I chuckle at his blatant annoyance.
“Sorry it’s so late,” I say. “Traffic sucked, and then we stopped at the diner for some food.”
“Not worried about it,” he mutters, walking farther into the house, leaving me to follow.
It’s quiet in here, and dark. There’s a light spilling in from the kitchen, but other than that, there’s nothing. I don’t bother kicking off my shoes since I don’t plan on staying, but as I step into the living room, I spot Lukas passed out on the couch.
“He fell asleep about half an hour ago,” Gentry explains.
Finding the giant binder he holds all his cards in on the coffee table, I grab it. “How’d it go?”
“Fine.” He shrugs. “Him and Tucker traded cards, then watched some movie while I made dinner. He ate all of it. Kid’s a good eater.”
“Yeah, he is. Haven’t found anythin’ he hasn’t liked yet.” I breathe out a small chuckle and nod. “What’d y’all have?”
“I smoked some brisket, and we had slaw, potato salad, and greens with it.”
“Yum. I’m comin’ over for dinner next time.”
Gentry huffs. “I’ll help you bring his stuff out to your truck,” he offers.
Lukas really didn’t bring all that much stuff with him today. Certainly not enough to need a second set of hands, but I’ll take it.
“Thanks.”
“He was helpful today,” Gentry offers as I place the rest of Lukas’s stuff in the backseat. “Very well-behaved and well-mannered. Practically did the whole oil change himself.”
“Really?” My eyebrows raise as a smile curves my lips. “That’s amazing.”
Gentry nods, resting his shoulder against the side of my truck. Fuck, he’s sexy.
“Well, thanks for lettin’ him hang out here today. I appreciate it.”
“No need to thank me,” he murmurs. “Enjoyed havin’ him here.”
My stomach flutters as the silence stretches between us. I don’t miss the way he’s not darting back inside now that everything is in the truck. He’s standing out here with me for a reason, though I’m not sure what that reason is.
Hell, maybe he doesn’t either.
But what I do know is that I’d be a fool not to use this time to my advantage.
Clearing my throat, I say, “The beginner classes start again on Thursday. I better see your ass in one of those seats.”
“Wasn’t plannin’ on it,” he grumbles, holding my gaze like he’s daring me to push the subject.
“Why’s that?” I cock my head to the side, a smirk tugging on the corner of my mouth. “And don’t even give me the ‘I don’t like pottery’ bullshit, because I saw you at the end of our private lesson. You were proud of yourself, and Iknowyou enjoyed yourself.”
His jaw is tight as he watches me with an unreadable expression on his face.
“And I’m assumin’ itdidhelp your hands, like your doctor said it would, otherwise you would’ve already thrown that in my face as an excuse. So, let’s hear it, old man. Why won’t you be there?”
Gentry kicks up the gravel, shoving his hands into his pockets as he avoids my gaze for a minute. “Fine,” he finally blurts out. “You’re right; I did enjoy myself.”
“So, what’s the problem?”
“It’s embarassin’, with all the other people in the class. When it was just me, it wasn’t so bad.”
My stomach dips, and I have to bite back a smile.
