Page 46 of The Love Ambush (The Sullivans #1)

Gentry

E verything is okay. It’s okay that all of our furniture, except for what we have in our bedrooms, is now in the garage and our house looks like something out of a fancy magazine, with slick lines and modern furniture.

It’s okay that Trisha’s been a tiny bit rude about us keeping the house clean and clutter-free.

All of that is okay because Emily and Sophie are so happy to have our dad back.

I’m not turning a blind eye to his imperfections, and I’m on constant alert for any sign he might take off again, but I will do whatever it takes to keep the peace and give him every incentive to stay.

Wary as I am, I can’t deny how much I missed my dad. Last night, he and I watched one of our favorite movies together and recited all the lines word-for-word.

It’s a weird feeling to know I can’t trust him and to also still love him because he’s my dad. I’m waiting, constantly anxious, for him to leave again, but also doubting all my memories, because he’s been acting like the model father since he moved back in.

Honestly, it’s been nice having someone around to drive Emily and Sophie wherever they need to go.

But I’m still hurt and angry with him for leaving the first time.

A weird maelstrom of feelings. I hate it.

And now I have what Levi said about Dad in the mix. What would Levi have told me if I let him?

I didn’t want to know because I don’t need another reason to distrust and hate my father. But what if not knowing somehow puts my sisters in danger?

“You doing okay?” Noah asks. He’s standing next to my desk in his lab coat and scrubs, a stethoscope around his neck, looking every bit the part of the hot doctor. And he’s as kind as he is good-looking. “Nursing school going okay?”

I swallow hard and brace myself. “I quit.”

He stares at me, eyes wide. “Okay. That’s…”

“You can say it. No one ever thought I’d make it as a nurse. Who wants a nurse who’s a hypochondriac and freaks out at the sight of blood?”

“I never thought you couldn’t do it if you set your mind to it,” he says. “But I did get the feeling you weren’t exactly excited about the prospect.”

“Not excited at all.” I force a smile because I feel like a failure. “And I had to finally admit I’d be a terrible nurse. I hope I can keep working here.”

He startles, straightening. “Please don’t quit, Gentry. I can’t handle trying to find someone else for your job. You’re amazing. Can I give you a raise? A longer lunch break?”

I laugh, warmed by his obvious desire to have me stay. “That came out wrong. I thought you might want to replace me with someone who can actually be a nurse here someday.”

“I can find a nurse. I can’t find someone to replace you.”

My heart rate slows as I relax. “Oh, thank goodness. I love this job, and I really don’t want to have to find something else.”

He nods, but he doesn’t look happy. “So you’re not going anywhere? You don’t have any ambitions beyond working here?” He shakes his head and takes a step back. “Forget I asked that. You love this job, and you aren’t going anywhere. That’s all I need to know. Anything else is your business.”

“I am happy here.” I feel the need to be honest, because Noah isn’t just my boss, he’s also my friend. “But I do have ambitions beyond this job.”

He slumps, his always wild hair falling over his eyes.

“I knew it. I just had a feeling, you know, that you’re the kind of person who has big dreams. And there’s no room for upward mobility here.

” He holds up his hands. “You don’t have to tell me more.

Just please give me two weeks’ notice before you leave. ”

I bite back another laugh. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re dramatic?”

He sniffs. “Only you. Every other day.”

“I doubt that,” I say with a smile to let him know I’m teasing. Mostly. “But you don’t have to worry. I’m going to take art classes at the university. I want to be an artist, and the chances of making a living from my art any time soon are slim to none.”

He studies me, his brow furrowed. “You never told me you’re an artist.”

“Because I’m not. I was in art school before Mom left, but I gave it up to take care of the kids.”

“And now you’re trying again,” he says, his smile encouraging. “Good for you. You’re going to be amazing.”

He’s too sweet. “You don’t know that.”

“You were training to be a nurse even though you couldn’t eat for a full eight hours after Colin Woolf’s nosebleed.”

I shudder. “It was a lot of blood. And it was everywhere.”

He smiles as his next patient walks through the door. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”

I shake my head as he walks away, and then I get back to work.

***

I look up from staring at the screen where I’ve been updating patient accounts for the past hour and stretch with a sigh and a smile. It feels good to have a job I love without staring down the barrel of a job I’d almost certainly hate.

My phone buzzes on the desk. Noah’s in with a patient, and there’s no one in the waiting room or scheduled for an appointment in the next half hour. I can step away for a personal call.

I take my phone outside and sit on a bench in the sun. The number has an area code I don’t recognize, but it’s not being flagged as spam. I’ve been putting out feelers about art classes at Maple Ridge and potential financial aid options, and I don’t want to risk missing a call.

“Hello?”

“Gentry? Gentry Lendew? This is Holly from Hollyberry Gallery. I’ve got some good news for you.”

My heart leaps in my chest. “Really? What’s—”

“Your painting sold this morning.”

I blink against suddenly stinging eyes. This can’t be real. I must be dreaming. “Are you sure it was my painting?”

“So sure I’m going to be sending you a check for eight hundred dollars minus my commission. The buyer asked about seeing more of your work. How soon can you have something to me?”

“I’ve only been home a week and—”

“Don’t you have anything already completed?”

“Maybe. I’ll look through what I have and see if any of it’s good enough.” I’ll have to dig it out of the back of my closet.

“It’s good enough. Just send it to me. How soon can you get me more new art?”

With money for art supplies and the extra time Dad being here gives me, I don’t have any more excuses not to get back into painting. “A month? Is that soon enough?”

“It’ll have to be. You might also think about setting up a website. And if there’s a gallery closer to home for you, I get first dibs on your work.”

I laugh, feeling suddenly giddy. “I’m pretty sure that’s not how it works. And shipping art isn’t cheap.”

She sighs. “I’ll cover the cost of shipping. But if you really want to go to a different gallery, give me their info so I can coordinate with them.”

“That’s really nice of you, Holly, but you don’t have—”

“Jesus Christ,” Holly says. “Stop playing the ‘I’m not good enough’ broken record.

You’re the real deal, Gentry Lendew, and I rarely get the chance to sell anything from anyone at your level of ability.

I probably shouldn’t be showing all my cards, but I like you, and I want you to remember how many times I hit you over the head to realize your worth.

I have a feeling you’re the kind of person who sticks with people who do them a good turn. ”

“I am. Thank you, Holly.”

“Text me your address. I’ll get the check in the mail.”

I hang up feeling like I could float right off this bench and dance on a cloud. I squeal with happiness and hit Levi’s contact number on my phone before I realize what I’m doing.

I hang up immediately, surely before it even rings once, but my happiness dims. I miss Levi. And he’d be so fucking happy for me. He’s the whole reason this is happening.

My phone vibrates in my hand, Levi’s name flashing on the screen. I could ignore him, but knowing him, he’d worry or hack into my phone to make sure I’m safe. Or, even worse, call Noah to check on me.

“Hey,” I say. “I hit your number by mistake, but you should know that Holly sold my painting. For full price.”

He’s quiet for such a long moment, I’m worried I didn’t actually accept the call. “Holy shit,” he says finally. “That’s fantastic. I knew it was going to happen for you, baby. You are amazing. Please say you’re going to start painting again.”

My eyes, already stinging from the good news, release a tear down my cheek.

My chest aches so much for his arms around me as he calls me baby and celebrates with me.

“I’m going to start—” Movement across the street catches my attention.

It’s my dad and Trisha walking out of the real estate agent’s office, both smiling.

“Gentry. You there?”

“Uh, yeah,” I say, my heart racing. Why would a man who already owns a house be seeing a real estate agent? Not for any reason that will be good for me and my sisters. “I just saw… Um, yeah, I’m going to start painting again.”

“That’s great news,” he says, his concern clear across the line. “What did you just see?”

I hesitate because I know if I tell Levi, he’ll start digging into my dad again.

And it feels selfish to ask him to do that.

But this isn’t just about me. It’s about my sisters.

I need to know what Dad’s up to. “It just surprised me to see my dad and Trisha leaving the real estate agent’s office.

They’re probably doing something totally normal, right? ”

“Which agent?”

“Jamie Stinson,” I say. “Maybe Dad knows him from when he lived here before. I’m sure it’s totally innocent.”

“Jamie Stinson moved here a year ago.”

I chew on my lip, thinking it over. “The deed is in Mom and Dad’s name. He can’t sell the house without Mom signing off, right? Maybe he and Trish just want their own place.”

“I’ll look into it.”

“Levi. I’m not asking you—”

“You’re not asking me. I’m asking you, Gentry. Can I help you with this? Can you trust me enough for this?”

“Levi. Don’t do anything crazy.”

“I’m going to do whatever it takes to keep you and your sisters safe, but I won’t go behind your back again. Tell me you’re okay with me helping you, and I’ll do my best to keep you in the loop.”

“Okay. Thank you, Levi. I…” But I don’t know what else to say. I miss him so much, but I’m still not ready to forgive him.

“Don’t thank me yet. I don’t have any proof, but I’ve got a feeling… Just keep an eye on your dad and don’t make any big changes right now, okay?”

“What do you know?”

“Nothing that means anything yet. Call me if you find out anything big, and I’ll do my best to keep in touch with you.”

“Levi? What are you—”

“Be careful, Gentry.”

He hangs up, and I stare at the phone, my heart sinking. Whatever Levi’s already found can’t be good. And that combined with Dad talking to a real estate agent…

I don’t know much for sure, but I know I have to do everything I can to keep Dad from selling our house.