Holy fuck, the look on her face about dropped me to my knees. She wanted me…..not Ari or Jeff….she actually wanted to be with me.

“Of course it’s all right sweetheart, anything for you.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Ellie ……

I sat there on my bed devastated. How did this happen? What was Gunner going to think about me now after my mother called me a whore? Oh God I hope he didn’t believe a word she said. My hands started to shake again and I almost started to cry again. I could not lose him even though I knew we would never be more than friends but he truly did seem to care about me. I felt like I was in a box and everything was muffled. I could hear Ari and Jefferson talking. I looked over at them. What was Ari saying? Something about the cottage on her parents property. Gunner was standing next to me waiting. I was trying to find the strength to stand up.

Oh my God…we were going to have to walk by my mother again! What if she started calling me names again?

“Ellie, come on sweetheart let’s go. Jeff is going to walk out first and talk to your mom. Come on Ells its okay. Let’s go.” Gunner said as he helped me to my feet. Ari came up and gave me a hug. “I’ll see you back at my house okay sweets?”

I just smiled and nodded my head yes. I just wanted to be alone with Gunner. I had to make him understand I was not the things my mother said I was.

As we walked out of my room and down the hall I saw Jefferson standing over our mother. She was passed out on the sofa. Perfect. Why couldn’t her ass have been passed out 30 minutes ago? I’m not surprised……. this is just how my life goes. Another serving of shit served on a platter just for me. The Ellie special this week I guess.

Next thing I knew I was sitting in Gunner’s truck. He was standing outside talking to Jefferson. They both looked so pissed off. I was the cause of all of this or I should say me and my drunken mother were the cause. God I hated her more than anything right now. I never wanted to see her again. EVER!

Gunner opened the door and hopped in his truck. Once he had it started he turned on his iPod. I think he was trying to give me time to gather myself without there being an awkward silence. My god could he be any more perfect?

I had no idea where we were going. I was finally able to open my mouth to speak. “Um, can we go somewhere quiet to talk Gunner? Somewhere we can be alone if that is okay?”

I noticed Gunner tightening his grip on the steering wheel. “Of course we can Ellie. Is there anywhere you have in mind Sweetheart? We can go anywhere.”

Just then an idea popped into my head. “The canoes down at Zilker Park, I’ve always wanted to sit in one and just think….it seems so peaceful.” I said as I stared out the passenger side window. I was so afraid he just wanted to be rid of me.

“Ellie please look at me sweetheart.” Gunner asked as he used his hand to turn my face towards him.

“You’ve never been in a canoe?” Gunner asked with that drop dead smile of his. He made my heart hurt but for all the right reasons. Oh please take this pain away Gunner…..please…….

I let out a small laugh. “Nope….but I’ve always wanted to go. Pretty stupid huh?”

Gunner’s smile got even bigger. God it was contagious because next thing I knew I was smiling back at him.

“What? What is it?”  I asked him wanting to know why he was looking at me all goofy like that.

“It’s just that I get to take you on another first today. I need to write down all the things you’ve never done before but want to do Ellie.” Gunner said as he took my hand in his. I decided I would not try to pull my hand away this time. I was going to just pretend we were together and this was a perfect first date. It was just Gunner and me…..together.

“Why do you need to know that?” I asked confused but very curious as to where he was going with this.

“Well, because I want to be the person who gives you all of your firsts. I want to experience them with you so I can see that beautiful smile of yours light up every time you do something new. I want to make all of your dreams come true.”

“Oh….”

WOW….I was not expecting that at all. Maybe Gunner was different and he might just be interested in more than what I was giving him credit for. Then again…….maybe he was just interested in a friendship like how Jefferson was with Ari. He would never want it to go past friendship.

The thought of Gunner and I never becoming closer than friends almost had me feeling sick again and ready to cry.

As Gunner pulled into the parking lot of Zilker Park my heart started to beat faster than ever. Was I more nervous about the canoe ride or about talking to him about my mother? It was clear he was not going to bring it up until I was ready to talk about it. I needed to do this. I HAD to do this.

“Gosh Gunner I never even asked if you had plans today. I’m so sorry. I feel like shit now just assuming you would be able to spend the day with me.” I said as I realized Gunner might have actually had things to do today.

Gunner let out a laugh that moved through my body and sent chills up and down my back. “Sweetheart I would much rather spend the day with you than run around and do errands. I just need to swing by James Avery to pick something up and that’s it. I’m yours for the whole day!”

He looked at me and gave me a wink. Yep…my knees just felt weak as I tried to walk down to where they rented out the canoes. Oh shit….with how my stomach was feeling why the hell did I pick this? It just popped into my head….canoes. Jesus….watch me hurl right onto him. Good going Ellie…..picking a damn canoe ride. ARGH!

As Gunner was renting the canoe and getting our life jackets my mind kept thinking to what he said a few minutes ago. He needed to stop by James Avery? I wonder who he was buying jewelry for. He said he didn’t have a girlfriend. Maybe it was his mother’s birthday coming up or his grandmothers. It was driving me crazy! Why was it driving me crazy? It really was none of my business but it was still driving me insane wondering who the hell he would be buying jewelry for.

Just then I felt his hands on my shoulder and he leaned down and whispered in my ear. “Are you ready to go on your first canoe ride Ells?”

Yep….I knew it the moment I leaned back and felt his strong chest against my back I was so fucked. I didn’t even care how this might look to him. The feel of his hot breath on my face and the touch of his hands on my body….I needed to lean against him before my knees gave out.  He turned me around and lifted my face up towards his. He smiled, leaned down and kissed……….

My forehead?! What the hell?! SHIT! Why didn’t he kiss me? I wanted him to kiss me so badly and earlier he tried to kiss me but I stopped him. What changed?

Maybe it was what my mother said. Now I really felt sick as he was walking me over and helping me climb into the canoe.

Holy fuck don’t let me puke dear Lord…..just please don’t let me puke.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

GUNNER …….

German Shepards, Labs, Poodles, Rottweilers, German Short Haired Pointers……..good God I was trying to name off every breed of dog I knew. The moment she leaned into me and I felt her body up against mine my dick instantly came to attention. I had to turn her around to face me before she felt me jabbing her in the back with my hard on.

I swear to God my dick was so hard and there was not much more room in my pants to accommodate my growing problem. As Ellie was getting settled I tried my best to adjust myself while thinking of other dogs. SHIT I wanted to kiss her so fucking bad. It was getting harder and harder to resist her.