they’d made any impact on Levi.

I cannot turn around and let him see that I’m blushing. Levi Sullivan seeing my vulnerabilities is completely unacceptable, and letting him think, even for a moment, that he affects me would haunt me for the rest of my days. “Noted,” I say, eyes forward.

Behind me, he snorts. “So you’re really going to play it like this? You’re just going to pretend I don’t exist and ruin the most important day of your brother’s life?”

I spin on him, furious he’s bringing up my brother’s wedding. We’re both in the wedding party, but I know how to be civil. Obviously, Levi thinks I’m seriously that petty. Just like he said to me last summer. “That’s what I do, anyway, right? I make everything ugly, according to you.”

I expect Levi to smirk or sprinkle some of his charm over me. Nothing ever seems to get to him.

Instead, his eyes widen, and he smiles. “Are you performing in a production of The Wizard of Oz or trying out a new look?”

I’d forgotten about my costume. “Don’t pretend you care what I’m doing, Levi. It doesn’t affect you, and it won’t affect Brodie’s wedding, so it shouldn’t matter. You’re the one causing a problem where there is none.”

His expression cools, and there’s something in his deep brown eyes I don’t recognize.

Something like sorrow or longing, something that makes me want to reach out and touch him.

Something that makes me feel like I should apologize.

“I’m not doing this here,” he says in a low voice, like he’s being rational in this situation and I’m making a scene.

“You’re the one who started it,” I say in a whispered shout.

He crosses his arms over his chest, making his muscular forearms pop, and lifts his clean-shaven chin.

Everything about Levi is always neat and tidy, his chocolate brown hair trimmed, his Sullivan Brothers polo shirt tucked into his jeans.

He’s always looking good and always on the prowl for the next available woman.

“I was just giving you a heads up about my presence so we can avoid the drama.”

I narrow my eyes. “Bullshit. You wanted to stir the pot because you can’t just let anything go.”

His stupid, perfect jaw ticks. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“We aren’t friends, Levi. We’ve never been friends. There’s no reason for us to associate at all, but you just have to keep pushing. Picking on your best friend’s little sister like it’s your job to remind me how far beneath you I am.”

His eyes pop wide again. “You don’t know me at all if that’s what you think,” he says through gritted teeth. “And you don’t want to know me. Everything you just said is a story you created to make yourself feel better.”

I don’t know why his words make my heart hurt. And I don’t want to know. “You’re good, Levi Sullivan. The consummate charmer, always saying and doing the right thing, but there’s no substance behind it. You—”

“Next in line, please.”

Dani’s voice breaks through my tirade, and I look around to see everyone staring at us. Most of them are people I’ve known all my life. Every single one of them looks shocked and dismayed.

I’ve acted horribly in public, and everyone’s seen it. My eyes burn, and my throat goes tight.

Levi, though, he smiles like he’s never been happier. Like he’s just gotten everything he wants. “Go ahead and place your order, Gentry. We can finish our movie line challenge later.”

I stare at him, confused. “What the he—?”

Levi looks away from me and smiles bigger at the crowd. “She hates to lose. Anyone else enjoy this game? You have to speak in lines from movies, and the conversation still has to make sense. It’s our favorite.”

I’m no less confused. He could have easily made me look like the bad guy. He’s always been able to get away with twisting a situation to his advantage. Lord knows, I’ve seen him do it enough times when he and my brother got into trouble as kids.

He’s only doing this to save his own face. That has to be it.

I smile, but it feels forced and fake. “Such a fun game.” Before I can be called out as a liar, I spin and face Dani Holiday, who’s standing behind the counter and looking at me with a worried frown.

Dani moved back to town a little over a year ago, and she’s a few years older than me, so I didn’t know her when she lived here as a kid. She always has a smile for me, but not today. “You okay?” she asks, clearly not buying Levi’s story about a movie line game.

I nod. “I’ll be better after one of your cinnamon buns and coffee.”

Finally, she smiles. Behind her, her pet skunk Skidmark lets out a sigh and sinks deeper into sleep on his tiny bed. “I can do that,” she says. “Three of each?”

It’s a Saturday. She knows I’ve either got my sisters with me or will be taking something home to them. “Three buns. Two coffees. And one hot chocolate.”

“This, too.” Emily pops up and slides four books onto the counter.

“Em, I said one book.”

She looks up at me, batting her eyelashes. She knows how hard it is for me to say no when all she’s asking for is books that I know she’ll treasure and read over and over again. “There’s not enough time to narrow it down to just one and—”

“I’ll get them for you.” Levi stretches an arm between us and hands a plastic card to Dani.

His skin isn’t even brushing mine, but he’s against my back and my whole body lights up with the ridiculous, stupid, hormone-related desire I feel whenever he’s in my vicinity.

“To make up for the scene.” His breath whispers against my skin as he says that last part just for me, and I shiver despite the tight grip I’ve got on my hormones.

“I’ve got it,” I say. I will not let Levi Sullivan do anything nice for me if I can help it. I’m not letting him off the hook that easily.

But Dani’s already swiping the card, not even looking at me, and I know exactly what is going on. This is pity. Levi’s paying because he feels sorry for me and, like the rest of the town, he and Dani can see how hard I’m failing at being a guardian to my sisters.

I’d much rather be succeeding on my own than need anyone’s help. But if I turn down Levi’s offer, it’ll cause a bigger scene, and someone else from this crowd of locals will just offer to pay in his stead.

Even though financially, we’re managing okay. Thanks, in large part, to my brother’s help.

“Thank you.” I glance over my shoulder to find Levi’s face way too close to my own. My breath catches. His brown eyes have tiny flecks of bronze in them, and his lips are full, soft and way too kissable.

“You’re welcome,” he says, his voice rough.