“Ellie what’s wrong sweetheart? Are you sick? Do you need to throw up?” Gunner asked as he bent down to look into my face. I shook my head no and slowly dropped my hand away from my mouth. Just the feel of Gunner’s hands on my shoulders instantly calmed my nerves. I looked around Gunner and saw Jefferson sitting there staring at me.

OH. MY. GOD…..he had tears running down his face.

My first instinct was to run to him. I had never in my life seen him cry. I looked up at Gunner who was still looking down at me with worry in his eyes. I took a step back to get out of Gunner’s grip. Jefferson started to stand up and walk towards me.

“Don’t! Just…. don’t Jefferson. What you did tonight it was…it was just….I don’t even want to think about it anymore. I only wanted to let Gunner know that Ari is asleep in his room. Did you need anything out of your room? I could get it for you.” I said as I looked away from Jefferson and back to Gunner.

“Um, no it’s okay I’ll just wear a pair of Jeff’s shorts.” Gunner turned to look at Jefferson and then back at me. He walked me out of the bedroom and leaned in close to me. “Is Ari doing okay Ells? What made her sick? Did she drink too much beer ‘cause I will feel like shit if that’s what made her sick?” Gunner said with the most concerned look on his face.

Gesh, every time I think he cannot be any better….he goes off and does or says something that just makes him that much better. The heat from his body and his breath on my face instantly caused an ache between my legs. I shook my head to clear my wayward thoughts.

“No Gunner, I don’t think it was the beer at all. I think it was seeing Jefferson walk out of his bedroom putting his shirt back on while some whore was smiling at her with a triumphant fucking smile on her face. THAT is what made her sick to her stomach.” I said loud enough for Jefferson to hear me. Gunner just closed his eyes.

“I’m going to go clean the bathroom and then go to sleep. Thank you so much Gunner for the party….I enjoyed myself, most of the time anyway.”

“Ellie just leave the bathroom sweetheart its fine. Jeff and I always have a cleaning company come in and clean up the house the day after a party….it’s fine just go to sleep. Please.” Gunner said as he followed me into the bathroom.

“Whatever….fine……I’m exhausted anyway. Goodnight and thank you again for letting us use your room. I really do appreciate it.” I leaned up and gave Gunner a kiss on the cheek. He smiled from ear to ear which made my heart skip a beat.

I didn’t even bother saying goodnight to Jefferson. I walked back into Gunner’s room. I just wanted to get out of these clothes and go to sleep. My head was killing me from all of the beer I drank. God I just wanted to get this night over with. I remembered seeing a tee shirt in the bathroom when I was in there earlier. I walked in and saw it lying over the tub. I took my skirt and shirt off and pulled the tee shirt over my head.

Oh holy hells bells….it smelled like Gunner. Hmmmm…..I took a big sniff and buried my face in the shirt. Yep…I should sleep well tonight!

I crawled into bed next to Ari. She was snoring away. Man oh man…she was going to feel it tomorrow when she woke up. Maybe she won’t even remember Jefferson sleeping with that bitch Rebecca! Oh, I could only hope.

Good lord….everything around me smelled like Gunner…..his pillow, the blankets…..hmmmm…..I could sleep like this every damn day. Wrapped up in his smell……the last thing I remembered before I fell asleep was dancing with Gunner as he sang in my ear. He really had such a beautiful voice.

It seemed like I had just closed my eyes when I heard Ari talking on the phone. I opened my eyes and sat up yawning. From what I could tell Ari was talking to her parents. She was fine, yes the party was super fun, yes it was just us two and Jefferson and Gunner……we slept in Gunner’s room. After a few more seconds she finally said goodbye and hung up.

“Hey there! Morning sunshine! Did you sleep well?” Ari said as she jumped up out of bed. Oh HELL no….she has to be feeling something for fucks sake. I was and I didn’t even drink as much as she did!

Just then all the memories of last night came flooding back to me. Jefferson and what he said about her virginity and him sleeping with that Rebecca chick.

“Good morning Ari….you sure are just a little to chipper this morning. How do you feel?” I asked as I watched her go into Gunner’s bathroom. I heard the faucet start and heard her laugh. I got up to walk in and see what she found so funny.

“What’s so funny?” I asked her as I looked around on the counter.

“This…this shit is funny” Ari pointed down to my skirt and shirt that was lying on the bathroom floor. ”I never thought I would see your clothes laying on the floor of a fucking hot guys bathroom….OR you dressed in said hot guys tee shirt. HOT Ells….very hot!” Ari said as she pushed my shoulder with her hand.

I let out a small laugh and reached down to pick up my clothes. “I thought I picked them up last night! Gosh I was exhausted. Um, Ari honey are you okay? I mean do you want to talk about anything?” I asked as I watched her put her hair up in a pony.

She stopped putting her hair up and looked at me. For one brief second I saw the hurt in her eyes, but it was gone so fast I wondered if it was even there in the first place.  She flashed that signature smile at me and shrugged her shoulders.

“There’s nothing to talk about Ells. What’s done is done. I had a silly crush on a guy who happened to turn out to be a real dick head; sorry I know he is your brother! If he wants to go around and fuck every girl on the UT campus….I could care less.” Ari said as she turned and walked out of the bathroom.

Ooookay…..that was not what I was expecting from her but I’ll go with it.

“So, you mean to tell me Arianna that you are totally fine with everything that happened last night. You’re not the least bit bothered that Jefferson slept with another girl.” I said as I started to take Gunner’s tee shirt off and put my own clothes back on.

“Nope….I’m not the least bit bothered by it Ellie. Matter of fact, Josh gave me his number and asked me out last night. I turned him down but……. now that I think about it, I’m going to give him a call today.”

She turned and gave me a wink and headed towards the bedroom door. I saw her square up her shoulders and take a deep breath as she opened the door and headed out towards the living room. I could hear Gunner and Jefferson talking as soon as she opened the door.

Bullshit….she was totally putting up a front.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

Gunner…..

I ended up sleeping on the sofa last night after Jeff finally passed out around 2:30 am. Once I sat on the sofa I could still smell Ellie on the sofa pillows. I probably looked like a stupid fuck with the way I was cuddling a goddamn throw pillow last night.

Jeff was up at six am dressed and ready for a run. Not sure how the fuck he managed that but he did. I got up and went for a quick run before I came back to make up some of my grams’ blueberry muffins.

I never got a chance to give Ellie her graduation gift last night so I was hoping to do it this morning. I was pretty sure I heard Ari on the phone and then heard Ellie and Ari talking. Jeff had been gone for almost two hours. I started to wonder if he was staying away to avoid the girls.

Stupid bastard.

Just then the front door opened and Jeff walked in. Looking like he just had the shit beat out of him.

“What the fuck happened to you dude?”

“I went a few rounds with bubba up at the gym. I need to work all the fucking alcohol out of my system.” Jeff said as he grabbed a water out of the fridge.

“Are the girls up yet?”