“I didn’t realize I was singing out loud. I’m sorry!” I said with a laugh. “That must have been pure torture!”

Goddamn, there comes that smile I would die for. It slowly spread across her cheeks along with the blush that I have grown to love so damn much.

“No….it was……it was one of the most romantic things ever. It took my breath away.” Ellie said as she looked down and away from me. She looked back up with a weak smile.

“You’re going to make some girl very happy someday.”

Fuck. I had my work cut out for me. It was pretty damn clear she was sticking to this whole friend’s bull shit. She was just going to keep pushing me away. Patience is all I needed. If it meant ending up with Ellie the rest of my life….then I was going to have to learn to give her the space and time she needed.

Ellie and I danced together most of the night. I was pretty sure I didn’t see Ellie dance with any other guy. Not that they were not asking her to. I saw her turn down more guys tonight than I cared to count.

I stopped drinking after my fourth beer. I needed to have a clear head. Between keeping the vultures off of Ellie and her friends, watching dick head Jeff and trying to keep Crysti at bay, I needed to be as sober as I could.

The most interesting part of the night was when Ari stood right next to Jeff and Rebecca and danced to “Shut Up” by Christina Aguilera.

“Okay, what is going on with those two?” Ellie asked me while she watched Ari dance and never once did Ari look away from Jeff. He looked like he was going to blow any minute. I was just hoping that they didn’t rip each other’s eyes out.

I shrugged my shoulders and prayed that Jeff didn’t kick Josh’s ass since he was dancing pretty damn close to Ari and she had a shit eating grin on her face the whole time. Jesus those two were going to be the death of me tonight.

The party started to wind down around midnight. I was standing in the kitchen talking to Scott and Brad when I felt someone come up behind me and wrap their arms around my waist. I instantly knew it was not Ellie.

“Hey there handsome, what do you say to a dance with me?” I took the arms that were wrapped around me off my waist and turned around to see Crysti standing in front of me. She looked like she was wasted. Fuck, I wish her and her Barbie doll friends would just leave already. Rebecca had been clinging to Jeff damn near all night.

“Ah, no thanks Crysti…..you might want to start gathering up your friends. We’re shutting things down soon.” I said as I gave her a blank look. Last thing I needed to do was encourage her anymore.

“What the hell Gunner…..you have a few high school girls at your party and we all have to go to bed earlier tonight? I know who I want to go to bed with ……” Crysti said as she threw her arms around my neck.

Of course that would be the moment Ellie and her friends had walked into the living room. She was scanning the room. Probably looking for Jeff but he fucking disappeared about 30 minutes ago. She caught my eyes. She tried to keep her face natural but I was not stupid. Her whole body tensed.

I pulled Crysti’s death grip arms off of my neck. I held her arms and pushed her back slightly.

“Crysti that is enough, I already told you no and asked for you and your friends to start heading out. Party is over. Jack is packing up his stuff so there is no more dancing.”

Crysti looked like she was going to cry but then she started to laugh. What the hell?

“Oh. My. God……tell me you are not into that little girl? Come on Gunner….don’t you remember how good we were together? I bet she can’t make you feel the way I did.”

Fuck….Ellie was now just standing there listening to the whole thing. Could this get any worse?

I should not have asked……just then I heard Rebecca with her obnoxiously loud laugh. She and Jeff were walking out of his bedroom and down the hall. Rebecca was throwing her hair in a pony and Jeff was slipping a tee shirt on over his head.

Oh fuck no Jeff you didn’t……….

Ellie and Ari both spun around and looked at them. Then Ellie turned back around and looked at me.

“It’s time to go Crysti, and take your tramp friend Rebecca with you.” I said as I grabbed her arm and lead her into the living room.

“Hey…..take your hands off of me you dick.” Crysti shouted.

“Get out now Crysti.” I said as I looked around for Cooper. He was taking them all back to their sorority house.

Once I got all of them all out the door and gone I started to clear out the rest of the house. This party was over since Ellie was sitting on the sofa with a clearly upset Ari. Amanda and Heather were all surrounding Ari so I didn’t notice Ari crying until Amanda stood up to say goodbye to Brad. Did he just hand her a piece of paper?

Amanda and Heather walked up to me. “Thank you so much Gunner. We had a really great time. We would say thanks to Jefferson but we can’t find him.” Amanda said with a weak smile.

“You girls are more than welcome. I’m glad you had a good time and Heather you haven’t had anything to drink right? You’ll be okay driving home?” I asked as I looked over their shoulders at Ellie watching me talk to her friends. God this girl was my undoing….just a smile from across the room could bring me to my knees.

“Nope…I have not had a drop! Thanks again Gunner. Hope to see you around soon.” Heather said as they headed back over to Ellie and Ari.

“Um yeah sure! See ya around.” I said.

Ellie walked them to the front door. Everyone was now gone. I watched as Ellie walked back over to the sofa and sat down next Ari.

I decided it was time for me to find out where the fuck Jeff went and what the hell he was thinking. I walked outside and he was sitting in a chair just staring off into space. He was the only one outside, just sitting there alone.

“You want to tell me what the fuck has gotten into you tonight dude?” I asked as I grabbed a beer out of the cooler and pulled up another chair to sit next to him.

Jeff looked up at me and I had never seen him look so goddamn upset. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“You’ve got to know what an asshole you were tonight, not only to Ari but to your sister as well. I can’t believe you fucking slept with Rebecca dude. What a stupid ass move man.” I took a long swig of beer and looked over at Jeff. He had his face buried in his hands.

“I don’t want to fuckin’ talk about it Gunner. I know I fucked up okay? Just leave me the fuck alone.”

“I have never in my life been so goddamn disappointed in you Jefferson. NEVER!” I heard Ellie shout.

I looked up to see her standing in front of Jeff with her hands on her hips. She looked so fucking cute standing there all mad.

“Ellie, why don’t y’all head into my room and get some sleep okay honey?” Jeff said without looking up.

“WHAT?! You really think either one of us wants to go and sleep in a bed you just FUCKED a girl in! No thank you Jefferson. I’m calling a cab and we are going back to Ari’s house.” Jeff flinched when Ellie shouted the word fucked.

“Ellie, no don’t leave sweetheart. Ari has had way too much to drink. You both can sleep in my room tonight.” I said as I stood up and walked Ellie away from Jeff.

“I can’t believe he did this Gunner! I just can’t believe it! Ari just told me what he said about her losing her virginity. Oh my god Gunner……this….. this person sitting here is NOT my brother!” Ellie was now on the verge of tears. She looked over my shoulder at Jeff and screamed out, “You are just like mom! You drink and you spit out hateful hurtful things you prick!” Ellie pulled out of my arms and started to walk into the house.

I turned around to look at Jeff and saw something I never thought I would see……..he was crying as he watched Ellie walk back into the house.