“I know. I really only have a few close friends and to be honest I want to start moving away from the high school crowd. I’ve been dying to come to one of y’alls parties for so long. I’m pretty excited about it!”

Gunner let out a laugh. “I know how that feels….wanting to get away from everything high school. Um, so tell me….what Frat parties have you and your friends gone to?”

Oh shit…..busted. “Gunner…please do not tell Jefferson! He would be so pissed at me if he knew. I mean he is so over protective and I’m so shocked he is even having this party for me and…..and….Well I mean we only went a few times and it sucked each time we went. My god those college guys had their paws all over us. It was disgusting! Although, Amanda lost her virginity at one of the parties……but……”

Just then I heard Gunner start choking. OH…Oh no! Oh holy shit….I swear…I have zero filters….ZERO!

“Oh my god……. are you okay? I mean oh my god, oh my god! I can’t believe I said that out loud…..I mean….oh holy shit……oh no! Please Gunner don’t repeat that…ever! Oh god…first I slip about Ari to Jefferson and now Amanda! Holy hells bells Amanda is going to kill me and if Jefferson ever found out that one of my friends….oh my god I almost said it again……” There it went….my mouth talking when my brain clearly had checked out again.

“Jesus H. Christ Ellie please…just PLEASE stop talking! You’re making it worse!” Gunner said as he had tears running down his face. Thank goodness we were stopped at a traffic light. I looked over at Gunner and busted out laughing. I laughed so hard and it felt so good. I cannot remember the last time I laughed so hard or had so much fun. I loved spending time with him. I didn’t want this day to ever end. Everything about him made me happy. His eyes, his smile, his touch….his laugh. We must have laughed for a good five minutes. God it felt so good to just be carefree and relaxed.

I was surprised Gunner knew where I lived. I don’t ever remember him coming over to the house. “How did you know where I lived?” I asked as we were driving down the street that lead to our simple three bedroom house.

“I’ve been here plenty of times Ellie. You were just never home. I think you might have been home one time but I usually just waited out in the car for Jeff.” Gunner said with a smile. He looked up and his smile faded and was replaced by a look that scared the shit out of me. I looked over towards my house as Gunner parked his truck.

Holy hell. Ryan was sitting on the steps to my house.

Chapter Fourteen

Gunner ……

As soon as I saw that bastard sitting on the steps I had to fight the need to pound his face into the ground.

“What the fuck is he doing here?”

Ellie was just as shocked as I was. “I don’t know why he is here. SHIT! My mother is here also Gunner. She is going to ask questions about what happened! What am I going to tell her??” Ellie just about started to cry.

I didn’t have time to worry about her damn mother. I just wanted to know what this little prick was doing here waiting for my Ellie…..I mean….waiting for Ellie.

“I’ll get your stuff in the back but let me help you out of the truck.” I started to say but Ellie threw the door open and got out of the truck before I could stop her.

“Where the fuck have you been all night Ellie. I’ve been worried sick about you!” Ryan said as he jumped to his feet and started to walk over towards Ellie. I reached into the back seat and pulled out her two bags and her backpack. I so wanted to tell this douche bag not to talk to her that way but I needed to stay out of this or I might end up in jail for kicking his ass.

“What are you doing here? Why are you waiting on my porch for me?” Ellie kept looking back up at the house. What the hell was she looking at? Was she waiting for her mother to come out? I thought I saw someone standing in a window but I looked away when that little prick started yelling at Ellie.

“FUCK yeah I’ve been waiting here for you. I was here last night waiting for you to come home but you never did. Where were you Ellie?” Ryan said as he moved closer to Ellie. I was standing behind her so I took one step closer to her and that stopped him in his tracks.

Pussy bastard.

“I don’t know why you are here Ryan and I have nothing to say to you. I’m sorry you waited for me but we are through. I thought I made that perfectly clear yesterday after I saw you with Jessica. As far as where I’ve been…well that is just none of your business.” Ellie said with her shoulders straight and square. Good girl. Stay strong…I heard her voice crack while she was talking but I was so fucking proud of her.

Just then that little bastard laughed and looked at me. “What were you out fucking this guy because I wasn’t good enough for you to fuck Ellie?” He did not just say that to her.

I immediately dropped Ellie’s bags and backpack and went straight after that fucker. I had him pinned up against the house before he even knew what hit him. It took all of my strength not to beat the shit out of him for talking to her that way.

“You better apologize to her right now you fucking bastard.” I said as I held him even tighter in my grip. I heard Ellie behind me let out a gasp.

“OH MY GOD Gunner NO don’t hurt him! Please just let him go he’s not worth it.” Ellie was trying with all her might to pull my arm off of Ryan’s neck with her left hand.

“Ellie I need you to stand back. I’m not letting him go until he says he is sorry for what he said to you.”

I could hear him trying to say something so I let up on my hold just a bit. “I want you to apologize to her and then tell her you will never bother her again or I’m going to come after you with a few more of my friends and Ellie’s brother.” I said up against his ear.

“If you let go of me I will tell her……just let go of me I can barely breathe dude.” So I pushed off the fucker and stepped back a few steps. I stood next to Ellie and waited for the bastard to catch his breath.

“Um, Ellie I um, I didn’t mean what I said, I’m sorry. I should not have talked to you that way.“

He acted like he was finished and was not going to go on with telling her he would leave her alone so I took a step back towards him.

“Yeah and I um, I won’t ever bother you again. I understand we’re over. I’m sorry I hurt you Ellie. I really am. I hope you believe me.” Ryan said as he bent down to pick up his baseball cap that flew off when I pinned his ass against the house.

Ellie didn’t say a word to him as she watched him walk away. As soon as he got in his car and drove away I saw her whole body just start dropping. Holy shit! I reached out and grabbed her to hold her up.

She looked up at me and smiled. “Thank you Gunner. You are starting to make it a habit of coming to my rescue.” She said with a weak laugh. I pushed a piece of her hair behind her ear, bent down and kissed her forehead and smiled at her.

Just then I heard the front door to Ellie’s house open. Ellie and I both looked over at the same time and Ellie pushed herself out of my arms and started to walk up the stairs. I walked over and picked up the bags and back pack I had dropped on the ground.

“Um, mom I’ll be the house in just one second.” Ellie turned towards me and held out her hand. “I’ll take those from you Gunner and thank you again for today. I had a wonderful time.” Ellie let a small but weak smile come across her face. Just as I was handing them to Ellie I heard a raspy voice start to talk.

“I always knew you would turn out to be a whore. There is no other way you could get a man…nope, you will never be wanted by someone like that Ryan boy or by this handsome fella. You give it up for this one also you damn whore?”